The red-tiled roof and sun-shaped sign of Michi-no-Eki Sunrise Higashi

Stations #13

Sunrise,
the pineapple coast

Japan's number one pineapple village, on the side of Okinawa where the sun comes up out of the sea — with the beach directly behind the shop.

Higashi VillageRegistered 20209:00–18:00Fact-checked Aug 2026

Gold Barrel pineappletwo years to grow · sweeter than mango

Pineapple season

In short

three things to know before pineapple season

Japan's biggest pineapple producer

Higashi grows more pineapple than anywhere else in the country and calls itself the village of flowers, water and pineapple. Season runs May to August.

The sunrise side

Okinawa's tourism faces west, toward the sunset. This is the east coast — and the beach is directly behind the building, swimmable in summer.

Mangroves, five minutes away

Okinawa's largest mangrove forest is 3 km up the road at Gesashi Bay. This is where you park, eat and reset around a canoe trip.

Most of Okinawa's pineapple comes from one village of fewer than 2,000 people, on the coast nobody drives. Sunrise Higashi is its shop window — and in season, the thing to buy is a variety that takes two years to grow.

The crop

Ten varieties,
one of them rare

Depending on the week, the shop carries around ten kinds of pineapple. Most travelers have only ever eaten one. The season runs roughly May to August, with the shop's snack variety usually appearing from late April.

Gold Barrel · one fruit, shipped

¥4,532

About 2 kg, delivery included · three-fruit set ¥8,532 · online pre-order price, August 2026

Why it costs that

2 yearsRegistered as a variety in 2006, Gold Barrel takes two years to raise and reaches up to 18.6 degrees Brix — sweeter than most mango.

Snack pineapple

Pull it apartBogor variety — you tear the segments off with your fingers, no knife. On sale from late April.

Take some home

Jam, sauce, cakePineapple jam, sauce, taco rice sauce, tinned fruit, and a pineapple cake sold only in the shop.

Fresh pineapple can be shipped home within Japan, and the shop takes online pre-orders before the crop lands. If you're in Okinawa outside the season, the processed goods — and the village's herb teas, soaps and cosmetics — are the fallback.

New in July 2026

Shima Chūbō Kafuu

The old canteen closed in March 2026 and a new kitchen opened in July, run by a pastry chef of fifteen years and a cook of forty. The menu is short and all one price: four kinds of Okinawa soba at ¥980 — tofu, beef and sprout, stewed pork, and soft-bone rib — plus about eight home-baked breads, from cinnamon rolls to island-salt rolls and mentaiko focaccia.

Check the hours before you rely on it: the kitchen runs roughly 11:00–16:00 with the parlour from 9:00, and sources differ on the closing day. If lunch is the plan, call ahead.

The beach is the back garden

Walk through the central plaza and you're on sand. That's the practical meaning of the name: this is the coast that faces the sunrise, and the water is right there — swimmable in summer, and empty compared with anything on the west side.

It makes for an unusual plan: watch the sun come up over the Pacific, then be first through the door when the shop opens at nine.

The mangroves

three kilometers up the road

Gesashi Bay mangrove forest

About 10 hectares — the largest on Okinawa's main island, and a designated national natural monument. Three species grow here, including yaeyama hirugi. Boardwalks and a viewing platform; entry to the park is free.

Canoe through it

Yanbaru Shizenjuku, based at Gesashi, runs mangrove canoe trips of about three hours (¥7,000) and a full-day canoe-and-trek combination (¥15,000).

One thing to check

The mangrove park's car park became paid from April 2026 and the rate isn't published. Budget for it, or park at the station and factor in the drive.

Around Higashi

a village of 2,000 with a surprising amount going on

Tsutsuji Eco Park

The village forest park — azaleas, bungalows, camping, park golf and river walks. The azalea festival runs in March; about 50,000 plants, ¥500 for high-school age and above.

Fukuji Dam

Okinawa's largest dam, with observation cruises and dam canoeing — around ¥4,400 for adults on the Eco Park's programme.

Mountain & Water Museum

The village's own museum of life, history and nature. ¥200 for adults, ¥100 for students, 10:00–18:00, closed Mondays.

Matayoshi Coffee Farm

Okinawa's first coffee plantation, now with zip lines and buggies through the trees. Zip-line courses from around ¥4,500 for adults.

Getting there —
the long way round

By car

About 2 to 2¼ hours from Naha Airport. Expressway to Kyoda IC, then roughly another 75 minutes: Route 58 to Nago, then across to the east coast on Route 71 and Route 331, then Prefectural Route 70 north.

On ordinary roads the whole way, allow about 2½ hours. Free parking, 44 spaces (4 large, 39 standard, 1 accessible), with 24-hour toilets.

By bus — with a change at Nago

There's no direct bus from Naha. Take a highway bus to Nago Bus Terminal, then route 78 (Nago Tobu Line) to Higashi-son Yakuba-mae, about a minute's walk.

The village community bus (Taira–Genka line) also has a stop named Michi-no-Eki Sunrise Higashi, but services are sparse. A rental car is far more practical.

550-23 Taira, Higashi
Okinawa 905-1204

Shop 9:00–18:00 · free parking, 44 spaces · 24-hour toilets · beach behind the building

Open in Google Maps →

Need a taxi? Here's how it works in Okinawa

Higashi is a village of under 2,000 people on the quiet coast — the sort of place where a taxi has to be summoned rather than found. Three ways that work:

Use an app. GO — Japan's main taxi app — works in Okinawa with an English interface. DiDi and Uber cover parts of the island. Install before your trip.

Dial with +81. From a foreign phone, replace the leading 0: 0980-XX-XXXX → +81 980-XX-XXXX. Wi-Fi calling works too.

Ask the staff — show them this:

タクシーを呼んでください

Takushī o yonde kudasai

Nearest stations from here

Higashi is on the sunrise coast, which in Okinawan terms means the empty one. The nearest stations are a long way round the top of the island.

See the whole series →

14 km · ~25 minWansaka Oura Park, Nago — A quiet community park on the bay, on the east coast road.

16 km · ~25 minMichi-no-Eki Ogimi, Ogimi — A forest visitor center in the village of longevity.

20 km · ~35 minMichi-no-Eki Ginoza, Ginoza — A free water playground and climbing frames on the east coast.

21 km · ~35 minHaneji-no-Eki, Nago — Local chicken and eggs, and a free view over the inland sea.

Practical information

Address550-23 Taira, Higashi Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-1204

Phone0980-43-2270 (from abroad: +81 980-43-2270)

HoursShop 9:00–18:00. Shima Chūbō Kafuu kitchen roughly 11:00–16:00, parlour from 9:00 — sources differ on the closing day, so call if lunch matters.

ClosedNo fixed closing day, but the station closes over New Year and for typhoons.

ParkingFree — 44 spaces (4 large, 39 standard, 1 accessible)

Facilities24-hour toilets including accessible, tourist information, free Wi-Fi, baby-change, plaza, beach access

PaymentNot published — carry cash

RegisteredAs a michi-no-eki in March 2020; run by Higashi-son Furusato Shinko Co.

Officialsunrise-higashi.okinawa · Instagram @sunrise_higashi.okinawa

Questions, answered

When is pineapple season?+

Roughly May to August, with the snack variety usually appearing from late April. Gold Barrel — the premium variety that takes two years to grow — is pre-ordered online before the crop lands, at around ¥4,532 for a single 2 kg fruit including delivery within Japan.

Is there a restaurant?+

Yes, but it's new. The old canteen closed in March 2026 and Shima Chūbō Kafuu opened in July 2026: four kinds of Okinawa soba at ¥980 and about eight home-baked breads. Hours are roughly 11:00–16:00 — call ahead if lunch is the plan.

How far are the mangroves?+

About 3 km — five minutes by car — to Gesashi Bay, the largest mangrove forest on Okinawa's main island. Park entry is free, though the car park became paid in April 2026. Canoe trips run from the same site.

Can I get there by bus?+

Only with a change. There's no direct service from Naha: take a highway bus to Nago Bus Terminal, then route 78 to Higashi-son Yakuba-mae. A rental car is far more practical.

Sources

Sunrise Higashi official site for hours, pineapple prices and the new kitchen, checked August 2026 · Yambaru Keizai Shimbun on the July 2026 restaurant opening · Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park · Okinawa General Bureau for parking · 道の駅サンライズひがし（おきなわLovers 日本語版）. We replaced the old restaurant listing, corrected the bus route, and added the parking and registration details our Japanese article omits.

Every station

nearest first, from where you are now

Wansaka Oura ParkNago · 14 km Michi-no-Eki OgimiOgimi · 16 km Michi-no-Eki GinozaGinoza · 20 km Haneji-no-EkiNago · 21 km Rikarika WarumiNakijin · 22 km Nakijin no Eki So-reNakijin · 23 km Kouri SorahashiKouri · 23 km Michi-no-Eki Yui-Yui KunigamiKunigami · 24 km Yanbaru Pineapple HillKunigami · 25 km Michi-no-Eki KyodaNago · 25 km Umi-no-Eki AyahashikanUruma · 45 km Uru MarcheUruma · 49 km Onna-no-Eki NakayukuiOnna · 50 km Michi-no-Eki Kina BanjoYomitan · 60 km Michi-no-Eki KadenaKadena · 61 km Happy More IchibaGinowan · 68 km Minami-no-Eki YaeseYaese · 91 km Michi-no-Eki ToyosakiTomigusuku · 91 km Michi-no-Eki ItomanItoman · 93 km

Sunrise,the pineapple coast