Motobu, Okinawa

Minnajima Beach on the island of Minnajima in Motobu

The town of Motobu sits on the northern part of Okinawa Island. The town occupies the eastern part of the Motobu Peninsula as well as two islands: Minnajima and Sesokojima. Motobu is bordered by Nago to the south, Nakijin to the east, and by the East China Sea to the west.[2]

The Minna River (6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi)) runs from the center of the Motobu Peninsula through the town and empties into the East China Sea at the small Toguchi Bay. Coral around the entrance of the bay was removed to create a natural shipping channel into the bay, and the town center is concentrated in this area.[3]

There are beaches with white sand and clear water such as Minnajima Beach.

The Omoro Botanical Garden and Tropical & Subtropical Arboretum are located in the northern portion of this town.

Motobu magiri covered the area of the present-day town. The magiri, a type of regional administrative district, were abolished under Imperial Edict 46 in 1907, and the Town of Motobu was incorporated in 1908.[2]

In 1975, the World Exposition was held in Motobu, with a focus on the world's oceans. After the expo concluded, Ocean Expo Park was built on the site. Ocean Expo Park is the site of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium as well as other exhibits highlighting the Okinawa Island and its culture.

The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is located within the Ocean Expo Commemorative National Government Park. The aquarium consists of four floors, with tanks containing deep sea creatures, sharks, coral and tropical fish. The aquarium sits on 19,000 square metres (200,000 sq ft) of land, with a total of 77 tanks containing 10,000 cubic metres (350,000 cu ft) of water. The main tank, called the Kuroshio Sea, holds 7,500 cubic metres (1,981,000 US gal) of water and features an acrylic glass panel measuring 8.2 by 22.5 metres (27 by 74 ft) with a thickness of 60 centimetres (24 in). The aquarium was the world's largest until the construction of the Georgia Aquarium in the city of Atlanta, Georgia. The aquarium additionally holds 80 species of coral. The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of only a few aquariums that keeps and attempts to breed whale sharks in captivity.[4][5]

Motobu's public elementary and junior high schools are run under the guidance of the Motobu Board of Education located in Ohama Town, central Motobu. The Board also serves as a meeting place, art exhibit, English class, and a venue for other various town events.

• Motobu High School, a public high school operated by the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education, serves the area.
• Located on Sesoko Island is another high school for the severely disabled
• Motobu Junior High School and Elementary School located in Ohama Town, central Motobu
• Kamimotobu Junior High School and Elementary School located in Yamagawa Town near the Churaumi Aquarium
• Minna-Jimma serving the residing 5 students of the island, in view of Toguchi port. 25 minute ferry
• Sakimotobu Elementary School located on the outskirts of Ohama Town
• Sesoko Junior High School and Elementary School located on Sesoko Island
• Izumi Junior High School located near Nakijin Town
• Yashima Gakuen University International High School, a private school, is located in Motobu.[6]

Motobu is located between the towns of Nakajin and Nago and can be reached by either route 449 or 84.

There are plans to expand the pier in Motobu, and deepen the port. As ships of only up to 20,000 tons can dock at the port, only two cruise ships visited in 2014 and one in 2015. The expansion of the pier would allow larger cruise ships, especially carrying Chinese tourists, to dock. Berths at Naha port are limited and docking requests have been rejected for this reason.[7]