Journey to a Coral Reef
See, touch and experience corals and surrounding marine life.
The world's first large-scale exhibit of coral reproduction is found here on this floor.
- Home
- Aquarium Area Guide
- Journey to a Coral Reef
- Coral Reef Gallery
Observe marine life featured in each gallery!
Coral Reef Gallery
An array of marine life that thrives in the coral reef is introduced in each of the thirty individual tanks, big and small. There are plenty of sights to see, including tanks that replicate mangrove forests, tanks with swarming anemone fish, and a mini-tank corner entitled. Coral Reef Gallery” Please take your time to enjoy the many attractions here.
| Species | Approx. 150 |
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- Notes:
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- If you tap the tank glass, the creatures inside will think they are in danger and stop moving. Please enjoy the creatures in their natural state without disturbing them.
- You are free to take as many pictures as you want in the Aquarium, but please don't stop long time in front of same tank.
Marine life found in this area
Must-see Points
Why are the individual tanks so small?- The tiny marine creatures that inhabit the coral reef protect themselves by hiding in the spaces between the coral and by having the same colors as their surroundings. This makes it very difficult to spot them in the real sea. In the individual tanks, a little section of the wide open sea is reproduced. This allows you to closely observe creatures usually hidden to the human eye.
Feeding time is 14:00 to 16:00. Nocturnal creatures activate in the evening- Feeding time at the tiny coral life corner is from 14:00 to 16:00. If you are lucky, you will see the little creatures pecking at feed. From 17:00, the nocturnal creatures become active.
Don't Miss the Exhibits in the Individual Tanks! Rare Characters Await!- The exhibits at the tiny coral life corner change throughout the year. If you visit the aquarium regularly with an annual passport, make sure to check this area as rare creatures will sometimes appear. When a new creature is on display, we will post information on the Churaumi Diary page, so make sure to check there, too.
Fish Names of Okinawa Dialect- In Okinawa, fish are often given local names. The saddle-back snapper, usually called "Shima-aodai" in Japanese, is known as 'Shirushichu' in the Okinawan dialect. The garish hind, which is called 'Shimahata' in Japanese, is better known as the 'Indian mibai' in Okinawa. The Okinawan name of each fish can be found on its name plaque. Some of the names are really funny, so make sure to take a look!
*Please note that there are reading mistake.