tourism・eat・shopping 2023.12.21

”Kaichu Road” an exhilarating driving spot surrounded by the sea

Writer

三好優実

A web editor and writer from Kagawa Prefecture. Sometimes public relations. Since 2014, he has moved to Okinawa (where he would like to live forever if possible). He is the author of the book ``Kagawa Prefecture Aru Aru''.
https://note.com/yumi03

Photographer

小橋川恵里奈

A photographer from Okinawa Prefecture. He moved to Tokyo in 2006 to study under Tomohiko Tagawa, and became independent in 2008.
He mainly shoots magazines, advertisements, portraits, etc.

List of articles

A bridge connecting four remote islands

Hamahiga Island, Henza Island, Miyagi Island, and Ikei Island are remote islands that can be reached by car from the main island of Okinawa. The sea road serves as a bridge between these four and the main island. When you hear the term “sea road,” the image comes to mind of a road under the ocean, but in reality it is a bridge extending over the ocean. Running along the sea surface for a total length of about 5km is truly exhilarating! The beauty of the sea leaps into view from both sides, and the sea breeze blows in through the windows.

An exhilarating drive that feels like driving on the ocean

The official name of the sea road is Okinawa Prefectural Road No. 10 Ikei Hiragawa Line. A part of the road is called the Kaichu Road, and it has become popular as a scenic drive spot. There are no tolls to cross from Okinawa’s main island to remote islands. Another popular feature is that you can drive to remote islands where untouched nature and traditional Okinawan culture remain.

The road runs along the sea surface, so its proximity to the sea is also appealing. Of course, you can drive while feeling the ocean up close. You can enter the sea as soon as you get off the stone steps from the road, so we recommend stopping along the way and playing in the sea. It’s so beautiful that when you go down a little bit, the cream soda-colored sea is so beautiful that many people end up staying too long. It is also a popular photo spot because of the great view.

”Seaside Station Ayahashikan” where you can enjoy gourmet food and scenery

Ayahashikan Sea Station, located in the center of the Kaichu Road, is a rest area where you can buy local products and souvenirs, and enjoy meals at the restaurant and parlor. A wooden ship-shaped building stands in a location with a 360-degree ocean view. The ship in the building is said to be based on the Maran ship used as a trading ship during the Ryukyu Dynasty.

At the specialty products corner, you can purchase rare items such as Uruma City limited products and rare vegetables and fruits grown in Okinawa, so be sure to stop by. On the second floor is the Maritime Culture Museum, which exhibits materials and models of the shipbuilding techniques of Okinawa Prefecture’s leading shipbuilders and shipwrights. The appearance of a Maran ship is also a motif on the exterior. Please take a look at the cultural properties that give you a feel of Okinawa’s history.

Outside the building, there are cute drinks that will make you want to take pictures with the ocean view in the background, as well as Okinawan tempura, a specialty of Okinawa, so it’s perfect for snack time.

Our writer recommends the once-a-year art festival!

The “Uruma Shimada Kara Art Festival” is held once a year on the four remote islands across the sea road. As the name suggests, it is a place to express art that can only be done on an island, and it is also a journey where visitors discover the island’s treasures with their own eyes. At the art festival, he created works using scenery on the island, such as school buildings, shops, and the nets used for mozuku fishing. Information on the art festival can be found on the official Instagram. Please take a look at the beautiful and nostalgic scenery dotted with art that blends in with island life.

An exhilarating drive that feels like driving on the ocean

An exhilarating trip that feels like driving on the ocean. Enjoy a pleasant drive that blends into the blue sky and sea. We also recommend visiting in the evening, when the sky and sea turn orange and you are surrounded by a magical sunset. In addition, the symbolic Henza Underwater Bridge, which is located almost in the center of the Underwater Road, is brilliantly lit up at night, so visiting at night will give you a completely different impression. It is also recommended to pass through during the day and enjoy the underwater road at dusk or at night after spending the day playing on each remote island.