Kaichu Road is neither a tunnel running beneath the seabed nor a bridge spanning the sea. It is, quite simply, a road built on an embankment across shallow waters.
It was constructed in the 1970s when an American oil company built an oil depot on Henza Island.
Connecting the Katsuren Peninsula with Henza Island, the road stretches straight across the sea. Because the road surface is lower than that of a bridge, driving along it feels almost as if you were traveling right over the water.
Along the way is “Seaside Station Ayahashikan,” a seaside station rather than a roadside station. Its distinctive building, modeled after a traditional Ryukyuan wooden boat known as a “Maran Boat” serves as a landmark.
The “Sea Culture Museum” located here, provides a detailed introduction to traditional Okinawan boatbuilding and the story of how Kaichu Road came to be built. Admission is free.
Kaichu Road is the gateway to the islands of Henza Island, Hamahiga Island, Miyagi Island, and Ikei Island. Touring them by car is a great option, but cycling is another way to explore the area.
At the “Churashima Kaido Information Center” located across from Seaside Station Ayahashikan, bicycles are available to rent for a fee. You can leave your car behind and set off on a leisurely bicycle tour of the islands.