Churaumi Aquarium Without a Car: ¥2,000 Bus from Naha (2026)

For most travellers without a car, take the Yanbaru Express Bus from Naha Airport or Kencho-kitaguchi (県庁北口) in central Naha to Kinen Koen-mae (記念公園前): it needs no reservation,^[5] costs 2,000 yen from the airport,^[3],[6] and an early start from Naha gives you most of the day at the aquarium. Plan the day around the last buses back, which leave Kinen Koen-mae between 17:00 and 17:22.^[12][9]

Key facts

• The pick: Yanbaru Express Bus, 2,000 yen from Naha Airport or 1,900 yen from Kencho-kitaguchi, no booking.^{[3],[6][6][5]}
• Earliest arrivals: route 117 leaves Naha Airport at 6:45 and reaches Kinen Koen-mae at 8:56; Yanbaru Express leaves Kencho-kitaguchi at 6:40 and arrives at 8:45.^[9][3]
• Fastest from central Naha: the Airport Shuttle’s Rapid bus, 8:15 from Kencho-kitaguchi to the aquarium at 9:56, bookable online.^{[12][13],[12]}
• Last buses back from Kinen Koen-mae: 17:15 (Yanbaru Express) and 17:22 (route 117).^[4][9]
• At the aquarium: open Off season 8:30–18:30 (last admission 17:30); peak seasons in 2026: April 25 – May 6 and July 18 – 31 8:30–20:00 (last admission 19:00), August 1 – 31 8:30–21:00 (last admission 20:00); year-end and New Year 8:30–18:30; adult admission ¥2,180; the walk from the bus stop takes about 10 minutes.
• Large suitcases: Yanbaru Express has limited trunk space.^[8]

Which bus goes from Naha to Churaumi Aquarium?

Three express buses run from Naha to Kinen Koen-mae, the stop for Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (沖縄美ら海水族館) in Ocean Expo Park. They differ in where you board, how early they arrive and whether you can book.

Item	Yanbaru Express Bus	Route 117	Airport Shuttle (Rapid)
Board in Naha	Naha Airport or Kencho-kitaguchi	Naha Airport or Asahibashi (Naha Bus Terminal)	Naha Airport or Kencho-kitaguchi
Earliest from central Naha	6:40 from Kencho-kitaguchi, arriving 8:45	—	8:15 from Kencho-kitaguchi, arriving 9:56
First from the airport	10:10, arriving 12:25	6:45, arriving 8:56	10:20, arriving 12:15
Adult fare	2,000 yen from the airport; 1,900 yen from Kencho-kitaguchi	—	—
Booking	None: pay on board	—	Online up to one month ahead, or pay on board if seats are free
IC cards	Nationwide cards such as Suica; not OKICA	—	—
Last bus back	17:15, reaching the airport at 19:45	17:22, reaching the airport at 19:44	16:00 to the airport (18:58); 17:00 to Naha Bus Terminal (19:48)
Timetable valid from	November 1, 2025	May 25, 2026	October 15, 2026 to January 31, 2027

Yanbaru Express times,^[3][3][4] fares,^[3],[6][6] booking^[5] and IC cards^[7]; route 117 times^[9][9]; Airport Shuttle times^{[12][12][12][12]} and booking.^{[13],[12][12]}

Yanbaru Express Bus is the simplest choice: no reservation, a fare you can pay with the Suica or other nationwide IC card you may already carry,^[7] and buses from both the airport and central Naha.

Route 117 gets you there earliest if you start at the airport,^[9] and its last bus back is the latest of the three.^[9] It also stops at Asahibashi (旭橋), the Naha Bus Terminal.^[9]

The Airport Shuttle’s Rapid buses are quickest from Kencho-kitaguchi^[12] and are the only option you can book ahead.^[13],[12]

Local buses via Nago are the fallback. Route 111 from Naha Airport ends at Nago Bus Terminal (名護バスターミナル),^[9] where you change to route 65, the Motobu Peninsula line, which passes Kinen Koen-mae.^[10] That timetable dates from 2023 and the trip adds a change, so use this only when you also want to stop in Nago.

How do I take the Yanbaru Express from Naha?

1. Get to the bus stop

   From the airport, board at Naha Airport’s domestic terminal.^[3] If you are staying near Asahibashi or Prefectural Office stations, Yui Rail runs there from Naha Airport Station,^[14] and the earlier Yanbaru Express buses start at Kencho-kitaguchi.^[3]

2. Board without a ticket

   There is nothing to book: be at the stop before the bus is due.^[5] Pay when you board, for example with a nationwide IC card such as Suica, PASMO or ICOCA. Okinawa’s own OKICA card is not accepted.^[7]

3. Ride to Kinen Koen-mae

   The 6:40 from Kencho-kitaguchi arrives at 8:45 and the 8:40 at 10:45.^[3] From the airport, the first bus leaves at 10:10 and arrives at 12:25.^[3] Get off at Kinen Koen-mae (Central Gate).

4. Walk to the aquarium

   From the bus stop to the aquarium entrance is about a 10-minute walk.

5. Catch the bus back

   The last Yanbaru Express bus leaves Kinen Koen-mae at 17:15 and reaches Kencho-kitaguchi at 19:30 and the airport at 19:45.^[4]

If you start at the airport, Yui Rail runs from Naha Airport Station through Asahibashi and Prefectural Office stations.^[14] To decide which IC card to carry, see the IC card comparison.

How long can I stay at the aquarium on a bus day trip?

Long enough for the aquarium and some of the park, if you leave Naha early. On the 8:40 Yanbaru Express from Kencho-kitaguchi, you reach Kinen Koen-mae at 10:45;^[3] the last buses back leave at 17:15 and 17:22.^[4][9] That leaves you from late morning to late afternoon in Motobu.

Leave Naha later and the window shrinks. The first Yanbaru Express from the airport arrives at 12:25,^[3] and the Airport Shuttle’s Rapid from the airport at 12:15.^[12]

The aquarium is open Off season 8:30–18:30 (last admission 17:30); peak seasons in 2026: April 25 – May 6 and July 18 – 31 8:30–20:00 (last admission 19:00), August 1 – 31 8:30–21:00 (last admission 20:00); year-end and New Year 8:30–18:30, so the last bus leaves before it closes. Closing days: No scheduled closing days until March 31, 2027, except temporary closures for typhoons and similar events.

Is a bus tour easier than the public bus?

A tour suits you if you want transport and timing handled for you, with other sights on the way. As one example, Okinawa Bus’s regular sightseeing course B runs daily except on Ocean Expo Park closing days, leaves at 8:30, takes about 10 hours and gives about 160 minutes at Ocean Expo Park.^[11] It costs ¥7,500 for adults including lunch, but aquarium admission (¥2,180 for adults) is extra.^[11]

The public bus costs less and leaves you free to stay longer at the aquarium. A tour is easier if you would rather not track the last bus.

Should I rent a car instead?

If you can drive, a car gives you the most time. The aquarium gives the drive from Naha Airport as about two hours on the Okinawa Expressway,^[1],[2] and you are not tied to the last bus. The aquarium also lists taxis among the ways to get there.^[1],[2]

To compare picking up a car at Naha Airport, the shuttle stops and expressway tolls, read the Okinawa car rental guide.

If you have not driven in Japan before, the guide to driving in Japan covers permits and road rules.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I take a large suitcase on the bus?

Yes, in the trunk, but Yanbaru Express says its trunk space is limited.^[8] If you are on the way to a hotel in Motobu with two big cases, leave time for a later bus in case the trunk is full.

How much do children pay?

On Yanbaru Express, elementary and junior high school students pay half the adult fare, and infants on a lap ride free.^[5],[3] At the aquarium: General admission: adults 2,180 yen, high school students 1,440 yen, elementary and junior high school students 710 yen, under 6 free; tickets at the aquarium ticket desk.

Can I use Suica or another IC card?

On Yanbaru Express, yes: it takes the nationwide IC cards such as Suica, PASMO and ICOCA, but not Okinawa’s OKICA.^[7] On the Airport Shuttle you can pay on board by credit card, e-money, QR code or cash when seats are free.^[12]

Do I need to book the bus?

Not for Yanbaru Express, which takes no reservations.^[5] The Airport Shuttle can be booked online up to one month ahead, paid by credit card.^[13],[12]