A beach you reach by crossing the sea (right after the Kouri Bridge)
The beach immediately on your right after the Kouri Bridge, which lets you drive out over the sea. A concrete promenade runs along the shore, so a walk by the water is easy.
The Kouri Bridge, which makes you feel you are crossing the sea itself, is probably the most exhilarating stretch of road in Okinawa. This photograph is not mine, but if it is summer, the sky is clear, it is around noon and the water is calm, you really do see a view like this.
To the left as you face the sea, the concrete wave-breaking blocks have been laid out like a promenade. It is an easy walk along the water's edge, so if you are not planning to swim but want the atmosphere, do walk it.
The clarity is slightly below average, the same as Kouri Beach on the western side. Conditions were not good on the day of this visit — 2.5 m waves with a swell — but even allowing for that, Kouri Beach is exposed to wave action and tends to be less clear. For gradation, the main island is straight ahead so it is a single emerald green; look to your left and you can see deep blue in the distance.
There is no tree or rock shade beside the beach. For a long stay it is worth hiring a parasol. As shown in the photograph, a parasol is ¥1,000 and a set with a parasol and two loungers is ¥2,500.
Kouri Beach (east) has no marked swimming area, so you are free to swim and snorkel. In exchange for that freedom, you need to look after your own safety. If small children are going to swim properly, Kouri Beach on the western side is the better choice, as it has an enclosed swimming area.
Beside the beach there are clean showers, changing rooms and toilets run by Coconuts Club. Use costs ¥300 for the day, and is free if you use the restaurant or a marine activity. Kouri Beach on the western side has ¥100 showers and free toilets, so if you do not mind crossing the road and walking three minutes, that is an option too. Neither beach has a foot rinse.
Two water sports companies operate on this beach. The first is Kouri ocean side. Apologies for the photograph — you can enlarge it. Marble is ¥2,000 for 10 minutes, banana boat ¥1,500 for 10 minutes, jet cruising ¥3,000 for 15 minutes. Marble and banana boat are ¥500 cheaper than the menu at Kouri Beach on the western side, right next door.
The second is Coconuts Club. Marble and banana boat are both ¥2,000, but each runs five minutes longer than at Kouri ocean side or on the western beach. They also offer something more unusual: stand-up pedal (pedal SUP).
No shop here sells gear for the water, but several sell food and drink. In summer a cocktail van like the one in the photograph turns up as well.
The menu of Yakiniku Taisho Kourijima, the beachside restaurant. Not listed here, but they also had yakisoba at ¥700, karaage at ¥700 and small chips at ¥300.
The seating at Yakiniku Taisho Kourijima has a pleasantly tropical feel.
The restaurant above is summer-only, but Blue Garden, right by the beach, is open year-round. Several other restaurants and cafés are nearby, so it is worth checking a map. (The photograph is for illustration.)
Camping is not allowed at this beach. Barbecues are possible at Yakiniku Taisho Kourijima, mentioned above.
We do not run beach yoga at Kouri Beach. The nearest beach where we do is 21st Century Forest Beach, 35–40 minutes away by car.
The beach is quite small — see the photograph at the top of the page. And because there is no marked swimming area, some people may actually find it harder to swim out any distance.
In Japanese (for maps, taxis and car navigation): 古宇利ビーチ（東側） 沖縄県国頭郡今帰仁村古宇利
We run beach yoga here too. Check availability and book in a few steps.