Okinawa

The world's second-largest aquarium (after Abu Dhabi) and Asia's largest, the beautiful Churaumi Aquarium, has arrived!! While most of the marine animals on display can be seen in other aquariums, this one boasts the largest captive whale sharks and manta rays. I also noticed that different aquariums have their own training methods for whale and dolphin shows, always eliciting laughter and surprise from the audience. During this visit, I learned some new facts: 1. When whale sharks inhale large amounts of seawater to feed, their unique internal organs allow them to ingest small fish and shrimp for digestion, while the seawater is expelled again through their gills. 2. Dolphins are mammals, and because they have a spinal cord, their tails move up and down when swimming (similar to the butterfly stroke in humans); sharks, being true fish, move their tails side to side. On average, sharks swim faster than dolphins, similar to the food chain relationship between a cheetah and an antelope. 3. Sea snakes are covered in scales, unlike amphibious snakes which have a distinct belly and back.

The taiko drum performance was quite impressive. The entire stalactite formation is almost a kilometer long, but it's a bit stuffy inside.

I recommend taking seasickness medication beforehand! I went snorkeling – even closer than I imagined! I think it was totally worth it! There were also lots of cute cats waiting to go out to sea. I brought my own cat food, and some were available for petting; they were adorable. Our staff member was a very friendly Taiwanese lady – communication was seamless and fantastic! Although there were nets, we got very close to the whale sharks – it was truly moving. I recorded the whole thing on my iPhone 14 Pro with a waterproof case and then extracted the photos from the video. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to see whale sharks! 👍

I specifically booked Jungleia during my trip to Okinawa, initially worried that a newly opened theme park might be disappointing, but it was a pleasant surprise! The park environment was very comfortable, with a great atmosphere right from the entrance, and plenty of photo spots. The rides were more fun than I expected, exciting but not too scary; even I, who don't usually ride amusement parks, had a great time. The staff were very friendly, sometimes even proactively asking if I needed help, which was a huge plus. The food in the park was also much better than I anticipated, not just the typical "just get by" feeling you get at a theme park. Overall, it's a place I'd definitely want to visit again, perfect for company trips, getaways with friends, or families with children. I highly recommend it!

The biggest headache when traveling independently abroad is the language barrier! But with the Fun Pass, that was no problem at all! The staff knew exactly what I needed, so I didn't need to speak Japanese at all (which I don't speak either 😂). The attractions were excellent, and the food was delicious! I'll definitely buy it again next time I'm in Okinawa! 👍