General description of facility

Okinawa Commemorative National Government Park was established on the former expo site in August, 1976, in commemoration of the Okinawa Ocean Expo held in 1975.

Presently it plays a central role of promoting tourism of Okinawa, especially as a central tourist spot of northern Okinawa.
Among the three areas of the park is an area featuring history and culture which includes the Oceanic Culture Museum which displays about 1,000 items including daily commodities and fishing equipment of the maritime people of Southeast Asian countries, the Native Okinawan Village which is a reproduction of private houses and kitchen garden of the Ryukyu Islands from old times, and the Omoro Botanical Garden which raises and exhibits 22 types of representative plants that appear in the most oldest song collection of Okinawa “Omorosaushi”.

The area themed on the ocean is one of the largest in the world. It includes Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium which raises large-sized sharks and rays such as whale sharks and a manta, the Okichan Theater which features the popular dolphin show held since the Ocean Expo, the Manatee Pool with a Manatee given by the government of Mexico, the Sea Turtle Pool at which sea turtles can be observed from the stage of laying eggs to their growth, the Dophin Lagoon at which dolphins can be seen up close, and Emeral Beach which is an artificial beach of approximately 7.5 acres paved with white sand. The beach was certified as “The 88th top Bathing Beach” in 2001 and as “The 100th top Bathing Beach” in 2006. Sea bathing is allowed from April to the end of October.

In the flower and greenery area is a world-class size greenhouse built in order to seamlessly grow flowers throughout the year, the Tropical Dream Center which displays tropical plants including Orchids, tropical fruit trees and flowering trees, the Sunset Square at which the beautiful sunset of the East China Sea can be see, and the Tropical & Subtropical Arboretum which is popular among foreigners.