Motobu, Okinawa
Motobu is a town located in Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. As of October 2016, the town has an estimated population of 13,441 and a density of 250 persons per km2. The total area is.
Several islands can be accessed from Motobu, namely the small islands of Sesoko and Minna-jima. Both islands are incorporated as part of the Town of Motobu. Ferry service also runs from Motobu Port to Ie-jima.
Motobu is served by three large supermarkets and eight individual schools from elementary to high school levels.
Like many towns in Okinawa, Motobu is composed of what were formerly several smaller and independent villages. In addition to Motobu proper other included districts are Sesoko, Kamimotobu, Sakimotobu and Izumi.
The well-known Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is located in Motobu. Other notable sites include the remains of Nakijin Castle, as well as several cafes.
Geography
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.The Minna River 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.
There are beaches with white sand and clear water such as Minnajima Beach.
Administrative divisions
The town includes twenty-seven wards.- Bise
- Furujima
- Gushiken
- Hamamoto
- Henachi
- Higashi
- Inoha
- Ishikawa
- Izumi
- Janaha
- Katsuu
- Kenken
- Kitazato
- Namizato
- Nobaru
- Ōhama
- Ōkayō
- Sakimotobu
- Sesoko
- Shinzato
- Tancha
- Toguchi
- Toyohara
- Ufudō
- Urasaki
- Yamakawa
- Yamazato
Parks
History
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.Ocean Expo 1975
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.Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
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 of land, with a total of 77 tanks containing of water. The main tank, called the Kuroshio Sea, holds of water and features an acrylic glass panel measuring with a thickness of. The aquarium was the world's largest until the construction of the Georgia Aquarium in 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.Education
, 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
Public elementary and junior high schools are:
- Motobu Junior High School, located in Ohama Town, central Motobu
- Motobu Elementary School, located in Ohama Town, central Motobu
- Kamimotobu Gakuen – Kamimotobu Junior High School and Kamimotobu Elementary School – located in Yamagawa Town near the Churaumi Aquarium
- Minna Elementary and Junior High School – On Minna-Jimma serving the residing 5 students of the island, in view of Toguchi port. 25 minute ferry
- Sesoko Elementary School – located on Sesoko Island
- Izumi Elementary and Junior High School – located near Nakijin Town
- Sakimotobu Elementary School, located on the outskirts of Ohama Town
- Sesoko Elementary School was formerly Sesoko Elementary and Junior High School
- Yashima Gakuen University International High School, a private school, is located in Motobu.
Transportation
Port
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.Notable residents
- Fumiko Nakamura, educator and peace activist.
Cultural Properties
- Name
Cultural Properties">Cultural Property (Japan)">Cultural Properties
- Kinkin Ufuya 's tomb
- Nakamura Family Documents
- Sesoko Ōhashi Bridge
- Sesoko Tiitinku Enclosure
- Toguchi Bridge
Folk Cultural Properties">Cultural Property (Japan)#Folk Cultural Properties">Folk Cultural Properties
- Bise Uganju Praying Site
- Gushikawa Utaki Sacred Site
- Gushiken Kami-Hasāgi
- Gushiken Settlement
- Jūfuni-mō meadows
- Sesoko Noro kanzashi and magatama
- Sesoko Utaki Sacred Site
- Toguchi Shrine
Historic Sites">Monuments of Japan#Designated monuments of Japan"> Historic Sites
- Banjo Guards House Site
- Gushiken Shell Mound
- Hamamoto Sachipin Shell Mound
- Motobu Observation Post Site
- Sesoko Shell Mound
- Shinsue Brigade Tunnel Site
- Yaedake Campaign Hospital Site
- Yamakawa Kakiuchi Gongen Cave Site
- Yamakawa Minatobaru Site
Places of scenic beauty">Monuments of Japan#Designated monuments of Japan">Places of scenic beauty
- Fukugi tree lanes in Bise
- Mount Yae's cherry trees
Natural Monuments">Monuments of Japan#Designated monuments of Japan">Natural Monuments
- Motobu Ōishibaru ammonite fossils
- Mount Katsuu, Mount Awa, and Mount Yae Nature Reserve
- Ōhama foraminiferal limestone
- Shiokawa River
- Yamazato conical karst formations