Photo courtesy of: National Okinawa Memorial Park (Ocean Expo Park) Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa (General Manager: Yuki Fujii), located in a lush natural setting in Motobu Town, Okinawa Prefecture, will hold a special summer event exclusively for hotel guests from Saturday, July 18, 2026, to Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The event is titled "Let's Participate Together! Learn with a Doctor 'Chura Island Academy @ Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa'."
This event will feature eight special lectures led by doctors from the Okinawa Chura Island Foundation, who will explain the little-known ecology and charm of Okinawa's marine life and nature in an easy-to-understand and enjoyable way.
Topics such as the ecology of whale sharks, Okinawan coral, rare flora and fauna of Yanbaru, and episodes of new species discoveries will be explained, incorporating the latest research, to captivate both children and adults.
This academy will further enhance your enjoyment of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and Ocean Expo Park.
Additionally, for a limited time, a "Night Tour" will be held, where participants can explore Ocean Expo Park at night with a guide to search for creatures, and a "Aquarium Backyard Tour" will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, which is usually off-limits.
This is an interactive event that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, perfect for summer vacation free study projects or creating family travel memories.
Event Overview
Let's Participate Together! Learn with a Doctor "Chura Island Academy @ Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa"
Doctors active at the Okinawa Chura Island Foundation will provide fun explanations about Okinawa's unique creatures and natural environment.
July 18 (Sat) "The Story of Bioluminescent Fish" Image August 6 (Thu) "Okinawan Lizards" Image August 29 (Sat) "Okinawan Coral and Coral Reefs" Image
Photo courtesy of: The General Incorporated Foundation Okinawa Chura Island Foundation
Implementation Details
Dates and Themes (8 Sessions Total)
July 18 (Sat) "The Story of Bioluminescent Fish"
July 22 (Wed) "Secrets of Familiar Marine Life"
July 27 (Mon) "The World of Whale Sharks You Don't Know"
August 6 (Thu) "Okinawan Lizards"
August 18 (Tue) "Secrets of Life on Small Islands"
August 29 (Sat) "Okinawan Coral and Coral Reefs"
September 12 (Sat) "The Little-Known Lives of Gobies"
September 23 (Wed) "Rare Plants of Yanbaru"
Time
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Location
Hotel 3F Entrance
Participation Fee
Free (No prior registration required)
Participation Benefits
Participants in each lecture will receive a certificate of completion personally signed by the doctor.
*Please check the hotel's official website for detailed implementation information.
Special Event "Night Tour of Ocean Expo Park"
A special tour that takes participants around Ocean Expo Park after closing hours with a guide to observe creatures active at night.
You can enjoy the different expressions of nature compared to daytime and encounters with nocturnal creatures.
Night Tour Implementation Image / Photo courtesy of: National Okinawa Memorial Park (Ocean Expo Park)
Implementation Details
Date
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Time
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Participation Fee
6,000 yen (tax included) / person
Target Audience
Elementary school students and older
*Please check the hotel's official website for detailed implementation and application methods.
Limited Event "Aquarium Backstage Tour"
A special tour to see the backstage area of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, which is usually off-limits.
Accompanied by a guide, you will tour the facilities that support the aquarium and the behind-the-scenes of animal husbandry, experiencing the little-known inner workings of the aquarium.
Photo courtesy of: National Okinawa Memorial Park (Ocean Expo Park) Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Implementation Details
Date and Time
1 2:50 PM session (includes feeding observation)
Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Friday, July 31, 2026
Friday, August 21, 2026, Monday, August 24, 2026, Friday, August 28, 2026, Monday, August 31, 2026
2 7:00 PM session
Monday, August 3, 2026, Friday, August 7, 2026, Monday, August 10, 2026, Friday, August 14, 2026, Monday, August 17, 2026
*Each session is approximately 30 minutes long.
*Participants will be dismissed within Ocean Expo Park after the tour.
Participation Fee
1 2:50 PM session
15,000 yen (tax included) / group (up to 5 people)
2 7:00 PM session
10,000 yen (tax included) / group (up to 5 people)
*For groups of 6 or more, an additional 2,000 yen (tax included) will be charged per person from the 6th person onwards.
*Please check the hotel's official website for detailed implementation and application methods.
All programs are events exclusively for hotel guests.
Content is subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Hotel Overview
Exterior of Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa Interior image of Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa guest room
Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa is a resort hotel operated by Orion Beer, located in Motobu Town in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa, offering all rooms with oceanfront views. The hotel boasts spacious rooms of 50m2 or more, a variety of restaurants, a marine treatment spa, natural hot springs, and indoor/outdoor pools.
It is approximately a 100-minute drive from Naha Airport. Emerald Beach is located directly in front of the hotel, and it is a 7-minute walk to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, making it an ideal base for sightseeing in northern Okinawa.
Furthermore, the hotel is an official partner hotel of "JUNGLIA OKINAWA," providing unique Okinawan experiences.
Location
148-1 Bise, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-0207
Operating Company
Orion Hotel Co., Ltd.
Official Website
https://www.okinawaresort-orion.com/
Facility Composition
Guest rooms (238 rooms), banquet halls, restaurants ("Orion Brasserie & Table," BBQ restaurant "Capella," Uchina Izakaya "Kare (Kari)"), marine treatment spa "Ryusui," outdoor pool, indoor pool, infinity pool, Jurassic hot spring "Churaumi no Yu," hotel store "Store & Journey" "Orion Official Store Motobu," fitness gym, kids' play room, wedding chapel
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: Event