Kouri-jima
古宇利島26°42′ N 128°01′ ENago & Motobubridge islandreefbeaches
Kouri-jima is a 3.17 km² island in Nakijin village joined to Yagaji-jima by the 1,960 m Kouri Bridge, with Heart Rock on its north shore and a short loop road around its coast.
Photo pelican from Tokyo, Japan · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Kouri is the island most people picture when they think of northern Okinawa, with its long bridge low over pale water and the beach and shrimp trucks gathered at the island end. About 350 people live here, and they still fish for sea urchin and farm mozuku, though the urchins have thinned out.
A coastline of 7.9 km makes for a short ride. Amajafubaru Rural Park sits on the high point about 107 m up, where a Ryukyu-era beacon station watched for foreign ships, and on a clear day you see Izena and Iheya from it. Tinu Beach and its Heart Rock sit on the north shore, with the potholed coves of Tokei a little further on.
Come early. The bridge and the car parks fill by late morning in season, and even in February the Heart Rock car park has room for only about 20 cars.
Getting there
Drive or ride over the 1,960 m Kouri Bridge from Yagaji-jima, which you reach from Nago over the Yagaji Bridge or from Nakijin over the Warumi Bridge. The Kouri Bridge closes to traffic when typhoons approach, as it did overnight on 10–11 July 2026.
Getting around
A loop road built in the 1980s circles the island. Most visitors drive; bring a bike over the bridge or rent one in Nakijin or Nago.
Riding on Kouri-jima
The island loop is short, and a detour climbs to Amajafubaru at 107 m, with the bridge as the only way in and out. The north shore at Tinu and Tokei takes the full winter wind. The south side by the bridge stays sheltered.
December to March
December to March is the quiet season. The south-facing beach by the bridge sits in the lee of the island when the north wind blows. Tinu and Tokei on the north shore catch it head-on. Swim services pause, and the shops and cafés keep shorter hours, so check before you cross for lunch.
Worth knowing
- Climb to Amajafubaru Rural Park for the view the tour buses miss; the boardwalk loop takes about five minutes.
- Check the Nakijin Tourism Association site before a stormy-weather visit: it posts Kouri Bridge closures.
- Shirasa and Kouri Shrimp keep lunch hours, so arrive before 14:00.
2 routes
Ride Kouri-jima走る
Where to base
Towns and villages on Kouri-jima町
FAQ
Quick answers about Kouri-jimaよくある質問
How do you get to Kouri-jima?
You drive or ride over the 1,960 m Kouri Bridge from Yagaji-jima in Nago. The bridge is toll-free.
How big is Kouri-jima?
Kouri-jima covers 3.17 km² with a 7.9 km coastline, and 346 people lived there at the 2015 census.
Does the Kouri Bridge close in typhoons?
Yes. Okinawa Prefecture closes the Kouri Bridge to traffic when typhoons approach. In July 2026 it shut from 18:00 on 10 July to 6:00 on 11 July.
Can you cycle on Kouri-jima?
The island loop is short, and a detour climbs to Amajafubaru at 107 m, with the bridge as the only way in and out. The north shore at Tinu and Tokei takes the full winter wind. The south side by the bridge stays sheltered.
What is Kouri-jima like in winter?
December to March is the quiet season. The south-facing beach by the bridge sits in the lee of the island when the north wind blows. Tinu and Tokei on the north shore catch it head-on. Swim services pause, and the shops and cafés keep shorter hours, so check before you cross for lunch.
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