Kouri IslandYou can enjoy the spectacular view from 82m above sea level in Kourijima.Kouri Ocean TowerHead to Kouri Ocean Tower!
This is a tourist complex that opened in November 2013, where you can enjoy a variety of attractions all in one place, including an observation tower boasting the best view on the island, a cafe and restaurant with stunning ocean views, a shop selling island-exclusive sweets, and a shell museum!
Purchase your admission ticket at the automatic ticket machine at the entrance; it costs 800 yen per adult!
Tickets are available in three languages: Japanese, English, and Korean, so choose the language for the guide announcements inside the electric cart!
After purchasing your ticket, head to the cart boarding area at the entrance, and you'll be transported to the observation deck in an automatically moving electric cart that requires no steering!
The electric cart is equipped with a guide announcement function.Kouri IslandIt introduces the history and tourist spots of the area!
On the way there, you'll slowly ascend a zigzagging slope for about 7 minutes, passing through a garden full of tropical atmosphere, surrounded by palm trees and plants and flowers unique to subtropical regions, allowing you to enjoy the view of Kouri Island spreading out below!
Along the way, we'll come across a photo shoot location set up by a dedicated photography crew, so please pose according to the announcement's cue!
The commemorative photos taken are printed out and sold for 1,000 yen at the shop right inside the park entrance!
On the first floor is the "Shell Museum," which displays over 1,500 species and more than 10,000 shells collected from all over the world. You can enjoy seeing rare shells you've never seen before, as well as brightly colored shells, up close!
Surprisingly, some of the vibrant pink "deep-sea corals" displayed in separate showcases are worth well over 2 million yen!
Next to the museum is the "Shell Shop," where you can purchase accessories, tableware, and interior goods made from shells, which would make great souvenirs for shell lovers!
The workshop also offers hands-on activities such as making bracelets using power stones and shells!
If you go further,Kouri IslandThere is the "Kouri Island Museum" which displays the island's history, and you can learn about the history of Kouri Island, which is said to be the birthplace of humankind and has an Okinawan version of the "Adam and Eve legend"!
On the second and third floors, there are observation decks where you can enjoy panoramic views from indoors! On the second floor, they sell Kouri Island specialty sweets made with island pumpkins harvested on the island, and we saw a couple enjoying the magnificent scenery while savoring these unique Kouri Island sweets!
Furthermore, if you go up to the rooftop, there is an open ocean deck where you can enjoy a panoramic 360-degree view in all directions.Yagaji IslandとKouri IslandAnd concludeKouri BridgeEnjoy a panoramic view of the Kouri Blue sea and sky!
On a clear day, you can see Okinawa Island in the distance.Ogimi villageやKunigami VillageYou can see it up to this point!
There's also a "Bell of Happiness" at the end of the deck, so if you visit Kouri Island, also known as the "Island of Love," you should ring this bell together!
Returning to the first floor and passing through the exit gate, you will find "Shop & Factory".Kouri IslandLimited-edition sweets and island chinsuko, as well as Okinawan specialties such as Ryukyu glass and awamori, and more.Nakijin VillageThey sell souvenirs from Nakijinson, so it's a good place to stop by if you're looking for gifts!
The return trip on the electric cart takes only about 1-2 minutes, so you'll be down in no time!
I've heard that winter in Okinawa is often cloudy, but we were blessed with brief glimpses of blue sky through the clouds, and I was able to spend a relaxing time admiring the ever-changing hues of Kouri Blue! Kouri IslandWhen you stop by,Kouri Ocean TowerI recommend you visit!
Kouri Ocean Tower
Address: 538 Kouri, Nakijin Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture
TEL: 0980-56-1616
Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Last entry 5:30 PM)
Closed days: Open all year round (may be temporarily closed during severe weather such as typhoons)
Parking: Free, 200 spaces (Lots 1, 2, and 3)
https://www.kouri-oceantower.com/
