Heart Rock — Attraction in Nakijin

Heart Rock is the kind of spot that makes you pause and smile—especially when the sea breeze cools your skin and the waves softly crash against the shore beneath this naturally formed heart-shaped rock. We found it tucked along the coast of Kouri Island, not far from Kouri Bridge, and immediately felt its charming allure.

Reaching it involved a short, easy stroll along sandy shores and shallow reef areas—perfect for a peaceful wander and an intimate photo moment with the view. We watched couples, families, and solo travelers all gathered around, taking turns snapping shots or simply admiring the ocean framed through the rock’s “heart.”

The tide and light matter here: we visited mid-morning at low tide, which made the heart shape crystal clear against the turquoise backdrop. The spot feels serene and uncluttered—no gift shops, no crowds—just nature’s little love letter on the shoreline.

Parking is available nearby, and it’s easily accessible, even for strollers or those who need a gentler walk. We spent about 20–30 minutes here, capturing photos and soaking in the view, then continued our journey along the island’s scenic coastal route.

Why we loved it: • Natural heart-shaped rock against a vibrant ocean—super romantic and photo-worthy • Accessible and family-friendly: ideal for a quick stop along your Okinawa drive • A peaceful scene—no commercial distractions, just untouched beauty

If you’re wandering Kouri Island or crossing Kouri Bridge, be sure to stop by Heart Rock—it’s a sweet, calm interlude and one of our favorite unexpected...

Great place in Kouri Island! It has a ton of parking at the top of the rocks at 100¥ per car. Facilities before heading down include a wash up area, rentals, and eateries. Basic stuff.

The walk down is extremely dangerous, especially for kids. It’s a tourist attraction so the amount of crowds make it a lot worse. There’s no real steps so you’re balancing on heels and toes with a shaky handrail next to you. There’s literally no space to walk down while people walk up so you’re essentially dodging and moving around to avoid the masses. Please be very careful and if you’re trying to go on a inclement weather day.. don’t.

Now for the beach itself.. simply breathtaking. Sunset or Zampa don’t even compare. The dangerous path truly leads to something worth it because while it’s a small beach, the right half is littered with those taking photos of heart rock while the left has an amazing area to swim and have fun. Crystal clear water- warm water at that, both shallow and deep enough for all ages, and has an amazing scenic value. The beach itself is dirty from tourists and whatnot but what can you expect? There’s a small cove that we all set up base at which had a natural cover for shade and away from the boards of people. It was relaxing.

Last thing I’ll mention is to bring water shoes. With tourists comes the blatant disregard for others so with that said, be careful of glass and other objects that...

Better at high tide. its name indicates, Heart Rock is a heart-shaped rock that has become an extremely popular sightseeing spot and a symbol of Kouri Island. After being featured in a commercial for Japan Airlines along with a popular idol group, it became well-known and despite being a small island, has been flooded with tourists ever since.

Heart Rock is located at Tinu Hama Beach on the northern side of Kouri Island, directly opposite from Kouri Bridge – the entrance to the island.

The beautiful shape was caused by erosion over the years, and does seem to resemble a heart. When facing the sea during low tide you may even be able to see one more heart-shaped rock.

As it is being introduced as a power spot and date spot, it is often crawling with tourists. If you would like to enjoy the beach and Heart Rock in peace, we recommend visiting during the early morning hours.

There are several parking lots in the area, and the walking distance varies by parking lot. Please be aware that some of the parking lots are located quite far from the beach. Furthermore, there are areas on the path to the beach that have bad footing, so please proceed...