Visiting Kouri Island: A Must Visit Destination in Okinawa
One of Okinawa’s most picturesque destinations is Kouri Island. With its crystal clear waters, relaxing vibes, stunning views, local restaurants, and just enough things to do to keep anyone busy, Kouri Island is a must visit destination in Okinawa. This small island is a gem just waiting to be explored. Starting with the scenic drive over the bridge to walking down to the beach to see the famous Heart Rock, visiting Kouri Island should be on every travelers itinerary when coming to Okinawa. This post covers all you need to know from my first hand experience from visiting Kouri Island to help you make the most out of you trip to this spectacular little island.
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Kouri Island is a small island just to the north-west of the Motobu Peninsula and is accessible via Kouri Bridge that connects to Yagaji Island.
The best way to get to Kouri Island is by vehicle. There are tours that operate to Kouri Island as well. But the easiest way to visit Kouri Island is by personal vehicle or bike.
To get to Kouri Island from Naha, visitors can take the Okinawa Expressway or take Highway 58 past Nago before turning onto Highway 110 toward Yagaji and Kouri Islands.
Top Attractions and Things to do While Visiting Kouri Island
Although small, Kouri Island offers visitors with plenty of things to do, see, and eat. Visiting Kouri Island can easily take a half day. I always like to combine Kouri Island with other attractions on Motobu like before or after a visit to Churaumi Aquarium.
When visitors come to Okinawa, I always recommend a brief stop at the Kouri Bridge View Point. Here, you get that iconic shot with the crystal clear water and winding bridge to Kouri Island. I usually end the day at Heart Rock before driving around the island back to Kouri Bridge.
Here are some of the must visit places and things to do on Kouri Island that I recommend and take visitors to time and time again.
Kouri Bridge View Point
One of my biggest recommendations when visiting Kouri Island is making a brief stop at the Kouri Bridge View Point.
This view point is on Yagaji Island and offers fantastic views of Kouri Island and the Kouri Island Bridge connecting the two islands.
There is a decent sized parking lot here and access to a small beach.
Drive, Cycle, or Walk Kouri Bridge
One of the main things to do on Kouri Island is to either drive, cycle, or walk Kouri Bridge. I’ve seen people walk the bridge from one island to the other and have seen some walk half way. No matter how you get across the bridge, I guarantee some of the best views Okinawa has to offer.
I am always amazed by the turquoise water as far as the eye can see from view points from Kouri Bridge.
Kouri Bridge is 1960m long connecting Yagaji Island and Kouri Island.
- Don’t park on the bridge.
Don't Miss Kouri Shrimp
One of the most beloved restaurants on Kouri Island, popular among both locals and tourists is Kouri Shrimp.
A day trip to Kouri Island is not complete without trying Kouri Shrimp.
Since Kouri Shrimp is so popular, be prepared to wait in line. Don’t worry, the line goes fairly quick and the food is always fresh and delicious.
What makes Kouri Shrimp so famous is their large shrimp sold with rice and a garlic spread. You can choose between their popular Original Garlic Shrimp, Spicy & Butter Garlic Shrimp, or Butter Garlic Shrimp.
Hours are daily from 11:00 – 17:00 for dining and 11:00 – 18:00 for take out.
Kouri Ocean Tower
For some of the best views of Kouri Island and Okinawa head over to the Kouri Ocean Tower.
Kouri Ocean Tower is part theme park, part museum, part observation deck, and part cafe. That is right, Kouri Ocean Tower is not just a tall tower dominating Kouri Island.
With a height of 82 meters, Kouri Ocean Tower is a fun and interesting place to stop at while touring Kouri Island.
You take an electric cart that winds through tropical gardens to the entrance of the tower. From here, there is a fabulous museum that has shells on display found throughout Okinawa. As someone who loves beachcombing in Okinawa, I found the museum to be interesting and I learned a lot.
After the museum, it’s worth going to the observation decks to get great views of Kouri Bridge. There is a gift shop and restaurant at Kouri Ocean Tower.
For more information feel free to visit the Kouri Ocean Tower website.
Relax on one of the Many Beaches
Like most of Okinawa, Kouri Island has several spectacular beaches. The beaches here are a good mix of sandy and rocky. I’d recommend Kouri Beach for swimming and snorkeling, mainly for the kids but Tokei Hama and even Hear Rock Beach are interesting beaches to explore and relax on.
Since Kouri Island can be crowded with tourists, some of the beaches can get quite crowded.
Heart Rock
The grand finale, Heart Rock! On the opposite side of Kouri Island from Kouri Bridge, or about half way across the island is a rock formation that can be seen sticking out of the beach that resembles the shape of a heart.
I’ve been to Heart Rock Beach both during high and low tide, and the famous rock is always seen. Being the main attraction on Kouri Island, Heart Rock can be touristy.
There is a parking lot across from the short trail leading to the rock formations. There is a ¥100 parking fee that is kind of based on the honor system. There is a jar here you can drop your ¥100 coin in.
From the parking lot, follow the signs to Heart Rock. It follows a short trail that does get steep, so be careful. Once at Heart Rock, feel free to put your feet in the sand, dip your toes in the water, and take fun selfies with the rocks!
Conclusion
Visiting Kouri Island is a must for any Okinawa itinerary. Kouri Island is a breathtaking island full of beautiful beaches, famous food, and stunning views. Most visitors come to Kouri Island to get a quick photo of Heart Rock, but why not stay for a while and enjoy Kouri Island Tower, eat jumbo shrimp, swim in clear ocean water, or just take in the beautiful sites. Kouri Island offers something for everyone and is a must visit when traveling to Okinawa.
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Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁
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Train Travel 🚂🚊
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2 Comments
Alison
This looks such a great place to visit. Heart Rock is beautiful and the viewpoint looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing all these tips.
zimminaround
Thanks for reading! I’ve been here many times and it’s always just as pretty as the first time.