Kouri Island is a small island that can be circled by car in about 10 minutes.
It was once called “Kui Island” or “Fui Island.” Because these names sound similar to the Japanese word koi, meaning “love,” and because the island has a myth resembling the story of Adam and Eve, many people visit it as a place believed to bring good luck in romance.
There is also a theory that kui and fui mean “a land beyond the sea,” and that these names were used to refer to the island as a place across the water.
Highlights include Kouri Ocean Tower, a new landmark offering sweeping views of the sea; Tinu Beach, famous for its Heart Rock; and Tokei Beach, known for its many unusual rock formations.
There is also Chigunu Beach, where a legend tells of the first man and woman descending from the sky in ancient times.
Amajafubaru Rural Park, located at the highest point on the island, was once the site of a lookout post used to watch for foreign ships. Even today, it remains a scenic spot offering panoramic views of the East China Sea beyond the lush green forest.
Cafés are also dotted around the island. Spend the day swimming at its natural beaches and gazing out at the sea, and the hours will pass in the blink of an eye.