Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Motobu-cho

Billed as the second-largest aquarium in the world, Churaumi is an incredible place and one of the few world aquariums that has whale sharks in captivity. You could easily spend all day here -- indoor exhibits, multiple buildings, outdoor attractions like the turtle habitat and the dolphin show. Great gift shops and cafes on the sprawling grounds. Everything appears very well-maintained and the animals seem healthy. We had the chance to visit several times during our 4-year tour of Okinawa Island, and each time it was a memorable experience.

Easily the best aquarium in all of Japan. At one point this was the largest aquarium in the world and it was the first to ever exhibit whale sharks and manta rays in a single tank. If you stop by the nearby convenient stores you can save up to ¥200 yen off the adult price of admission. It took us about 3 hours to go through all of the inside portions and we stopped by the sea turtle and manatee pools. It's a really peaceful and beautiful experience so make sure you have plenty of time you can spare if you visit. I highly recommend visiting this aquarium.