MK Deep Dive: Sakurai Futamigaura’s Couple Stones — Where the Sun Meets the Sea, and Two Become One

At the shore of the setting sun, on the tip of the Itoshima Peninsula, two stones rise from the cobalt sea—tethered by a shimenawa rope (a sacred straw rope marking holy ground), framed by a white torii gate, and watched over by celestial beings. This is Sakurai Futamigaura, part of Sakurai Shrine, where myth and matter still speak in whispers. A place where the sun, sea, and sacred converge. And thanks to MK’s 5-hour Itoshima Course, you can witness it all in comfort, arriving in time to catch the sun bowing between the rocks.

Known as Meoto Iwa—the Married Couple Rocks—these twin stones are more than a romantic photo op. They are said to enshrine Izanagi and Izanami, the primordial brother-sister lovers of Shinto lore, whose union gave birth to the Japanese islands. On the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, the sun rises perfectly between the stones. Amaterasu Omikami—the sun goddess, daughter of Izanagi—is said to rise here too, her light reminding all who watch that this isn’t just scenery. It’s a reenactment of divine creation.

Amaterasu’s Installation, flanked by Izanami and Izanagi. Kawanabe Kyosai (1831–1889), c.1870.

Front and center stands a solemn white torii, erected in 1968, signifying the sacred realm beyond. Not as a border, but a lens. The rocks are more than a view—they are a channel through which memory, myth, and meaning continue to move.

Futamigaura is listed among Japan’s official “Top 100 Sunset Spots” and its “Top 100 Beaches,” according to Fukuoka’s regional tourism board. But rankings alone don’t explain its pull. Even a hardened skeptic might feel the veil thin here—something beyond words, beyond reason. You don’t visit Sakurai Futamigaura to check a box. You come to remember something you didn’t know you’d forgotten.

And if love is your aim? This place has you covered. Hand in hand, you’ll find couples—young and old—watching the horizon with the same wide eyes. Locals say the place kindles eros and blesses marriages, and standing there yourself, you’ll understand why. Love doesn’t just animate the world—it transfigures it. Whoever does not love, does not live.

Once the sun dips, the feeling lingers. Cafés and restaurants line the coastal stretch nearby, serving everything from espresso to fresh seafood, where the ephemeral connection often carries on over dinner. Fukuoka Prefecture, often overlooked by first-time travelers, may just be the most beautiful in all of Japan—at least to me. Sakurai Futamigaura is its crown jewel.

Faith deepens when we experience natural, created beauty. Combine that with love, and you're halfway to unlocking the secret of it all. That’s why Sakurai Futamigaura remains the beating heart of Itoshima—and one of the most unforgettable stops on MK’s 5-hour Itoshima Course.

Let MK Be Your Personal Guide to the Mythic Coast of Kyushu 

Part of MK’s 5-Hour Itoshima Course, Sakurai Futamigaura’s Couple Stones offer more than a photo—they offer a portal. With your private English-speaking driver-guide, you’ll journey through Kyushu’s sunlit myths, seaside cafés, salt-laced puddings, and coastal shrines—all from the refined comfort of an MK vehicle. Ride in discretion and ease as you trace the edge of Japan’s coastline and maybe, just maybe, glimpse something eternal.

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