DMM Kariyushi Aquarium — Attraction in Tomigusuku

DMM Kariyushi Aquarium – Otterly Amazing! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re in Okinawa and thinking of skipping the aquarium, think again. This isn’t just any aquarium – it’s an adventure that starts with otters and ends with owls, and you won’t want to miss a minute of it.

Pro tip: Go early! Not only do you beat the crowds, but you’ll get the chance to sign up for one of the best things ever – feeding the otters. Yes, you read that right. These little guys don’t just wave at you, they reach out with their tiny paws, and you basically get to shake hands with an otter. Life made.

The aquarium itself? Absolutely gorgeous. It’s so clean and well-maintained, you’d think the fish personally scrubbed the tanks before you arrived. The layout is immersive, blending digital art with real marine life in a way that makes you feel like you’re walking through an ocean dream.

But wait – owls? Yep. After all the undersea wonder, you’re suddenly face-to-face with spectacled owls that are just ridiculously cute. There’s even a snowy owl straight out of a Harry Potter scene, giving you that wide-eyed stare like it’s judging your life choices (but in the nicest way possible).

The whole place is like stepping into a peaceful, magical world – part high-tech, part wild. It’s perfect for kids, couples, or just anyone who wants to leave with a smile that won’t quit.

If you love animals, cool vibes, and the idea of an otter handshake, DMM Kariyushi Aquarium is calling your name. Don’t walk – waddle like a...

Visited this aquarium specifically because they didn’t have dolphin shows etc. and left feeling sick to our stomachs at the conditions their animals are kept in.

The aquariums were nice but our visit to the rainforest/animal area shocked us. None of them have anything close to adequate enclosures. They are purely there for entertainment and have nowhere to hide or otherwise exhibit natural behaviours. The pelican was obviously trying to hide but was trapped in a small box and was shaking with fear and stress. I saw a review from 8 months ago mentioning this pelican and it’s disturbing to know it’s been suffering for at least that long. The armadillos were in a tiny box with nothing other than about two handfuls of hay. The toucans had their wings majorly clipped and could only hop around on a bare branch. A barn owl (nocturnal) was tied with a rope to a single branch. The lone otter was swimming in circles endlessly. Otters are social animals and it was sad to see one so alone and stressed. There were other animals in similar conditions including meerkats, sloths, a monkey etc.

If you have any empathy at all for animals, do NOT visit. It is barbaric the way they treat their animals. We wish there was something more we could do to help these poor creatures.

All this aside, it was also too expensive for the quality of...

This aquarium was conveniently attached to a small shopping center. There was plenty of parking and it was easy to locate. You can pay with yen or card. The price was on the higher end and if you wanted to pet the pigs, feed the otter, ect. there was an additional charge for those experiences. When you first walk in the fish area is nicely decorated but as you round the corner the smell coming from the penguin exhibit hits you in the face like a ton of bricks, it smells so intense I had to power walk as fast as I could with my kids to get away from it. I kid you not it was awful. They're were some cute lizards (whose tanks were way too small for them, in my opinion) and a really fun touch tank area. In another room you can get really close to some sloths and other animals, it also smelled bad in that room but nothing compared to those penguins. Downstairs there are more fish and the room with all the little pigs, ducks, and owls. This area again pretty smelly but the workers kept the area very clean. All in all my family had a nice time, however due to the price and how small it was, we will most likely not visit again. It is a nice day trip if your looking for...