North Okinawa Sightseeing Tour with Churaumi Aquarium

Cape Manzamo

Cape Manzamo, in Onna on the west coast, is a raised coral limestone cliff about 20 metres high whose seaward end has been eroded into the shape of an elephant's trunk. Its name means 'a meadow for ten thousand to sit', from an eighteenth-century royal visit when the flat grassy top was said to be big enough for that many people. The path around the headland gives wide views over the clear East China Sea and the coral shallows below.

A visitor centre opened in 2020 at the entrance, and the small admission fee is included in this tour. The loop walk to the viewpoint takes about 15 minutes on flat paths, and the cape is at its best in the soft morning light when the tour arrives. Is Cape Manzamo worth visiting? It is one of the most photographed views in Okinawa, and a short stop is just right.

Ocean Expo Park on the Motobu Peninsula

Ocean Expo Park covers a long stretch of coast on the Motobu Peninsula, on the site of the 1975 International Ocean Exposition. Besides the aquarium it includes Emerald Beach, a sheltered white-sand beach, gardens of tropical plants, a reconstructed village of traditional Okinawan houses and an open-air pool where free dolphin shows are held several times a day. Offshore you see the island of Ie with its distinctive single peak.

The park is the longest stop of the day, with about three and a half hours to explore at your own pace. Lunch is not included, but restaurants and cafés in the park and the aquarium serve local dishes, sandwiches and ice cream. Many visitors watch a dolphin show after the aquarium and finish with a walk along the beach promenade.

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Opened in 2002, the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium takes its name from the local word for 'beautiful sea'. The visit follows the ocean from shallow to deep: a coral reef tank open to the sky where living corals grow in natural sunlight, a touch pool, colourful reef fish, and then the huge Kuroshio Sea tank, about 7,500 cubic metres, viewed through an acrylic panel more than 8 metres high and 22 metres wide.

In the Kuroshio tank whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, glide past with manta rays and shoals of tuna, and a café beside the glass lets you sit and watch them. Further on, the deep-sea section shows the strange creatures of Okinawa's dark waters. Churaumi Aquarium tickets are included, so you skip buying them on the day; allow about 90 minutes inside.

Kouri Island and the Kouri Bridge

Kouri Island lies off the north-east of the Motobu Peninsula and is reached by the Kouri Bridge, about two kilometres long, which opened in 2005 and runs low over shallow turquoise water. The drive across is one of the most scenic in Okinawa, and the beach at the island end of the bridge offers clear water and views back along the span.

Local legend calls Kouri an island of love, where the first man and woman of Okinawa lived, and its best-known sight is the heart-shaped rock at Tinu Beach on the north shore. The tour stops here for about 40 minutes, enough time for photos, a short walk on the sand and a cold drink before continuing to Nago.

Nago Pineapple Park

Nago, the main city of northern Okinawa, is known for its pineapples, and Nago Pineapple Park is a playful introduction to the fruit. Entry and the self-driving cart ride are included: small pineapple-shaped carts carry you slowly through fields of pineapple plants and tropical gardens while an audio commentary explains how the fruit grows and is harvested.

After the ride you walk through the park's shop, where you can sample fresh pineapple and pineapple cakes and buy sweets as gifts. The stop lasts about 50 minutes and is a favourite with children. From Nago the bus takes the expressway south, and you reach Naha in the early evening, about ten and a half hours after setting off.