The northern peninsula of the Okinawa main island is a popular tourist attraction as there is a lot to see in this region. The plan was for us to rent a car and drive from Naha City in the south, to the Motobu peninsula in the north, stopping at places and attractions along the way. We also planned to drive even further north to visit Ogimi Village (the region in Japan that has the longest living people). So before we left Singapore, we booked a rental car online with a reputable car rental company and we also booked a hotel room along the Motobu Peninsula coast.
As things would turn out, on the day we went to collect the rental car, we were advised by the rental car company that we needed an international driver's license in order to be able to drive in Okinawa. We were not made aware of this when we made the booking online. Unfortunately neither one of us had an international driver's license. Needless to say we were very disappointed that we would not be able to drive around the island, but we had to come up with another plan.
Fortunately there are a few public buses that go up north, so we ended up taking one of these bus. It turned out to be a 3 hour bus ride, with the bus making a few stops along the way. Unfortunately because we had our luggage with us, it was not convenient for us to get off at any of these stops to do sightseeing. Some of the bus route was along the coast and we have to say that the coastline of the Okinawa main island is really beautiful. Fortunately for us, the bus stop nearest to our hotel was within walking distance. That said, the only attraction near our hotel was the Ocean Expo Park.
On the bus ride back to Naha City we took a different bus with a different route. On this route we passed the central inland area of the Okinawa mainland that is home to the U.S. military bases (huge and impressive). The American village in Chatan Town is the epitome of U.S life and boasts huge shopping centres, movie theatres, amusement facilities, second-hand car dealerships and a host of U.S. fast food restaurants including McDonalds, KFC and A&W (A&W's only presence in Asia is in Okinawa).
Ocean Expo Park
This park is located at the site where the International Ocean Expo was held in 1975. The park is home to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, the Tropical Dream Centre and the Oceanic Culture Museum Planetarium, which was closed for redesigning when we visited.
When we originally planned our visit to the Motobu Peninsula, we had no intention of visiting the Ocean Expo Park, but with a wrench in our plans from not being able to rent a car, it was the only attraction within walking distance from our hotel. It was here at the Ocean Expo Park that we saw a lot of American military men, women and their families, who were visiting the park on their day off.
This park is located at the site where the International Ocean Expo was held in 1975. The park is home to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, the Tropical Dream Centre and the Oceanic Culture Museum Planetarium, which was closed for redesigning when we visited.
When we originally planned our visit to the Motobu Peninsula, we had no intention of visiting the Ocean Expo Park, but with a wrench in our plans from not being able to rent a car, it was the only attraction within walking distance from our hotel. It was here at the Ocean Expo Park that we saw a lot of American military men, women and their families, who were visiting the park on their day off.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
After watching a very interesting, eye-opening and upsetting documentary a few years ago called "The Cove", David and I made the decision to stop supporting (i.e visiting) oceanariums, dolphinariums, marine mammal parks and aquariums. If you haven't seen this documentary, then we highly encourage you to do so (it is available on You Tube). The documentary is a real life account of man's cruelty and disregard for the ocean and life in the ocean (this documentary specifically reveals the slaughter of dolphins that takes place each year between September and April, ironically in a cove off the coastal town of Taiji, Japan). To say that this documentary changed our way of thinking and looking at the world is an understatement.
Having said this, we had reservations about going to the aquarium, but there were no other places of interest or attractions within walking distance from our hotel, so we had limited options. With this predicament, we decided to put our reservations aside and visit the aquarium. I have to say that being at the aquarium did not sit very well with us and in fact after entering and seeing the sea animals and mammals, we knew we should not be there on principle. As much as this whole aquarium is impressive and stunning (it is located along the coast, overlooking the East China Sea), visiting it just made us more clear that keeping sea animals in captivity is cruel and that the decision we made a few years ago to not support these operations was and is indeed the right decision.
After watching a very interesting, eye-opening and upsetting documentary a few years ago called "The Cove", David and I made the decision to stop supporting (i.e visiting) oceanariums, dolphinariums, marine mammal parks and aquariums. If you haven't seen this documentary, then we highly encourage you to do so (it is available on You Tube). The documentary is a real life account of man's cruelty and disregard for the ocean and life in the ocean (this documentary specifically reveals the slaughter of dolphins that takes place each year between September and April, ironically in a cove off the coastal town of Taiji, Japan). To say that this documentary changed our way of thinking and looking at the world is an understatement.
Having said this, we had reservations about going to the aquarium, but there were no other places of interest or attractions within walking distance from our hotel, so we had limited options. With this predicament, we decided to put our reservations aside and visit the aquarium. I have to say that being at the aquarium did not sit very well with us and in fact after entering and seeing the sea animals and mammals, we knew we should not be there on principle. As much as this whole aquarium is impressive and stunning (it is located along the coast, overlooking the East China Sea), visiting it just made us more clear that keeping sea animals in captivity is cruel and that the decision we made a few years ago to not support these operations was and is indeed the right decision.
Taco Rice
After our visit to the aquarium, we made our way to the Tropical Dream Centre, where we stopped for lunch and had Taco Rice. Taco Rice is an icon of Okinawa's "champuru" or mixed culture. It was derived from the Mexican tacos that were introduced by the American military stationed in Okinawa. The difference with this dish is that all the taco fillings are on a bed of rice instead of in a tortilla. It is a very popular dish in Okinawa with both locals and the Americans stationed here. We enjoyed our lunch before exploring the Tropical Dream Centre.
After our visit to the aquarium, we made our way to the Tropical Dream Centre, where we stopped for lunch and had Taco Rice. Taco Rice is an icon of Okinawa's "champuru" or mixed culture. It was derived from the Mexican tacos that were introduced by the American military stationed in Okinawa. The difference with this dish is that all the taco fillings are on a bed of rice instead of in a tortilla. It is a very popular dish in Okinawa with both locals and the Americans stationed here. We enjoyed our lunch before exploring the Tropical Dream Centre.
Tropical Dream Centre
The Tropical Dream Centre consists of a few entertainment areas (there was some live entertainment when we visited), different gardens, greenhouses and an observatory with an observation deck (at a height of 118 feet or 36 meters), that provided us with gorgeous views of the East China Sea, the surrounding area and Lejima Tacchu Mountain in the distance.
The Tropical Dream Centre consists of a few entertainment areas (there was some live entertainment when we visited), different gardens, greenhouses and an observatory with an observation deck (at a height of 118 feet or 36 meters), that provided us with gorgeous views of the East China Sea, the surrounding area and Lejima Tacchu Mountain in the distance.
Victorian Greenhouse
The Victorian greenhouse is home to tropical aquatic plants like the Amazon water lily. We unfortunately didn't see too many lilies, but their huge leaves were all over the indoor pond. These leaves can reach up to 6 1/2 feet (2 meters) in diameter and can bear the weight of approximately three children.
Fruit Tree Greenhouse
The fruit tree greenhouse of the Tropical Dream Centre was great to stroll through and it was interesting to see how some fruits grow. We saw some fruits that we had never seen before like the Water Apple and the Bilinbing, but the two large green Jackfruits were by far the most impressive.
The fruit tree greenhouse of the Tropical Dream Centre was great to stroll through and it was interesting to see how some fruits grow. We saw some fruits that we had never seen before like the Water Apple and the Bilinbing, but the two large green Jackfruits were by far the most impressive.
Orchid Garden
The orchid garden of the Tropical Dream centre was beautiful with some unusual orchids on display. More than 2000 orchids are always in bloom at this world-famous botanical garden.
Native Okinawan Village
This village is a reconstruction of the traditional Okinawa dwellings from the 17th - 19th centuries. We made a quick stop here to look at the different designs.
This village is a reconstruction of the traditional Okinawa dwellings from the 17th - 19th centuries. We made a quick stop here to look at the different designs.
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