Getting around · Okinawa · Japan
Getting around Okinawa
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Only Naha has rail: the Yui Rail monorail. Beyond the city, most visitors rent a car to reach the beaches, castles and the north; express buses cover the main routes more slowly, and ferries serve the outer islands. Yes, for almost any trip beyond Naha.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Car
- Airports
- OKA
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- Yui Rail 1-day and 2-day passes
Ways to get around
Car
Rental cars are the practical way to explore, with the Okinawa Expressway running from near Naha to Nago. Rental depots are near the airport, reached by shuttle bus.
Avoid Naha and Route 58 at rush hours, when traffic crawls; allow about 1.5–2 hours to the aquarium.
Train
The Yui Rail monorail runs from Naha Airport through the city to Shuri and on to Tedako-Uranishi, stopping near Kokusai-dori at Kenchomae and Makishi stations.
The monorail takes nationwide IC cards and sells 24- and 48-hour passes.
Bus
Highway and express buses connect Naha with the resort coast, Nago and the Motobu Peninsula, and airport limousine buses run to many of the big resort hotels.
Ferry
High-speed ferries from Naha's Tomari Port reach Tokashiki and Zamami in the Kerama Islands in about 35–50 minutes; short ferries also serve Kudaka, Ie and Minna islands.
Book Kerama ferries ahead in summer, and expect cancellations in rough seas.
Taxi
Taxis are inexpensive by Japanese standards and easy to find in Naha; private taxi tours for the day are a good option for non-drivers.
Tickets and passes
Yui Rail 1-day and 2-day passes
Unlimited monorail rides for 24 or 48 hours from first use; useful for Shuri, the markets and the airport.
OKICA
Okinawa's rechargeable IC card for the monorail and local buses.
From the airport
Naha Airport is about 5 km south-west of the city centre, and the Yui Rail monorail reaches Kenchomae (for Kokusai-dori) in about 15 minutes. Airport limousine buses run to the resort hotels at Chatan, Onna and Motobu, taking roughly 1–2.5 hours, and car-rental shuttles leave from outside arrivals.
Do you need a car?
Yes, for almost any trip beyond Naha. The north and the Motobu Peninsula are slow to reach by bus. Non-drivers can base themselves in Naha and use tours, highway buses and ferries.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Kerama Islands | About 35–50 minutes by high-speed ferry | Ferry from Tomari Port in Naha |
| Yanbaru and Cape Hedo | About 2–2.5 hours by car | Car via the Okinawa Expressway and Route 58 |
| Kudaka Island | About 1 hour by car and ferry | Drive or bus to Azama Port, then a short ferry |
| Iejima | About 2.5 hours by car and ferry | Drive to Motobu Port, then a 30-minute ferry |
| Kaichu Doro and the Yokatsu islands | About 1 hour by car | Car from Naha |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Okinawa?
Yes, for almost any trip beyond Naha. The north and the Motobu Peninsula are slow to reach by bus. Non-drivers can base themselves in Naha and use tours, highway buses and ferries.
+How do you get from the airport to Okinawa?
Naha Airport is about 5 km south-west of the city centre, and the Yui Rail monorail reaches Kenchomae (for Kokusai-dori) in about 15 minutes. Airport limousine buses run to the resort hotels at Chatan, Onna and Motobu, taking roughly 1–2.5 hours, and car-rental shuttles leave from outside arrivals.
+What is the best way to get around Okinawa?
Car: Rental cars are the practical way to explore, with the Okinawa Expressway running from near Naha to Nago. Rental depots are near the airport, reached by shuttle bus.