Date I went: 03/30/2020
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In this post I wanted to detail a bit on Kouri Island and a few of the popular sites you can check out there! The cool part about Kouri island is that you can drive to it over the longest bridge in Okinawa to get there. And you actually have to drive over a bridge to another connecting island to get there.
There's actually quite a bit of cafes and restaurants on the island as well as a few hotels. Definitely worth a visit for a few hours to do everything the island has to offer, or stay overnight for some out of the city type vacationing.
The drive to the island takes about one and a half hours if you use the toll highway that runs through the middle of Okinawa, but I used the coastal roads which take closer to two hours.
Kouri Island (古宇利島)
The island is known in Okinawan mythology as being the birthplace of Okianwan Adam and Eve. You can read about it more here in this blog post I found.
Driving around the island circumference only takes 10 minutes!
Kouri Bridge (古宇利大橋)
The bridge connecting to Kouri Island is 1960 meters long making it the longest bridge in Okianwa. You could walk or bike across it as well, but be careful of the Okinawa biker gangs on the bridge!
The Pokemon video games put this idea in my head that there are always biker gangs on bridges.
Kouri Beach (古宇利ビーチ)
The first spot you encounter when you cross the bridge is Kouri Beach. It's a small family friendly beach with a great view of Kouri Bridge and you can see Okinawa mainland and it's vastness.
There's some farmland and only a few cars driving along the small island roads here.
Kouri Ocean Tower (古宇利オーシャンタワー)
I had researched this place called Kouri Ocean Tower before coming here so it was my first stop on the island. I paid 700 yen to go up to the tower. You ride in an automated golf cart that winds slowly up the hill where the tower is perched.
Here is the tower's website if you'd like more up to date information
The golf cart ride is really relaxing and feels like you are going through a mini putt course with the mini waterfalls, and astroturf surface the golf cart rolls along. There's a Japanese tour given on the golf cart intercom as it slowly makes it's way up; took about 10 minutes going up.
Once inside the tower you can check out the seashell museum they have with over 10,000 seashells on display or dine in at the tower restaurant.
The main attraction of the tower of course is going to the top of it and ringing the tower bell to solidify your love with your partner lol I saw a lot of couples taking pictures here in my brief time at the tower. Of course I rang the bell in hopes of receiving good luck in the realm of romance.
After the tower I headed to the Northern end of the island to check out the other main attraction here.
There's a lot of advertisement along the way (as you can see in the picture above to the left) for what I would soon find.
Heart Rock (ティーヌ浜 ハートロック)
It's fairly easy to find Heart Rock, but there are a lot of people who come to check it out, so parking can be a bit difficult. You could also park at the Southern end of the island and rent a bicycle if you wanted a bit easier time exploring the island.
The coral here has formed into a heart shaped rock, which many people came to get a insta pic with; of course I was no exception. I honestly didn't find the rock too impressive, and would put it on a low priority for things to check out in Okinawa. But as you readers know I do love the unique Okinawan rocks so it was a high priority for me to check out before being slightly disappointed by it.
At the parking area for the heart shaped rock I found a vending machine with this advertisement featuring Tommy Lee Jones. I'd soon see him all across Japan advertising Iron Boss coffee.
Here's his imdb page in case you were wondering where you know him from.
Kouri Bridge View Point (古宇利大橋南詰展望所)
Before you leave the island (or before you head over) don't forget to check out one of the most famous views in Okinawa known as the Kouri Bridge Viewpoint. It's picturesque even on a cloudy day such as this one. The bridge stretching into the distance really gives you a feeling for how long it is, and this small deserted Okinawan island compliments it so well with Kouri Island in the background.
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