Is This Okinawa or Nishinomiya? Okinawa’s Nature Appears at Summer Solstice — Summer Display Featuring Plants and Aquariums Begins at Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens (6/21–8/23)

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Experiencing an Early Taste of Okinawa’s Summer at Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens

From June 21, 2026 (summer solstice) to August 23, the commercial facility 'Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens' in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, will launch its annual summer display. This year’s theme is 'Okinawa.' A special space will be created where visitors can experience the essence of Okinawa’s sea, forests, and the breath of life through plants and aquariums.

Launched on the special day of the summer solstice—the day that marks the beginning of summer—the project was conceived with the hope that visitors will experience the upcoming summer through the lens of Okinawa’s natural beauty. The exhibition aims to deliver a deeply immersive experience, offering a sense of travel while still within the realm of everyday life.

Address: 14-2 Takamatsu-cho, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture Location: Main Entrance, 2F Main Building, Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens Period: June 21 (Sun), 2026 – August 23 (Sun), 2026

About 8rium (a.a.c. Inc.), Planner and Producer

The planning and production of this exhibition is led by **8rium (a.a.c. Inc.)**, a company whose core business revolves around aquariums.

8rium is a specialized team that uses living materials such as aquariums, aquatic organisms, and plants to plan, design, and construct experiential displays and events in commercial facilities, event spaces, and public areas. Beyond mere decoration, a key feature of 8rium is its unique approach of designing spaces where 'life circulates,' thereby enhancing the intrinsic value of the space itself.

Yasuzumi Urata

Founded in 2002, incorporated as a legal entity in 2009. Will celebrate its 18th anniversary on June 11, 2026.

Representative Yasuzumi Urata has been consistently involved in the aquarium field for over 25 years since the company’s founding. In addition to deep expertise in aquatic life and plants, he has long studied spatial design and production techniques. Drawing on this experience and knowledge, he has established a unique approach that goes beyond simply installing aquariums—creating entire ecosystems as functional spaces.

Project Examples

The company’s business scope extends beyond display production to include event planning and production, as well as aquarium rental, installation, and operational management. 8rium comprehensively handles the creation and operation of 'living aquarium spaces' from scratch, tailored to clients’ goals and concepts—whether seasonal exhibitions, promotional events at commercial facilities, or corporate branding spaces.

Moreover, 8rium emphasizes not just visual beauty, but the principle of 'establishing the mechanisms of nature as part of the space.' The team actively incorporates circular systems where fish, microorganisms, and plants interact, expressing the cycle of life itself as a design element.

As a result, visitors are offered not just the experience of 'viewing' an aquarium, but of 'entering' an ecosystem where water, living creatures, and plants are interconnected.

For this exhibition at Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens, Okinawa’s natural environment—including its sea, forests, and waterways—has been integrated into the space.

8rium Building

Head Office: 2-17-13 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka City, 8rium Building

Company Website Instagram TikTok YouTube

Okinawa’s Sea and Waterside Creatures

The aquarium display will feature creatures symbolic of Okinawa’s rich natural environment.

First, the attention-grabbing Silken Salamander, which inhabits Okinawa’s clear streams and wetlands. Despite its charming appearance, it is also known as an environmental indicator species, symbolizing the richness of Okinawa’s waterside ecosystems. Also on display is the Coconut Crab, which embodies the powerful vitality of the southern islands.

In the seawater zone, popular species such as the Clownfish, known to everyone, and the distinctive-looking Porcupine Pufferfish will appear. The space will resemble a direct slice of Okinawa’s coral reef world.

Additionally, large tanks will feature schools of African Cichlids creating a dynamic underwater world. The interplay of light and water ripples will transport visitors into an extraordinary, otherworldly realm.

Don’t miss other nature-inspired displays, such as tanks designed to resemble waterfalls and tanks dominated by towering Banyan trees.

Porcupine Pufferfish, Clownfish, Silken Salamander

Weekly Changing 'Creature Tanks'

One of the major highlights of this exhibition is the 'rotating weekly tanks.' The display content changes every week, introducing creatures and layouts that can only be seen during that specific period.

What will be on display is a surprise to be discovered upon visiting. Each visit offers a new encounter—a once-in-a-lifetime experience with living creatures.

Note: The types of creatures displayed may be subject to change.

Authentic Plants Delivered from Okinawa

Beyond aquariums, the entire venue is adorned with real plants sourced directly from Okinawa. The unique textures of tropical leaves and vibrant greenery bring a sense of vitality to the space.

These plants are precious specimens provided by the **Okinawa Botanical Garden (Tropical Dream Center)** located within the Ocean Expo Park, as part of their greening initiatives.

The Okinawa Botanical Garden is committed to building a society where people and nature coexist, through environmental conservation, regional greening promotion, and educational activities. This exhibition deeply aligns with those values.

'Tropical Dream Center (Okinawa Botanical Garden) – 360° Tropical Experience' Adjacent to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, the 'Tropical Dream Center (Okinawa Botanical Garden)' is a one-of-a-kind botanical garden in Japan, where ancient-ruin-style architecture harmonizes with diverse tropical plants. Under the slogan '360° Tropical Experience,' it displays over 2,000 orchids at any given time, along with tropical flowers, fruit trees, and freshwater fish. A fantastical world unfolds, engaging all five senses. With panoramic views from the observation deck and well-equipped cafes, it’s a tropical paradise that touches the hearts of both adults and children, offering unforgettable moments.

Tropical Dream Center Website

Experiencing Okinawa’s Nature Beyond the Sea

This project focuses not only on Okinawa’s iconic seas but also on its mountains, forests, and waterside environments.

The overlapping presence of lush greenery, the shimmering water where fish swim, and the tangible aura of living creatures create a multi-sensory experience of Okinawa’s natural environment as a whole.

Environmentally Conscious Exhibition Design

The exhibition incorporates environmental considerations throughout. Natural materials are used in some decorations, and waste materials such as discarded cable reels are repurposed for display stands—demonstrating sustainable practices.

We hope visitors will appreciate that this is not merely a 'display to be seen,' but a space designed to express 'responsibility in handling nature.'

A Circulating Exhibition Space Where Water and Life Connect

Many of the aquariums used in this exhibition employ a 'circular system' where fish, microorganisms, and plants interact to naturally purify the water.

Inside the tanks, organic matter such as fish waste and leftover food is broken down by **nitrifying bacteria (microorganisms)**. First, ammonia is converted into less toxic 'nitrite,' which is then further broken down into 'nitrate (nitrogen and phosphorus),' a nutrient source for plants.

Plants absorb these nutrients, naturally purifying the water, which then returns to become the fish’s living environment once again. In this way, a small, self-sustaining ecosystem—where water, life, and plants are interconnected—continuously circulates within the tank. A key feature of this exhibition is that this mechanism is not presented merely as theory, but transformed into a visually engaging and enjoyable experience for visitors.