Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Tickets (2026): Price, Hours, and Whether to Buy Online
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium never needs booking: it sells tickets at the gate every day, and it has no scheduled closed days until March 31, 2027. Adults pay ¥2,180.
The harder part is getting there. It's about two hours by car from Naha Airport, or about three hours by express bus. On Nov 6, 2026 we checked the aquarium's English fee, hours and access pages; the old after-4 pm discount ticket has ended.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We list the official gate price first so you can compare.
How much are tickets?
Grades follow the Japanese school year, which starts in April. Staff may ask for ID when you buy a student ticket at the desk.
The aquarium's English fee page lists the prices above, all tax included.
An official notice dated Mar 30, 2023 says the after-16:00 "4 o'clock ticket" stopped being sold on Mar 31, 2023. Some English guides still list it.
The official site links to a web ticket on asoview. We didn't go through the purchase, so check its validity and refund rules on the asoview page before you pay.
Gate, official web ticket or agency: where should you buy?
You don't have to buy ahead: the aquarium sells tickets at the gate every day, and the official site doesn't mention gate tickets selling out. If you'd rather buy online, check the price, how entry works and the refund rules on the product page.
At the gate
Sold every day, no reservation needed. Payment methods are on the aquarium's service guide page.
Web ticket (asoview)
Linked from the aquarium's own site. Check the price, how you enter with it and the refund rules on the asoview page.
Agency e-ticket
Klook and KKday sell e-tickets. Compare the price with ¥2,180 and read how entry works and the refund terms on the product page before you buy. Buy only from the aquarium or established sellers: the aquarium says ticket resale is banned under Japanese law and it takes no responsibility for resold tickets.
Affiliate linksOpening hours and closed days
The outdoor animal areas nearby (the Okichan Theater dolphin shows, Dolphin Lagoon, Sea Turtle Pool and Manatee Pool) close earlier: 8:30–17:30 in the off season.
How do you get there from Naha?
The aquarium is in Ocean Expo Park in Motobu, in the north of the main island. There's no train.
Rental car
Via the Okinawa Expressway. Parking at Ocean Expo Park is free; the P7 north gate car park is closest. If your sat-nav can't find it, use Mapcode 553 075 797.
Express bus
Run by several companies, including the Yanbaru Express Bus and the Okinawa Airport Shuttle. Fares and stops differ by company; check the timetable and fare before you go.
Is a northern Okinawa day tour worth it?
If you won't drive, it can be. The bus takes about three hours each way; a tour saves you the transfers and can add other stops in the north. If you have a car, you can go on your own schedule.
Northern Okinawa day bus tour
Before you book, check on the listing whether the aquarium ticket is included, plus the price, guide language, pick-up point and stops.
Affiliate linkIs it worth the drive?
The centrepiece is the huge Kuroshio Sea tank, where the aquarium keeps whale sharks and manta rays. Leave time for the outdoor dolphin area too; it closes earlier than the aquarium (17:30 in the off season).
If you're only in Naha for a short stay and won't rent a car, a six-hour round trip by bus is a lot for one aquarium. A tour is the better trade-off then.
Planning the rest of Okinawa?
Buy at the gate or online, it's the same aquarium; just don't plan around the 4 pm discount, which no longer exists. If you've been recently, tell us how long the ticket queue was.
Affiliate link