Like many Okinawan towns, Motobu is a conglomeration of former smaller and independent villages. The ocean is Northern Okinawa’s main attraction, featuring heavily in Motobu’s tourist spots, from the popular Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium to other parts of the large Ocean Expo Park. Learn about marine creatures, explore ship replicas and dig your toes into the sand at beautiful Emerald Beach.
The extensive park was built in 1976 for the Okinawa International Ocean Expo. Today, its main attraction remains the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Get close to marine animals at the aquarium’s Coral Sea tank then move on to see whale sharks and manta rays in the Kuroshio Sea tank. Venture into mysterious ocean depths at the Deep Sea tank.
Within Ocean Expo Park, explore the spacious Oceanic Culture Museum. You’ll find a gigantic replica of a Lakatoi canoe from Papua New Guinea trade ships used by the Ryukyu Kingdom. Other exhibits explain the role of the sea in ocean-based cultures from Asia and the South Pacific. The museum also has a fantastic planetarium with daily shows.
Outside the museum, find the Native Okinawan Village, with more than 20 residences and buildings from various time periods during Okinawa’s history. Admission is free. You’re welcome to wander and discover on your own.
Nature lovers will enjoy the Tropical Dream Center for its collection of tropical trees and plants, as well as the park’s two arboretums. End your day at Emerald Beach, at the northern end of the park. Its three separate areas each face in a different direction.
Visit other top attractions in the Motobu area, including the islands of Sesoko and Minna-jima, and the Nakijin Castle Ruins, included among the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Castles of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Reach Northern Okinawa and Motobu by car by taking the Okinawa Expressway. Express bus lines also run between Naha Airport and the Motobu Peninsula. In addition, a ferry runs between Naha and Kagoshima, with stops at Motobu Port along the way.
