A must-visit for couples in a lifetime！8 romantic “heart-shaped” spots in Japan handpicked for you

▲ Wilson’s Tree on Yakushima Island, Kagoshima. (Photo / Courtesy of Rakuten Travel, the same applies below)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The world is home to a wide variety of unique landforms. In addition to many small islands shaped like animals, there are also numerous romantic natural landscapes that resemble a “heart,” leaving people in awe of nature’s masterful craftsmanship.Rakuten Travelhas compiled a list of 8 popular spots in Japan where you can see heart-shaped sights— so grab your significant other and make a pilgrimage to these dating hotspots now！

1. Kagoshima Yakushima – Wilson’s Tree
Located on Yakushima Island, this massive hollow stump of an ancient yakusugi tree reveals a beautiful heart-shaped outline when you look up at the sky. It’s said that setting a photo of this heart-shaped trunk as your phone wallpaper can boost your love luck！

▲ Heart-shaped rock on Kouri Island, Okinawa.

2. Okinawa Kouri Island – Heart-shaped Rock
Located in northern Okinawa, Kouri Island is a small island with a circumference of only about 8 kilometers. Known as the “Island of Love,” it attracts many couples each year to take photos with its unique natural landmark — the “heart-shaped rock.”

▲ Heart-shaped rock on Gusui Beach, Yaese Town, Okinawa.

3. Okinawa Yaese Town – Heart-shaped Rock on Gusui Beach
Gusui Beach is a natural beach that combines rocky and sandy shores, dotted with various peculiar rocks and stones. Among them is a rock that appears heart-shaped, drawing many couples to visit.

▲ The “double-arched rock” at Miyako Island, Okinawa.

4. Okinawa Miyako Island – Diving Spot “Double-Arched Rock”
The popular diving site “Double-Arched Rock” in the Miyako Island area is formed by two underwater arches of different sizes. When viewed from below, they resemble a heart shape. It’s said to be especially favored by women and couples.

▲ Heart-shaped rock on Ikeijima Island, Miyakojima City, Okinawa.

5. Miyazaki Prefecture Miyako Island – Heart-shaped Rock on Ikeijima Island
Located on Ikeijima Island, about a 30-minute drive from Miyako Island across the Ikei Bridge, there is a heart-shaped rock. Over time, waves have eroded the rock into a hollow heart shape. Witnessing it during low tide is said to bring good luck.

▲ Heart-shaped rock at Hyugagami Dam, Fukuoka.

6. Fukuoka Hyugagami Dam – Heart-shaped Rock
Hyugagami Dam, built in 1962 on the upper reaches of the Yabe River in the Hyugagami Gorge, features towering and spectacular strange rocks and cliffs in a beautiful landscape. Among them is a particularly unique heart-shaped rock.

▲ Heart-shaped stone block buried under Nagasaki’s Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge).

7. Nagasaki – Heart-shaped Stone Block Buried Under Spectacles Bridge
One of Nagasaki’s famous tourist attractions, the Spectacles Bridge, has many heart-shaped stone blocks buried under its railings. One of the stones bears a shape resembling the English letter “i,” which has led to an associated meaning of “I love you.”

▲ Nagare Falls in Tsuno Town, Kochi Prefecture.

8. Kochi Tsuno Town – Heart-shaped Nagare Falls
The waterfall cascading from a heart-shaped outlet is a rare sight. In addition to being framed by lush greenery, the scenery also features breathtaking views of fresh green leaves and brilliant maple reds that change with the seasons.