SUI TAXI · KOURI OCEAN TOWER
Kouri Ocean Tower The bridge, seen from above.
From Naha ｜ Private Charter ｜ Nakijin ｜ The high point of Kouri Island
From the hilltop past the bridge.
Cross Kouri Bridge onto the island, climb to the top of the slope, and you reach Kouri Ocean Tower. It stands at the highest point on the island. From the observation floor, the 1,960-metre bridge you have just driven reads as a single line laid across the water.
Stopping on the bridge itself is not allowed, which makes this one of the few places to actually photograph it. Crossing the bridge and looking down on it leave completely different impressions of the same structure.
A covered self-driving cart carries you from the entrance up the hill to the tower, so nobody has to walk the slope. Inside there is a shell collection, along with a restaurant and a shop.
Looking down on Kouri Bridge from the highest point on the island.
Somewhere to go when it rains.
Most of what Kouri Island offers is outdoors. Heart Rock and Kouri Beach both get awkward underfoot in the rain. The observation floor and the exhibits here are indoors, which makes the tower a usable destination when the weather turns.
On mornings when the forecast is uncertain, we sometimes head north first and decide on arrival. Clear skies mean carrying on to Heart Rock; rain means spending the time at the tower. Either way the day holds together.
Kouri Ocean Tower by taxi
A round trip charter from Naha runs about 8 hours, from 56,000 yen including tax, with expressway tolls charged separately. Pairing Kouri Island with Churaumi Aquarium on the same day is the usual pattern, and the tower fits inside that as a 30 to 60 minute stop.
The island roads are narrow and the car parks are not large. The tower has its own parking, but Heart Rock gets busy. Not spending time looking for a space means the hours on the island go to sightseeing instead.
— Admission: The tower is a paid facility. Admission is not part of the charter fare, so please pay on site.
Charter fares including Kouri Ocean Tower
| Plan | Fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Naha to Kouri Island, round trip charter (8 hours) | From ¥56,000 | One vehicle, up to 5 people, from ¥11,200 each Tolls, parking and admission are extra |
| Kouri Island and Churaumi Aquarium (8 hours) | From ¥56,000 | Both fit inside the same 8 hours Tolls, parking and admission are extra |
| Charter starting from a hotel in the north (6 hours) | From ¥42,000 | Charters starting in the north begin at 6 hours Expressway tolls and parking are extra |
| Naha Airport to a hotel in Motobu or Nakijin transfer | ¥35,000 | One vehicle, up to 5 people, from ¥7,000 each Expressway tolls included |
| Hotel in Motobu or Nakijin to Naha Airport transfer | ¥35,000 | One vehicle, up to 5 people, from ¥7,000 each Expressway tolls included |
Charter fares are time-based at ¥7,000 per hour (¥3,500 per additional 30 minutes booked in advance). Extensions made after departure are ¥4,200 per 30 minutes. Admission, expressway tolls and parking are charged at cost. For charters of 6 hours or more we take a 30% deposit when you book, and the balance is paid on the day. Minimum booking times depend on where you start: from 3 hours in the south and central area, 4 hours in Onna Village and 6 hours in the north, and 8 hours for trips that cross between the south and the north. Where a long transfer is involved, the transfer fare for that stretch is the floor for the price.
Address
Kouri, Nakijin Village, Okinawa
Observation floor
Kouri Bridge and the Motobu Peninsula in one view.
Up the hill
A covered self-driving cart takes you up
From Naha
About 1 hour 40 minutes via expressway
Access
| Location | Kouri, Nakijin Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa |
| Facilities | Observation floor, shell collection, restaurant and shop |
| Admission | Paid entry. Opening hours vary by season |
| From Naha | About 1 hour 40 minutes via expressway |
| Nearby | Heart Rock (5 min), Churaumi Aquarium (20 min) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a taxi from Naha to Kouri Ocean Tower?
A round trip charter of 8 hours starts at 56,000 yen. That is the price for one Alphard carrying up to five people, so from 11,200 yen each with five. A one-way transfer from Naha Airport to a hotel in Motobu or Nakijin is 35,000 yen with expressway tolls included. Admission, tolls and parking are charged separately at cost.
Is the tower separate from Kouri Island?
The tower is a facility on Kouri Island. The island also has Heart Rock and Kouri Beach, so the tower is one stop among several. Most visitors spend 30 minutes to an hour there.
Is it worth visiting on a rainy day?
Yes. The observation floor and the shell exhibits are both indoors. Since most of Kouri Island is outdoors, we sometimes suggest the tower specifically when the weather turns.
Do I have to walk up the slope?
No. A covered self-driving cart runs from the entrance up the hill to the tower, and the building is not stairs-only, so the observation floor is reachable even if walking is difficult.
Where can I photograph Kouri Bridge?
Stopping on the bridge is not permitted, so the options are the parking area at the far end or this tower. If you want the whole bridge in one frame, the tower makes the composition easier.
Can I combine it with Churaumi Aquarium?
Yes. The aquarium is about 20 minutes from Kouri Island, so both fit inside an 8-hour charter. The aquarium in the morning and the island in the afternoon leaves you driving home past a low sun on the water.
Ready to book?
Recommended Combination Courses
Kouri Island
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Churaumi Aquarium
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Sesoko Island
An island reached by bridge from Motobu, with white sand and remarkably clear water.
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Nakijin Castle
World Heritage castle ruins in the north
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