is a town

Towns of Japan

A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...

 located in Kunigami District

Kunigami District, Okinawa

is a district located in Okinawa, Japan. Roughly translated, kunigami means "head of the country", referring to its northern location on the island of Okinawa. Compare this to Shimajiri District, Okinawa....

, Okinawa

Okinawa Prefecture

is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

.

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population

Population

A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...

 of 14,481 and a density

Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 of 266.69 persons per km². The total area is 54.30 km².

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

Several islands can be accessed from Motobu, namely the small islands of Sesoko (by bridge) and Minna-jima (by ferry). 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 Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

The , located within the Ocean Expo Commemorative National Government Park in Okinawa, Japan. It welcomed its 20 millionth visitor on 30 March 2010 and is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums .-History:...

, Omoro Botanical Garden

Omoro Botanical Garden

The , also known as the Omoro Arboretum, is an arboretum and botanical garden located in the Ocean Expo Park, 424 Ishikawa, Motobu, Okinawa, Japan. It is open daily except Thursdays; admission is free....

, and Tropical & Subtropical Arboretum

Tropical & Subtropical Arboretum

The is a arboretum and botanical garden located in the southern tip of the Okinawa Commemorative National Government Park at Ishikawa 424, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, Japan...

 are located in the northern portion this town.

In addition to the aquarium other notable sites include numerous out-of-the-way cafes along the 84 from Nago and a popular pizza restaurant known as Cafe Kajinho on a hill overlooking the town.

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

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

The , located within the Ocean Expo Commemorative National Government Park in Okinawa, Japan. It welcomed its 20 millionth visitor on 30 March 2010 and is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums .-History:...

 (Beautiful Ocean - Okinawan language) Aquarium - one of Japan's largest and best - as well as other exhibits highlighting the island and its culture. The aquarium was the world's largest until the construction of the Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium, located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, at Pemberton Place, is the world's largest aquarium with more than of marine and fresh water housing more than 120,000 animals of 500 different species...

 in the city of Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...

.

Education

Motobu operates its public elementary and junior high schools. The schools 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 other various town events.

• Motobu High School, a public high school operated by the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education
  Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education
  Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education is the prefectural education agency of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan.The board oversees municipal school districts in Okinawa and directly operates many high schools.-Schools directly operated by the agency:-Ginowan:...
  
  , 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 http://study.jp/hs/yashima/top.html.