Churaumi is one building inside Ocean Expo Park, which has its own gates, car parks and other attractions, so the aquarium is a part of a larger day rather than the whole of it. Inside, the aquarium runs over five floors, and ramps carry you between them, so a family moving slowly is not forced onto stairs.
The one thing to plan for is the arrival. Coming by bus means a walk of about ten minutes from the Kinen-koen-mae stop to the aquarium entrance, which is longer than it sounds with a tired child and bags in hand; cashless coin lockers sit just inside the entrance, on the left in the Coral Lobby, from half past eight until the entry deadline, and dropping the bags there first is the shorter version of the day.
The rest is unusually well set up for small children. There are two nursing rooms, changing tables in most of the aquarium’s toilets, and a first-aid room that treats minor injuries and sickness anywhere in the park or the aquarium, though it keeps no oral medicine. The fourth-floor restaurant can be reached without an aquarium ticket, which matters if one parent is waiting out a nap.
Family FAQ
How much does Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium cost?
An annual passport costs 4,360 yen for adults, 2,880 yen for high school students and 1,420 yen for elementary and junior high school students.
Can you bring a stroller to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium?
The aquarium is fully fitted with ramps, so a stroller can be used throughout the building.
Is there parking at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium?
Visitors use the Ocean Expo Park car parks, and all of them are free.
