<Summer Vacation Special Event> Join us as a family! Learn with a professor at "Chura Island Academy @ The Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa"
Packed with information to help you enjoy Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and Ocean Expo Park even more!
Join us as a family! Learn with a professor at the "Chura Island Academy @ The Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa"
From July 18th (Sat) to September 23rd (Wed), a special lecture series, "Chura-jima Academy @ Orion The Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa Churaumi Foundation will provide engaging explanations about the little-known ecology and charm of creatures living in Okinawa's seas and nature.
From fascinating trivia about the whale shark's ecology and rare animals of Yanbaru to stories of new species discoveries, to the latest research findings, doctors will explain a variety of topics in an easy-to-understand way.
This academy will help you enjoy Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and Ocean Expo Park even more.
Furthermore, we will be offering a limited-time "Night Tour" where you can explore Ocean Expo Park at night while searching for marine life with a guide, as well as a "Aquarium Backstage Tour" that takes you to areas that are normally off-limits.
Perfect for summer vacation projects and creating summer memories.
This is an interactive academy that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
Please bring your whole family along.
Academy schedule (8 sessions total)
July 18th (Sat) "The Story of Fluorescent Fish"
They glow under black light!? Let's learn about the amazing abilities of fish!
Lecturer: Kei Miyamoto (Senior Researcher, Okinawa Churaumi Foundation)
July 22nd (Wed) "The Secrets of Familiar Marine Life"
Unveiling the surprising secrets of sea urchins and sea cucumbers: A lecture on familiar marine life. Instructor: Masato Hirose (Senior Researcher, Okinawa Churaumi Foundation)
July 27th (Mon) "The World of Whale Sharks You Never Knew"
Learn about the mysterious ecology of the whale shark, the "world's largest fish." Instructor: Takeaki Tomita (Senior Researcher, Okinawa Churaumi Foundation)
August 6th (Thursday) "Lizards of Okinawa"
Discover the unique world of lizards living in Okinawa!
Lecturer: Hitomi Asato (Director, Okinawa Churaumi Foundation)
August 18th (Tue) "The Secrets of Life on a Small Island"
"What would you bring if you were going to a deserted island?" Introducing the wisdom of life passed down on Pacific islands. Lecturer: Yasuko Kinoshita (Senior Researcher, Okinawa Churaumi Foundation)
August 29th (Sat) "Coral and Coral Reefs of Okinawa"
Are corals animals or plants? Learn fun facts about corals from a coral expert. Instructor: Masanori Nonaka (Councilor, Okinawa Churaumi Foundation Research Institute)
September 12th (Sat) "The Little-Known Life of the Goby"
Found in the deep sea and caves too!? Introducing the amazing ecology of gobies. Lecturer: Nozomi Hanahara (Researcher, Okinawa Churaumi Foundation)
September 23rd (Wed) "Rare Plants of Yanbaru"
Uncover the secrets of rare plants that thrive in the natural environment of Yanbaru!
Lecturer: Atsushi Abe (Senior Research Fellow, Okinawa Churaumi Foundation)
<Participation Benefits>
Participants in each academy will receive a certificate personally signed by the doctor.
Event Overview
| Date | <Total of 8 sessions> July 18th (Sat) "The Story of Fluorescent Fish" July 22nd (Wed) "The Secrets of Familiar Marine Life" July 27th (Mon) "The World of Whale Sharks You Never Knew" August 6th (Thursday) "Lizards of Okinawa" August 18th (Tue) "The Secrets of Life on a Small Island" August 29th (Sat) "Coral and Coral Reefs of Okinawa" September 12th (Sat) "The Little-Known Life of the Goby" September 23rd (Wed) "Rare Plants of Yanbaru" |
|---|---|
| Event time | Each day from 19:30 to 20:30 |
| Venue | Hotel 3rd floor entrance |
| Fee | Free of charge. No registration is required. |
| Remarks | This event is exclusively for hotel guests. The content may be changed or canceled without prior notice. Please be aware that we may take photographs and videos of the venue on the day of the event. These photographs and videos may be used on the hotel's official website, social media, and other media outlets. |
Special Event! Night Tour of Ocean Expo Park
A guided tour of Ocean Expo Park at night .<br />The creatures you'll encounter will be a surprise on the day.
Enjoy an exciting search for creatures in the deserted Ocean Expo Park at night!
Tour Overview
| Date and time | 8/12 (Wed) 20:00-22:00 |
|---|---|
| Participation fee | 6,000 yen (tax included) per person <Payment Methods> The participation fee will be charged to your room and settled upon check-out. |
| Meeting place | Meeting time: 19:30 at the hotel's 3rd floor entrance. |
| Age range | For elementary school students and older. Children younger than elementary school age must be accompanied by a guardian. ・Accompanying guardians are also included in the participant count. |
| How to participate / Application deadline | Please fill out the required information in the application form below to apply. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and registration will close once the capacity is reached. <Application Deadline> Until 17:00 on August 9th (Sunday) |
| Regarding clothing | Please wear long sleeves, long pants, and comfortable walking shoes (sandals and flip-flops are not permitted) when participating. - Participants wearing revealing clothing are not permitted. ・For safety reasons, we may refuse your participation on the day depending on your attire. Thank you for your understanding. |
| belongings | • Drinks for hydration • Raincoat (umbrellas are not permitted.) |
| Precautions | ・This activity includes walking on uneven ground, therefore, those using wheelchairs or walking aids are not permitted to participate. Please note that, in principle, you will not be able to leave the tour once it has started. • Guided tours are available in Japanese only. For your safety, please always follow the guide's instructions while participating. |
| Remarks | This event is exclusively for hotel guests. The content may be changed or canceled without prior notice. Please be aware that we may take photographs and videos of the venue on the day of the event. These photographs and videos may be used on the hotel's official website, social media, and other media outlets. ・Cancellation fees will apply in case of cancellation due to customer reasons. 20 to 8 days before the event: 20% of the participation fee 7 to 2 days before the event: 30% of the participation fee The day before the event: 50% of the participation fee On the day of the event (before the event): 50% of the participation fee No-show without prior notice: 100% of the participation fee *If the event is canceled due to circumstances beyond the organizer's control, no cancellation fee will be charged. |
Limited-time event! Aquarium backstage tour
We got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium!
What exactly is in the back rooms of an aquarium?
This special tour allows you to experience the behind-the-scenes workings of the aquarium up close, guided by a professional.
Tour Overview
| Date and time | ① Starts at 14:50 <Includes feeding observation> 7/29 (Wed), 31 (Fri), 8/21 (Fri), 24 (Mon), 28 (Fri), 31 (Mon) ② Starts at 19:00 8/3 (Mon), 7 (Fri), 10 (Mon), 14 (Fri), 17 (Mon) The tour duration for both ① and ② is approximately 30 minutes each. ・After the tour ends, you are free to disperse within Ocean Expo Park. |
|---|---|
| Participation fee | ① 14:50 session: 15,000 yen (tax included) / maximum 5 people per group ② 19:00 session: 10,000 yen (tax included) / maximum 5 people per group *For both ① and ②, an additional 2,000 yen (tax included) will be charged for each person from the 6th person onwards. *The capacity is 20 people each day for ① and 40 people each day for ②. Registration will close once the capacity is reached. *The participation fee does not include admission to the aquarium. <Payment Methods> The participation fee will be charged to your room and settled upon check-out. |
| Meeting place | In front of the whale shark monument at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (in front of the aquarium entrance) Please gather by the scheduled start time. |
| How to participate / Application deadline | Please fill out the required information in the application form below to apply. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and registration will close once the capacity is reached. <Application Deadline> Until 17:00, 3 days before each event date. |
| Participation conditions/notes | - Participants must be able to walk independently for approximately 30 minutes. *Elementary school age and older are recommended. - Children under elementary school age must be accompanied by a guardian. *Up to two children of elementary school age or younger per accompanying adult. The accompanying adult is also included in the participant count. ・Only those who are in good health, such as those with cold symptoms. *The back area does not have air conditioning, so it is hot and humid and has a distinctive smell from fish and feed. ・Due to the presence of stairs and narrow passages on the course, participants using wheelchairs or strollers, or carrying children in slings, are not permitted to participate. ・The course floor is wet and slippery due to humidity, so please wear non-slip shoes (sneakers) that cover your toes and heels when participating. • Guided tours are available in Japanese only. For your safety, please always follow the guide's instructions while participating. |
| Remarks | This event is exclusively for hotel guests. ・Due to facility conditions, animal health management work, etc., the event may be canceled at short notice. Please be aware that we may take photographs and videos of the venue on the day of the event. These photographs and videos may be used on the hotel's official website, social media, and other media outlets. ・Cancellation fees will apply in case of cancellation due to customer reasons. 20 to 8 days before the event: 20% of the participation fee 7 to 2 days before the event: 30% of the participation fee The day before the event: 50% of the participation fee On the day of the event (before the event): 50% of the participation fee No-show without prior notice: 100% of the participation fee *If the event is canceled due to circumstances beyond the organizer's control, no cancellation fee will be charged. |
Photo courtesy of: Okinawa Churaumi Foundation / Okinawa Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Okinawa Memorial National Government Park ( Ocean Expo Park )
