Rental car (offices near the airport)
From Naha Airport, take a shuttle bus to the rental office nearby. Offices get busy in peak season, so book ahead.
Korean MOFA travel advisory: Your destination: no advisory · some areas of the country have advisories
Elsewhere in the country: Level 3 (leave the country) — some regions: L3 (leave): within 30 km of Fukushima Daiichi NPP and government-designated evacuation zones / rest of Japan: no advisory
Visits to the listed regions should be cancelled or postponed (see Details for other areas).
checked 2026-10-01 · Details ↗ This is the Korean government’s advisory — also check your own government’s travel advice.
Okinawa Travel Guide
Japan's southern islands, known for emerald seas and a laid-back island pace. Outside Naha the sights are spread across the island, so most visitors rent a car; it's especially good for families and beach holidays.
Plan your Okinawa trip
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At a glance
- Currency
- JPY (¥)
- Power & plugs
- 100V · Type A/B
- Driving side
- Left
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Local language
- 日本語
- How long to stay
- 4 to 5 days (rental car recommended)
Emergency numbers
- Police110
- Ambulance119
- Fire119
- Tourist hotline050-3816-2787
When to go
March-May and October-November are warm but comfortable. Mid-May to June is the rainy season, and July-September is peak summer with great seas but frequent typhoons that can cancel flights and ferries. Winter (December-February) is too cool for swimming but fine for sightseeing.
Airport to the city
Yui Rail (monorail)
From Naha Airport Station to stations near Kokusai-dori (Kencho-mae, Makishi). Easiest if you stay in Naha.
Taxi and limousine bus
Taxis are quick to central Naha; airport limousine buses serve major resorts up north. Check bus routes and times before you go.
Getting around
Rental car
The standard way to explore Okinawa. Japan drives on the left with the steering wheel on the right. Foreign licenses usually require an International Driving Permit; check official rules before you go.
Yui Rail
The monorail links the airport, central Naha and Shuri, so you can manage without a car in Naha. IC cards work.
Local and sightseeing buses
Buses reach the north but are infrequent and slow. Without a car, day bus tours that bundle sights are easier.
Taxis
Convenient for short hops in Naha; long rides north get expensive.
Ferries to nearby islands
Islands such as the Kerama group are reached by boat from Naha port. Sailings can be cancelled in bad weather, so keep your plans flexible.
Where to stay
Naha (Kokusai-dori)
Good for: First visit, car-free trips
Close to the airport with monorail access, plus plenty of restaurants and shops open late.
Chatan (American Village)
Good for: Shopping, sunsets
A seaside shopping and dining area famous for sunsets, halfway between Naha and the north — a handy base for a road trip.
Onna resort coast
Good for: Family resort stays
A west-coast strip of beach resorts, many with pools and their own beaches, near Cape Manzamo.
Motobu Peninsula
Good for: Aquarium, northern sights
Near Churaumi Aquarium and Kouri Island, about two hours' drive from the airport, so stay a night or two.
South (around Nanjo)
Good for: Quiet sea views
Fewer tourists, seaside cafés and sacred sites, and fairly close to the airport.
Map of stays in Okinawa
Compare prices from many booking sites on the map
Search stays in Okinawa in the appMap & prices: Stay22 — you book on each site
Top sights
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa's top attraction, famous for whale sharks and manta rays in a huge tank. Go early morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds.
Kokusai-dori
Naha's main street, about 1.6 km of souvenir shops and restaurants, with a market lane for local food nearby.
Shuri Castle Park
Former castle of the Ryukyu Kingdom, rebuilt after a 2019 fire. The main hall is scheduled to open to the public from November 23, 2026, with advance reservations for the interior. Check the official site for what's open.
Shuri Castle Park · Photo: Renate Hano / CC BY-SA 4.0 Kouri Island and Kouri Bridge
Driving across the long bridge over the sea is a highlight in itself, and the island's beaches are especially clear.
Cape Manzamo
A coastal cliff shaped like an elephant's trunk, beautiful at sunset.
Cape Manzamo · Photo: そらみみ (Soramimi) / CC BY-SA 4.0 American Village
An American-style shopping area with a Ferris wheel and a seaside sunset promenade.
Sefa-utaki
A UNESCO World Heritage site considered the Ryukyu Kingdom's most sacred place. Visit quietly.
Sefa-utaki · Photo: そらみみ / CC BY-SA 4.0 Kerama Islands (day trip)
Islands reached by ferry from Naha with exceptionally clear water for snorkeling. Boats may not run in bad weather.
What to eat
Okinawa soba
Wheat-flour noodles (not buckwheat) topped with pork. About 700-1,000 yen a bowl.
Goya champuru
Stir-fried bitter melon with tofu, egg and pork, the classic home dish.
Taco rice
Taco fillings served over rice, born from American influence on the island. About 600-1,000 yen.
Agu pork
Okinawa's native pork, enjoyed as shabu-shabu or grilled. About 3,000-6,000 yen per person.
Island ice cream and fruit
Ice cream in southern flavors like mango and purple sweet potato, plus tropical fruit desserts.
Daily budget (per person)
Budgetabout 7,000-9,000 yen per day: guesthouse, monorail, buses
Mid-rangeabout 18,000-24,000 yen per day: hotel, restaurants, shared rental car
Comfortabout 45,000 yen+ per day: beach resort, agu pork dinners
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Sample itinerary
- Day 1
Pick up your rental car, southern sea views and Sefa-utaki, then dinner around Kokusai-dori.
- Day 2
Drive north: Churaumi Aquarium in the morning, Kouri Island in the afternoon, overnight in Motobu or Onna.
- Day 3
Cape Manzamo in the morning, beach and resort time, then sunset at American Village.
- Day 4
Shuri Castle Park (check what's open), refuel before returning the car, then the airport.
Local tips
- Japan drives on the left. Take extra care at roundabouts and right turns, and note most rentals must be returned with a full tank.
- Most foreign drivers need an International Driving Permit alongside their home license and passport; check the rules for your country.
- Typhoons in July-September can cancel flights and ferries. Consider travel insurance and turn on airline alerts.
- Jellyfish can appear in summer, so swim inside the netted areas at beaches and follow posted signs.
- The sun is intense: bring sunscreen, a hat and a rash guard.
- Some small eateries and markets are cash only. Japan's tax-free shopping switches to a pay-first, refund-at-departure system from November 2026, so check official information.
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