Kourijima island is also called the “Love Island” (Kuijima) because of a local legend that resembles the story of Adam and Eve. It is a beautiful island surrounded by shining blue sea that can be accessed any time by car from Okinawa’s main island. The legend tells that mankind’s ancestors lived here as a couple, and near the beach one can see two heart-shaped rocks formed by the wave erosion over the years. Let’s go and find these romantic Heart Rocks near the beach that impresses with transparent water and blue sky.
Kourijima is a paradise accessible by car from Okinawa’s main island
With a circumference of only 8 kilometers Kourijima is a very small island off the coast of Motobu peninsula where Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is located. Although being surrounded by the spectacularly beautiful Okinawan sea, there are no big resort hotels or any other massive buildings on the island. All one can see is sugarcane and purple sweet potato fields, deep blue sky and splendid beaches.
Therefore it is not surprising that until 2005, when the 2-kilometer long Kouri-ohashi bridge was built to connect it to the peninsula, the only way to reach this remote island was by ferry from Nago city. So even now life goes slowly on the island. In 2010 Warumi-ohashi bridge which connects neighbouring Yagajishima island with Nakijin village was built too. That made the access to Kourijima about 20 minutes by car from the popular Churaumi Aquarium. From Warumi-ohashi’s observatory one can enjoy the view of Kouri-ohashi suspended over the deep blue sea.
(Advice for drivers) Warumi-ohashi is a relatively new bridge, therefore the car navigation in most rental cars still suggests a roundabout way to Kourijima island through Nago city. If you follow the navigation it will take you more than an hour, so be careful.
Driving along the Kouri-ohashi bridge over the deep blue sea offers a splendid view
The long bridge suspended over the blue sea makes driving look like a scene from a commercial. Moreover, it is free to pass. When the splendid view appears in front of your eyes, there will certainly be shouts of joy in your car! Especially during sunny days the contrast with the sea is extremely gorgeous, so going there on a sunny day is most recommended.
There is a parking lot before the bridge where you can take pictures. Stopping the car on the bridge is very dangerous. That is to say, all drivers become so fascinated by the sea spreading in front of their eyes that they might be too late to notice a stopped car in front of them. Those who want to enjoy the sea more can cross the bridge on foot.
The Heart Rocks beach is such a beautiful little known spot
The most popular beach on Kourijima island can be reached right after crossing the bridge. Precisely because it is popular and is well equipped with changing facilities, showers and shops, the parking lot there gets full during the weekends. However, coming all the way to Okinawa means also that you might want to enjoy silent beautiful beaches.
Just a 5-minute drive after you cross the big bridge takes you to beautiful and secluded beaches. One such beach that I will introduce now is the little known Teenu Beach with the Heart Rocks. You catch your breath at the end of the little path that leads to the shore and the deep blue ocean. Then you discover the stunning view and immediately understand why this island is considered holy with its legend about the Okinawan Adam and Eve.
Swim in the transparent water? Relax under the trees?
Teenu Beach with the Heart Rocks is located on the north side of the island. The sign that leads to it is no bigger than A3 size and thus easy to miss - a pink heart drawn on a white background. There is one parking lot (300 JPY per hour, 500 JPY per day) and only one beach hut.
Most guidebooks suggest visiting Tokeihama Beach which is similarly located on the north side, but I think the water is clearer at Teenu Beach. Don’t only go there to see the Heart Rocks, but also prepare for swimming so that you don’t need to drive elsewhere. There are also many tree shades where you can feel the sea breeze with your entire body. There is one paid shower in the beach hut at the parking lot.
Note: There are no lifeguards so watch out not to enter too deep in the sea.
Which is the best spot to see the heart from?
Maybe some of you are watching the photos in this article and thinking “Well, it does resemble a heart a bit, but…”. In fact, the heart is best seen from a certain angle.
Either rock resembles a heart to some degree, but you can best see the pretty shape from a spot where the two rocks become one. The heart appears when they snuggle up to each other, making it feel so romantic. The evening sun sinks in the waters of this beach, so the heart silhouette at sunset must be really beautiful. For visiting couples the evening view is probably the most romantic one.
Finally
Embraced by the shining blue sea, Kourijima is a very small island that can be entirely seen by a 10-minute car ride, but one can feel the grand scale of nature from the local views. It is also easily accessible from Churaumi Aquarium, so make sure to add it in your Okinawa trip schedule.
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