Walking Tour through Nature and Tropical Landscapes. Visit a Vast Botanical Garden in Japan
Hello everyone 😊
I hope you’re doing well 👍 Today, I’m taking you to visit the Tropical and Subtropical Arboretum of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. The park is located in the city of Motobu, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The tour continues directly into OCEAN EXPO PARK, which is a continuation of the arboretum. Ocean Expo Park is a vast coastal complex covering over 70 hectares.
It stretches nearly 4 km along the East China Sea. I’ve dedicated three videos to Ocean Expo Park.
This video is part 1. Part 2 will be published next week, and part 3 the following week. This place is a must-see if you come on vacation to Okinawa.
Around two days are needed to visit the “Complex” in its entirety. If you love tropical nature, plants and Japan,
I will also tell you the names of the plants that I know. Maybe it will give you ideas
to decorate your garden or interior 😉 I would have liked to let you hear the original soundtrack,
with the sounds of nature, but the park plays music in all its aisles. For copyright reasons, I had to replace the original soundtrack with a music playlist 😎 If you love blooms and wonderfully scented plants, many trees that you will see in this video produce flowers. Unfortunately for many of them, the blooming is already over.
So feel free to note down the names I give you to look up archive images online 👍 Here, in this slightly wild appearance, aromatic and medicinal herbs capable of withstanding high temperatures are grouped together. This arboretum that we’ve been walking through together
since the start of the video is about 9 hectares. It houses around 37,500 plants,
representing 320 tropical and subtropical species. Its area includes zones dedicated to herbs, hedges,
groundcover plants, and trees resistant to salt and wind. What I appreciate in Okinawa is that parks are not completely straight-lined. Wild or fallow corners regularly neighbor the landscaped areas ❤️ As mentioned at the start of the video, I am in a vast coastal complex of 70 hectares, whose main features I will mention throughout this video. … and as also mentioned: This place is a must-see if you come on a trip to Okinawa. It is here, in this park, that you can observe a whale shark and, with a bit of luck, see whales passing by. So, no suspense: it’s a captive whale shark.
However, the whales are indeed in the sea. It is always moving for me to see such a majestic animal in captivity.
And paradoxically, I can stay a long time admiring it up close. I highly recommend the official website to learn about the sincere commitment and efforts undertaken to protect Okinawan fauna and flora.
(https://churaumi.okinawa/en/research/marine_organisms/) As you might expect, this whale shark is much loved here.
Its tank even bears a name: the “Kuroshio Sea”. This tank contains 7.5 million liters of water and also houses manta rays and many other marine species. If you like running, three routes crossing the park are recommended.
They are 3.3 km, 5 km and 7.5 km long. In addition to the aquarium, this park has a botanical garden called:
Tropical Dream Center.
Part 2, which will be broadcast next week, is dedicated to it. This botanical garden showcases more than 2,000 orchid species as well as a spiral observation tower offering a panoramic view of the park and the sea. The entrance to the garden is paid
(750 yen at the time I’m filming this video). The garden is vast and beautiful.
Its style and architecture are inspired by ancient ruins where nature reclaims its place. Inside the garden, three large greenhouses house orchids
and other tropical plants, thus creating a true botanical paradise. You will also find within this vast park a life-size reconstruction of an old Okinawan village. This traditional village, inspired by the 17th to 19th centuries, lets you discover the architecture and daily life of the past. Part 3, which will be broadcast in two weeks, is dedicated to it. This Okinawan village is a full-scale reconstruction of an old Ryūkyū Islands hamlet (17th to 19th centuries). It allows visitors to discover everyday life in the era of the Ryūkyū Kingdom (the former name of Okinawa before its integration into modern Japan). The site is part of the cultural section of the park and is open freely and for free. This village is designed not only as an open-air museum but also as a living place. Demonstrations of craftsmanship and daily rituals are still regularly performed. In addition to its gardens and aquarium, the park offers an oceanic museum and a planetarium, providing a complete educational experience. This museum aims to introduce the maritime cultures of Pacific peoples, particularly those of tropical and subtropical islands. The museum is connected to the adjacent planetarium, allowing an association between the discovery of marine peoples’ celestial beliefs and their earthly culture. A combined ticket allows visiting both sites at a reduced rate. The planetarium has a 20-meter diameter high-definition digital projection dome. It is one of the largest planetariums in southern Japan. The planetarium offers several types of projections: Representation of the real night sky visible from Okinawa, with explanations of local constellations … Stories from Okinawa folklore or other Pacific islands, often related to stars, the sea or the origin of the world … Presentation of planets, the universe, galaxies, with an educational approach. Tip: As soon as you arrive, opt for a combined ticket including multiple sites (Aquarium, Planetarium, etc.) to benefit from a reduced overall rate, much more advantageous than separate entries. Of course, walking the visit is not mandatory: free shuttles circulate throughout the park to facilitate your movements 😉 Several food service points are available near the park’s main entrance, as well as within the aquarium building. Simple and inexpensive meals (daily specials, soba noodles, Japanese curry). Quick snacks: hot dogs, onigiri, …
Okinawan milk ice cream (Blue Seal), gelato, Taco rice. But also local cuisine, family and Western dishes. The park also allows picnics in designated areas (lawns, wooden tables). Note: You must keep your trash in a bag and carry it with you until you find a suitable bin. Thirsty?
Drink vending machines are placed throughout the park
(water, tea, juice, cold coffee, etc.). In case of tsunami, this marker indicates your altitude.
Here, we are 14.2 meters above sea level. I am now near the main aquarium.
Just opposite, you can see the “Okichan Theater” (the white dome). The theater is located outside the Aquarium, just below, by the sea. It is accessible for free, even without an aquarium ticket. “Okichan” was a female dolphin who lived in the park since the former Ocean Expo of 1975. Much loved, she became a true local mascot 🐬❤️ Although she passed away long ago, the theater’s name “Okichan” honors her 🕯️ The theater features several free performances per day, generally lasting 20 minutes. They feature: Dolphins, false killer whales (pseudorca), and sometimes other species like sea lions. The theater is open-air, with a direct view of the sea. After the show, it is possible to buy a small bucket of fresh fish to feed the dolphins 🐬 You will be asked to wash and disinfect your hands before feeding the dolphins. Here is the main aquarium! This is where the whale shark is located 🐋 the indisputable star of the place. Here, you will find many outdoor tanks freely accessible, housing dolphins, sea turtles, and many other species. You can watch them move peacefully, under the attentive supervision of the park teams, who ensure their well-being. Do you like crystal-clear waters for swimming? Come! I will take you to the Emerald beaches. That’s what they are called! 🏖️ Just a note: low tide is approaching, which will make the water a bit less transparent and mute the turquoise shades of the sea. Even if I can’t show you the small subtropical fish near the shore, you will at least get a nice glimpse of the beaches. It’s this way!
You have to walk a little more 🚶 so might as well continue the tour along the way 😊 Still with me? 😊 As I suspected 😊, it is indeed low tide.
But this is not where I want to take you… it’s a bit further still. So yes, these are not the most beautiful beaches in the world, nor even in Okinawa.
But precisely, they are the ones bordering the park and that’s why I want to show them to you. Thus, you can follow the aquarium visit with a walk in the park or a moment of rest or swimming by the sea. 🌴 You will also find on this plaza something to eat, as well as beach items. I am now heading to the beach where swimming is supervised 👙🏖️
Out of respect for people in swimsuits, I will only briefly film this area. I’m taking you now to the opposite beach.
With a bit of luck 🤞, there will be fewer people. It’s here! If I film the trees, it’s to avoid filming a person in a swimsuit passing by me 😉 In Okinawa, waves are often absent from many beaches.
Thanks to coral barriers, they break offshore before reaching the shore. A sea without waves may seem boring to some, but it’s actually an excellent opportunity to observe tropical fish with the naked eye 👍 The blue buoys you see are equipped with nets that extend to the bottom of the water, adjusting to tide levels. These nets secure the swimming area by preventing marine animals from entering it.
This security applies only to supervised beaches. In other words, you won’t risk encountering a shark during your swim 👍 Outside of these areas, you can enjoy observing fish 🐠
The coral barrier then plays a natural protective role against sharks and other marine animals. Here, for example, it’s an unprotected beach (no safety nets) so not supervised. Fish observation is therefore possible 👍 The video is coming to an end soon, there are about 5 minutes left.
Thank you for visiting Ocean Expo Park with me! 😊 If you enjoyed the video, feel free to leave a like 👍
And if this type of content interests you, subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss anything. Next week, don’t miss part 2, dedicated to the park’s botanical garden 🌿 … and also part 3, which will let you discover the traditional Okinawan village 🏯 That’s not all … wait!! If you love green plants and flowers, and want to learn more to enrich your garden 🌿🌸, a little bonus awaits you at the end of this video 🎁😊 I’ll leave you with the “bonus” part.
Thank you for watching the video to the end 🙏
See you next week… and until then, take care! 😊
Welcome to the first part of our walk through the “Ocean Expo Park” in Okinawa, Japan! 🌿🌊 This peaceful stroll takes you through the park’s magnificent tropical landscapes, with stunning views of the sea. Along the way, I introduce several trees and plants, mentioning their Latin names to enrich your visit and provide a deeper understanding of the local flora. 🌺🌳
You will also discover the park’s “emerald beaches” and explore lush natural areas.
🎶 Due to copyright restrictions, the park’s original soundtrack has been removed and replaced with a “musical playlist” so you can fully enjoy the video.
Please note:
* This video is the first part of the exploration. The second part will be released next week, so stay tuned to continue the discovery.
* “Enable subtitles” to learn more about the plants and trees I mention throughout the tour. 📜
Enjoy this immersive visit and discover an exceptional place in Okinawa!
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📌 Subscribe to this channel: 🔔 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Japan-Okinawa-Daily-Life
📌 This video is Part 1 of the Ocean Expo Park visit.
🎥See Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NTBsR4K3MM
🎥See Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yECNsqxWKY0
🔗 Read the blog post on this topic 👉 https://japan-okinawa-daily-life.com/ocean-expo-park-okinawa/
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