Motobu Town & Nago City
Located to the north, this sparsely populated area on Okinawa Island is perfect for people who want to learn about the oceans without getting wet or seasick. Tourists frequent the area especially to see Ocean Expo Park in Motobu Town, which was the original site of the ocean-themed World Exposition in 1975. It was renovated to house the mesmerizing Churaumi Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world, as well as the Oceanic Culture Museum, which chronicles Okinawa's seafaring past and the influence of cross-cultural trade. Botanical gardens, as well as Emerald Beach, ensure that everyone in the family will find something they love. For fruit lovers, Pineapple Park is right next to Okinawa Fruits Land in Nago City, and shows how pineapples are grown and made into various products like pineapple wine. The hilly Nago Central Park has beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring, and beer lovers can reserve a visit to the Orion Brewery, makers of Okinawa's local beer. Though Okinawa lacks natural hot springs, the Okinawa Marriot Resort & Spa makes up for that with its sauna and bath facilities.