# Kouri Island, Okinawa > Kouri is a small island in northern Okinawa, reached by a free bridge almost 2 km long over turquoise shallows. It has Tinu Beach with its heart-shaped rock and the Ocean Tower viewpoint — about ¥1,000. The island is always open. From Naha it's about 1 hour 40 minutes by car, and 20 minutes from Churaumi Aquarium. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/kouri-island - City: [Okinawa](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa), Japan - YesGo score: 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h - Entry: free; tower ≈ ¥1,000 - Opening hours: Island and bridge always open; Ocean Tower roughly 10:00–18:00, last entry 17:30 - With kids: Fine with kids - Bridge and island: Free, always open - Ocean Tower: About ¥1,000; children about ¥500 - Tower hours: Roughly 10:00–18:00, last entry 17:30 - Highlights: The bridge, turquoise sea, Heart Rock - Best time: A sunny day; low tide for the rock - Getting there: By car: 1 h 40 min from Naha, 20 minutes from Churaumi - Coordinates: 26.70611, 128.01778 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **≈ 1,960 m** — length of the Kouri Bridge (source: travel guides) - **2005** — the year the bridge opened (source: travel guides) - **Free** — the bridge and beaches (source: travel guides) - **Heart Rock** — a heart-shaped rock on Tinu Beach (source: travel guides) - **'Island of love'** — a nickname from a legend of Okinawa's first people (source: travel guides) - **≈ ¥1,000** — the Ocean Tower viewpoint (source: travel guides) - **70 km** — from Naha (source: travel guides) - **20 minutes** — by car from Churaumi Aquarium (source: travel guides) ## What is Kouri Island? **Kouri** is a small round island in **Nakijin** village off the northern part of Okinawa. From neighbouring Yagaji Island the **Kouri Bridge**, almost **2 kilometres** long, leads to it. It runs low over the water, with incredibly **turquoise shallows** and white sand on both sides. On the island are quiet villages, sugarcane fields, beaches and cafés. Local legend says Okinawa's first people — an Okinawan 'Adam and Eve' — lived here, so Kouri is called the **'island of love'**. Hence its emblem, the **heart-shaped rock** on Tinu Beach. > **Heart Rock — at low tide** On Tinu Beach on the north side of the island stand two rocks, one of which looks like a heart from a certain spot — Heart Rock. It's best seen at low tide, when you can walk out through the shallows. Check the tide table. The road to the beach is narrow, and the car parks are small. ## The bridge, beaches and tower Crossing the bridge and the beaches are **free**. At the Yagaji end of the bridge there's a viewpoint and car park — the best view of the bridge and water. The sea's colour is at its finest on a sunny day around midday. On a hill in the middle of the island stands the **Kouri Ocean Tower** viewpoint with a garden and views of the sea and bridge; according to guides, entry is about **¥1,000** for adults, open roughly 10:00 to 18:00. Driving round the island takes 15–20 minutes. ## What to see - **The Kouri Bridge** over turquoise water. - **Tinu Beach** with Heart Rock. - **The beach by the bridge** — shallow and clear. - **Kouri Ocean Tower** — a viewing tower. - **Sea-view cafés** round the island. - **Sugarcane fields** and quiet villages. ## How to get to Kouri Island 1. **By car** — from Naha about 1 hour 40 minutes, 70 km, via the Okinawa Expressway to Kyoda, then along the coast. 2. **From Churaumi** — about 20 minutes by car. 3. **Tour** — often combined with Churaumi and Cape Manzamo. 4. **Bus** — there's no convenient direct bus; better to hire a car. 5. **Round the island** — a 15–20 minute drive. ## Kouri Island or Cape Manzamo | | Kouri | Manzamo | | --- | --- | --- | | Highlight | A bridge and turquoise shallows | The 'elephant trunk' rock | | Entry | Free | ≈ ¥100 | | Time | 1–2 hours | 30 minutes | | Best | At sunny midday | At sunset | ## How long do you need? Allow **1–2 hours** for Kouri: drive over the bridge, stop at the viewpoint, walk to Tinu Beach and have a coffee with a view. Longer with a swim. The island is almost always paired with **Churaumi** Aquarium, 20 minutes away. In summer you can swim and snorkel off the beaches — the water is shallow and warm — but most beaches have no lifeguards, and currents at the reef edge can be strong. With children, choose the beach by the bridge, which is the shallowest. Try the local treat — **uni sea urchin**, which Kouri is known for — and tropical-flavoured ice cream at the cafés by the bridge. Many island cafés open only by day, so plan lunch in advance. ## Is Kouri Island worth visiting? Yes: the colour of the water at the Kouri Bridge is one of Okinawa's great sights, and it's all free. The YesGo take: it's hard to reach without a car, and on a cloudy day the turquoise water turns an ordinary grey. Choose a sunny day, come in the morning and combine it with Churaumi. The island itself is small — don't expect many sights; people come for the sea. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] A rental car - [ ] A sunny forecast - [ ] Tide table — for Heart Rock - [ ] Swimwear and a mask - [ ] Churaumi on the route ## Sea and beaches: compare and choose Beaches and waterside places rated by YesGo. - [Naminoue Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/naminoue-shrine) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Kouri Island](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/kouri-island) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; tower ≈ ¥1,000 - [Churaumi Aquarium](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/churaumi-aquarium) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥2,180 ## Northern Okinawa in a day Cape Manzamo on the way, Churaumi Aquarium at midday, and the turquoise shallows of Kouri Island towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Cape Manzamo](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/cape-manzamo) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ ¥100 2. [Churaumi Aquarium](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/churaumi-aquarium) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥2,180 3. [Kouri Island](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/kouri-island) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; tower ≈ ¥1,000 ## Good to know Kouri Island is not Yagaji Island, where the bridge starts, nor the Kerama Islands west of Naha. It's also written Kourijima. ## Tips - Come on a sunny day. - See Heart Rock at low tide. - Best bridge view — from the Yagaji viewpoint. - You'll need a car. - Nearby: [Churaumi](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/churaumi-aquarium). ## Questions ### Is the bridge to Kouri Island a toll bridge? No, crossing the bridge is free. ### How long is the bridge? About 1,960 metres. ### Where is Heart Rock? On Tinu Beach on the north side of the island; best at low tide. ### How much is the Ocean Tower? About ¥1,000 for adults, according to guides. ### How do I get there? By car: about 1 h 40 min from Naha, or 20 minutes from Churaumi. ### Is there a bus? No convenient direct bus — hire a car or take a tour. ### How long do you need? 1–2 hours. ### Can I swim? Yes, in summer; with children, at the shallow beach by the bridge. ## How we checked There are no Wikipedia articles on the island, so the bridge, beaches, tower and access are from guides; the tower's price and hours are marked 'being checked'. Swimming and timing advice is the YesGo assessment. ## Sources - Travel guides — the bridge, Tinu Beach, Heart Rock, Ocean Tower, access, the legend (unofficial; no Wikipedia articles) - Wikidata Q4518163 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.