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Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Okinawa Prefecture · Kyushu

Michi-no-Eki Sunrise Higashi

道の駅 サンライズひがし

A small roadside station on Yanbaru's east coast for pineapple shopping and a restroom break.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Higashi Village, Kunigami District
Road
Prefectural Route 70 (Kunigami East Line)
Hours
09:00–18:00
Local products shop: 9:00–18:00. Shima Chubo Kafuu: approximately 11:00–17:00. Check official information for typhoons, year-end/New Year changes and the new restaurant's closing days.
Parking
Cars: 39 / Large vehicles: 4
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How to enjoy

Choose how to enjoy your visit

Eat, shop, play, take in the view or rest. Choose from the station’s strengths to suit your day.

First stop
Pineapple shelves in the local products shop

In season, compare varieties, ripeness and shipping options. In summer, consider cooling and travel time too.

For a meal
Shima Chubo Kafuu

As this is a new restaurant, check official notices and signs on site for current hours and closing days.

For a rest
Restrooms and central plaza

A useful break on an east-coast drive. Using the restroom before shopping makes the stop easier.

On a hot day
Frozen pineapple treat and a short outdoor break

A cold treat in the car or plaza can refresh you before continuing to the mangroves or seaside park.

For the next outing
Gesashi Bay or the Fukuji River area

Head north to see mangroves or south to Fukujigawa for swimming and camping. Check weather and reservations for either trip.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Mio's rest-stop notes

Restroom first, pineapple next: plan the east-coast drive here.

Mio Takano sees this station as a place to organize a meal, shopping and rest on Yanbaru's east coast, rather than a large sightseeing complex. Catch pineapple season, check whether the restaurant is open, then decide whether to continue to the mangroves or the seaside park. Its small scale suits a brief, easy stop that keeps the drive moving.

Order of stops

Parking, restroom, pineapple shelves, then restaurant is a simple order for a break and shopping.

What to buy

Choose fresh pineapple in summer, processed products for long trips, or herbs and village-grown tea outside the season.

Where next

Gesashi Bay lies farther north, Fukujigawa to the south, and Tsutsuji Eco Park offers play inland.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Sunrise Higashi is a small rest stop on Prefectural Route 70 in Higashi Village, northern Okinawa Island. Pineapples grown in Higashi take center stage: browse seasonal fruit, pineapple products, herbs and local vegetables, eat Okinawan home cooking at Shima Chubo Kafuu, then pause by the beach behind the station or in the central plaza. It is a modest stop, useful for parking, restrooms, shopping and a meal while driving the east coast from Nago or before or after the Gesashi mangroves and Fukujigawa Seaside Park.

  • #Higashi Village pineapples
  • #Yanbaru east coast
  • #Prefectural Route 70
  • #Shima Chubo Kafuu
  • #Gesashi Bay mangrove forest
  • #Fukujigawa Seaside Park
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Get close to Higashi's pineapples on a drive

The local products shop focuses on pineapples promoted by Higashi Village and pineapple products. The main season runs from early summer through summer, while varieties and stock change by day. Several varieties may be available at once. Check official notices for seasonal Gold Barrel preorders and in-store Snack Pineapple sales before setting out.

02

A useful meal and restroom stop on Yanbaru's east coast

The east-coast stretch of Prefectural Route 70 has fewer rest facilities than central Nago or the Motobu Peninsula. Here, the local products shop, restaurant, restrooms and central plaza are together, making it easier to reset during a long drive.

03

A new restaurant for a leisurely Okinawan home-style meal

Shima Chubo Kafuu opened in July 2026. Official guidance lists 11:00–17:00, with regular closing days undecided, so check same-day information if you plan to eat here. Some listings still describe the former restaurant; consult the latest official page.

04

Take a short outdoor break by the beach or central plaza

The facility map shows the central plaza, restrooms, local products shop and sea beyond. This is not a station built around large play equipment or long stays, but a little outdoor time after shopping can refresh children and long-distance drivers.

Route idea

Ways to plan your stop

Spend your time at the station or add somewhere nearby. These ideas help you plan around your companions and the weather.

A 20–40 minute break on a Yanbaru east-coast drive

Buy pineapples and take a short break

After parking, use the restroom first, then browse pineapples, processed foods and herbal products in the local products shop. Choose fresh fruit in season; outside summer, or for a long journey home, jam, sauces or canned pineapple may be easier to carry.

Parking lot → restrooms → local products shop → central plaza or car

Fresh pineapple varieties, prices and stock change daily. A cooler bag helps on hot days.

Before or after the Gesashi Bay mangrove forest or a canoe trip

Eat lunch here, then visit the mangroves

When coming to the east coast from Nago, have lunch and shop at Sunrise Higashi before continuing to the Gesashi Bay mangrove forest. Canoe departure times depend on the high tide, so leave enough travel time instead of stretching lunch too long.

Lunch and restrooms at the station → Higashi Village Fureai Mangrove Park → boardwalk or canoe

Parking at the mangrove park is paid, the boardwalk is open until sunset, and bad weather or storm-surge warnings may restrict access.

Families and campers heading to Fukujigawa Seaside Park

Stock up before swimming or camping

Before visiting Fukujigawa Seaside Park, pick up drinks, sweets, local produce and gifts here. The park has reservations and check-in times, so a brief restroom and shopping stop is practical.

Station → Fukujigawa Seaside Park → swimming, stand-up paddleboarding or camping

Swimming and banana-boat rides are limited by season and day of the week. Check the park's official operating information after a typhoon or in bad weather.

March azaleas, family outdoor play or before or after an overnight stay

Make a half-day outing with Tsutsuji Eco Park

On the way to Tsutsuji Eco Park, buy pineapple and drinks at the station, then enjoy the park's play equipment, park golf, camping or nature activities. Spring azaleas and summer water-play events pair well with seasonal outdoor time and a shopping stop.

Station → Tsutsuji Eco Park → Fukuji Dam area or overnight stay

Activity, accommodation and event reservations and check-in times vary. Follow the latest official notices.

A Yanbaru drive with uncertain weather

Focus on rest and shopping around rain or a typhoon

Sudden rain, strong wind and approaching typhoons can change plans in northern Okinawa. Skip the beach and nearby nature sites if conditions are poor; make a short stop at the shop, restrooms and restaurant when they are open.

Park → restrooms → shop → restaurant or departure

The official site posts temporary typhoon closures. Check reopening information before travelling in bad weather.

Hours

Opening hours

Local products shop
9:00〜18:00

According to the official shop page, with no regular closing day. Follow notices for temporary closure or shorter hours as a typhoon approaches.

Shima Chubo Kafuu
11:00〜17:00

Opened in July 2026. Regular closing days remain undecided, and menu information is due to be updated.

Tourist information corner
9:00〜18:00

Based on the Okinawa General Bureau's roadside-station information.

Restrooms
Some listings say available 24 hours.

Listings include an accessible restroom. Follow on-site guidance during bad weather or maintenance.

Nearby nature sites
Varies by facility

Mangrove Park, Fukujigawa Seaside Park and Tsutsuji Eco Park have reservation, seasonal and bad-weather restrictions.

Family

Visiting with children

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Stars show the editorial recommendation for each age group on a five-point scale. Read the reasons alongside each rating.

Under 1 year
★★★☆☆

Suited to a restroom, nursing and brief rest stop.

A nursing room and baby changing bed are listed. A short shopping stop and a break from the heat of the car suit this station better than extended play.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

The plaza and a sweet treat offer a change of pace, though this is not a place for a long stay.

The small shop has many product shelves, so keep children close. For outdoor time, use the beach or plaza briefly and return to the car before heat and sun become too much.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Pineapples, the sea and mangroves offer easy topics to explore.

Try a frozen pineapple treat and a short beach break here, then head to the mangrove park boardwalk or Fukujigawa Seaside Park for more movement.

Primary school age
★★★★☆

A chance to connect Higashi's industries with its natural environment.

Pineapple varieties, herbal products, the Gesashi Bay mangroves and Fukuji Dam offer a starting point for learning about the area as well as shopping.

Event

Make an event part of your visit

Permanent spaces and dated events are listed separately. Events can change both the atmosphere and crowds; use the official links for details.

Checking event dates.

Spaces used for events

Local products shop

The center for seasonal goods such as in-store Snack Pineapple sales, Gold Barrel preorders and limited-quantity pineapple products.

Shima Chubo Kafuu

The restaurant opened in July 2026. Check the official site for menu updates, closing days and changes to opening hours.

Central plaza and beach side

Good for a short outdoor break after shopping. Weather, wind and conditions after a typhoon can change the beach experience.

Nearby nature sites

Mangrove Park, Fukujigawa Seaside Park and Tsutsuji Eco Park vary by season, tide and events. Check each site's official information before going.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Check the new restaurant's information over older listings

The official site announced Shima Chubo Kafuu's opening on July 13, 2026. Older tourism and area listings may still show the previous restaurant's hours or Tuesday closing. For a meal, check the official restaurant page and latest notices.

Source: Official notices and restaurant page

Its modest local scale calls for a short-stay plan

Visitor accounts describe a small station with a local feel. Buying Higashi products, using the restroom, eating and continuing to nearby nature sites may suit it better than planning a long stay like at a large roadside station.

Source: Visitor accounts and travel-site patterns

A useful rest facility on an east-coast drive

The Okinawa General Bureau and official facility information list tourist and road information, restrooms, a restaurant and a shop. On a long drive along Prefectural Route 70, the chance to regroup here may matter as much as sightseeing.

Source: Okinawa General Bureau and official facility information

Enjoy the beach briefly; plan a beach day elsewhere

The official site says summer swimming is possible beside the station, while visitor reviews report varying beach conditions. For a fuller day of play, consider Fukujigawa Seaside Park and use the station beach for a short outdoor break.

Source: Official about page and visitor-review patterns

Typhoons and heavy rain affect both the station and nearby nature

The official site posted typhoon-related temporary closure and reopening notices in June and August 2026. Mangrove Park and Fukujigawa Seaside Park can also restrict use in bad weather; reconsider both the stop and nearby outings when conditions worsen.

Source: Official notices and nearby facilities' official information

With children, plan the next outdoor play stop too

The station has restrooms, a nursing room, plaza and beach, but play equipment and long visits are not its focus. Continue to the mangrove park's short boardwalk, Fukujigawa swimming, or Tsutsuji Eco Park's play equipment and water activities to suit different ages.

Source: Official facility and nearby-site information
Movie

Preview the place on video

Official videos show the market and nearby park before you visit. Audio and captions are in Japanese.

Before your visit

Things to check before setting out

Opening and closure days, individual businesses and facilities for children or dogs can affect your plans.

  • The official listing gives the local products shop as 9:00–18:00 with no regular closing day. Check official notices for typhoons and the year-end and New Year period.
  • Shima Chubo Kafuu is listed at approximately 11:00–17:00, with regular closing days undecided. Older hours and Tuesday closures may refer to the former restaurant.
  • Parking is listed for 39 standard cars and four large vehicles. At this small station, aim for a short stop during summer pineapple season or the lunch rush.
  • Some listings say the restrooms are available 24 hours. Treat this separately from shopping and meals after the businesses close.
  • Pineapple sales are mainly listed for May–August. Varieties, stock and prices vary daily; follow information at the shop.
  • From Naha Airport, allow about 1 hour 45 minutes via the expressway or about 2 hours 30 minutes on ordinary roads. It is also around an hour from Kyoda Interchange, so plan this as a break on a northern Okinawa circuit.
  • For the Gesashi Bay mangroves, check parking fees, tide times, canoe departure times and weather restrictions beforehand.
  • At Fukujigawa Seaside Park, swimming and banana-boat rides are limited by season and day of the week. Check reservations and reception times for camping and activities.
  • An approaching typhoon can change operations at the station, Mangrove Park, Fukujigawa and Tsutsuji Eco Park at once. Consider postponing the east-coast drive.
Food

Eating and shopping

Specialities, places to eat, sweets and bakeries can all give you a reason to stop. Check individual menus for current prices and availability.

  • Direct sale
    Higashi Village pineapples
    Main sales period is roughly May–August; varieties, stock and prices vary by day.
  • Sweet treat
    Frozen pineapple treat
    Good for a break on a hot day; check availability at the counter that day.
  • Preorder and gifts
    Gold Barrel pineapple
    Seasonal preorders may appear in the official online shop.
  • Take-home goods
    Pineapple jam, sauces and Sunrise Sweet
    Higashi souvenirs that are easy to carry at room temperature.
  • Meal
    Set meals and noodles at Shima Chubo Kafuu
    Approximately 11:00–17:00; menu details are due to be updated.
  • Shopping
    Herbal tea, herbal soap, village-grown tea and local produce
    Other ways to take a little of Higashi home besides pineapple.
Food mood

What would you like to eat?

A meal, a sweet treat, market shopping or something to take away: choose a focus for the day instead of trying everything at once.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Seasonal highlight

Higashi Village pineapples

From early summer through summer, start with fresh pineapples. Snack Pineapple and Gold Barrel differ in how they are eaten and in price; ask at the counter about ripeness and how long you will be carrying them.

Official and tourism information gives May–August as the main sales period, but arrivals depend on weather and variety.

Cool down in the car

Frozen pineapple treat

A sweet option for a short break on a hot day. Even without eating at the restaurant, you can take a taste of Higashi before leaving.

Room-temperature gifts

Pineapple jam, sauces and Sunrise Sweet

Processed products are easier than fresh fruit for a long journey or hotel stay. Choose separately for eating soon, opening at home or giving away.

Lunch

Set meals and noodles at Shima Chubo Kafuu

A place to sit down and eat along Yanbaru's east coast. As the restaurant is new and its menu may change, leave room to switch to a small purchase from the shop.

Opened in July 2026; official guidance says regular closing days are undecided.

Beyond pineapple

Higashi herbal tea, soap, village-grown tea and local vegetables

Higashi's theme is “flowers, water and pineapples”; herbs and other village products make the shop worth browsing even outside pineapple season.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Sunrise Higashi

A small roadside station on Yanbaru's east coast for pineapple shopping and a restroom break.

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2
Mangroves and boardwalk
Higashi Village Fureai Mangrove Park and Gesashi Bay Mangrove Forest

After lunch and a restroom stop at the station, take a nature detour to one of Okinawa Island's largest mangrove forests.

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3
Seaside park and camping
Fukujigawa Seaside Park

A managed beach in Higashi for a day of swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing or camping.

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4
Nature park and camping
Higashi Village Residents' Forest Tsutsuji Eco Park

A large Higashi nature park for spring azaleas, family outdoor play and overnight stays.

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5
Dam and museum
Fukuji Dam and Higashi Village Museum of Mountain and Water Life

An outing about Higashi's water and Yanbaru life that can work even on a rainy day.

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6
Natural monument and short nature walk
Sakishima Suo Tree

A short Higashi nature detour to see a striking tree with large buttress roots.

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Food outlets and the market on the station grounds share the station pin. Nearby places are separate destinations to combine with your visit.
Nearby

Places to visit nearby

Mangroves and boardwalk
Higashi Village Fureai Mangrove Park and Gesashi Bay Mangrove ForestJapanese guide
About 15–20 minutes by car from the station30–45 minutes for the boardwalk alone; at least 90 minutes for canoeing

Good for a day when you eat and shop at Sunrise Higashi, then explore Yanbaru's nature in the afternoon.

Seaside park and camping
Fukujigawa Seaside ParkJapanese guide
About 10 minutes by car from the stationAllow half a day for swimming and activities

Buy drinks and sweets at the station, then head to the beach in time for your reservation and check-in.

Nature park and camping
Higashi Village Residents' Forest Tsutsuji Eco ParkJapanese guide
About 5 minutes by car from the stationAllow 1–3 hours for outdoor play, or shop before or after an overnight stay

Good for buying pineapple and drinks at Sunrise Higashi before children's outdoor play or an overnight stay.

Dam and museum
Fukuji Dam and Higashi Village Museum of Mountain and Water LifeJapanese guide
About 10 minutes by car from the stationAllow about 60–120 minutes for the museum and dam

A quieter way to learn about Higashi's nature and daily life when bad weather makes the sea or mangroves less practical.

Natural monument and short nature walk
Sakishima Suo TreeJapanese guide
About 10 minutes by car from the stationAllow about 20–30 minutes for a visit

An extra short look at Higashi's nature on the way to Fukujigawa Seaside Park or the museum.

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