Search
DrivingBy MotoUpdated

Okinawa Car Rental: Naha Airport Pick-up, Shuttles and Tolls

Do you need a car in Okinawa? How to book, where the rental shuttles leave at Naha Airport, what to bring, Okinawa Expressway tolls, and returning on time.

Advertising: this article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Every figure is checked against the sources listed below. See sources

The domestic terminal building at Naha Airport seen from the car park road
663highland · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

Rent a car in Okinawa if you plan to leave Naha: the beaches, the Motobu Peninsula and the north of the main island are a drive away. Only going to Churaumi Aquarium? The Churaumi Aquarium bus guide shows how to get there without a car. If you stay in Naha, skip the car and ride the Yui Rail monorail, which runs from the airport through the city to Shuri.[5] At Naha Airport (那覇空港), most rental companies do not hand over cars at the terminal: you take a free shuttle from a stop outside arrivals to the company’s office.

Key facts

  • Do you need a car? Not for Naha and Shuri; yes for the north and the beaches.
  • Where pick-up starts: shuttle stops across the road from the domestic terminal’s arrival lobby, one stop per company.[2]
  • Time to the office: depends on the company; OTS Rent-a-car gives 15–20 minutes by shuttle.[2]
  • What to have ready: your home licence, a valid permit or translation, your passport and your booking number.
  • Expressway toll, Naha to Kyoda (north end): ¥1,040 with ETC for an ordinary car.[7]

Do I need a car in Okinawa?

Decide by where you sleep and what you want to see.

Naha only. The monorail covers the airport, central Naha and Shuri, ending at Tedako-Uranishi Station.[5] A QR 1-day ticket costs ¥1,000 and lasts a full day from the moment you buy it.[6] For several days of short rides, the OKICA prepaid IC card is sold and loaded at the station machines.[6]

North and beaches. The monorail line ends in the Naha area. For Motobu, the aquarium area or a beach hotel on the west coast, a car lets you stop where you like and set your own timetable.

Families. A car makes sense with small children and beach gear. Request a child seat when you book; the guide to driving in Japan explains the child seat rule, the permit you need and what the rental counter checks.

How do I pick up a rental car at Naha Airport?

Before you start

  • Your original home driver’s licence
  • An International Driving Permit in the Geneva Convention format, or a JAF translation if your licence country requires one
  • Your passport
  • A credit card in the driver’s name
  • Your booking number and the name of the company’s shuttle stop
  • An ETC card and a child seat, requested in the booking
  • Your return flight time, to plan the drop-off

The permit rules are the same as on the mainland, so check which document your licence needs before you fly.

Red and silver Nippon Rent-A-Car shuttle bus marked Naha Airport, parked at the kerb outside the airport terminal
A rental car company's shuttle bus at Naha Airport, Okinawa Rsa · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

  1. Book the car with ETC and your flight numberBefore departure

    Book directly with a rental company or through a comparison site. Ask for an ETC card so you can use the ETC lanes, and give your flight details so the shuttle staff expect you.

  2. Go to the domestic terminalAfter landing

    Collect your bags and go to the 1F arrival lobby. If you land at the international terminal or the connecting terminal, walk through to the domestic terminal first, as the shuttle stops are there.[4] The airport’s car rental assistance counter is in the arrival lobby if you need help.[1]

  3. Cross the road to your company's stopOn foot

    Leave the terminal and cross the crosswalk to the rental shuttle area. Each company has its own numbered stand: OTS Rent-a-car uses 10-A (to be renamed R-10), TOYOTA Rent a Car uses stop 11-A, and Times Car RENTAL staff wait at stop 11.[2][3][4]

  4. Check in with the staff and ride the shuttleShuttle ride

    Give the staff at the stand your name and booking number.[2] Ride times differ by company and traffic; OTS gives 15–20 minutes to its Toyosaki office.[2] Ask your company for its own estimate when you book.

  5. Pick up the car at the officeAt the counter

    Show your licence, permit and passport, choose the insurance cover, and walk round the car with the staff to note existing damage. Check that the ETC card is inserted before you leave.

  6. Refuel and returnBefore your flight

    Fill the tank near the office as your contract requires, return the car and the ETC card, and take the company’s shuttle back to the terminal. Leave time for the shuttle on top of your check-in time.

How much does the Okinawa Expressway cost?

The Okinawa Expressway (沖縄自動車道) is the fast road north. From Naha interchange to Kyoda interchange, near Nago, the route is 57.3 km.[7] NEXCO’s Drive Plaza gives a toll of ¥1,040 for an ordinary car with ETC, and ¥1,610 without ETC.[7][7] That gap is the main reason to ask for an ETC card when you book.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pick up the car inside the terminal?

Usually not. The common pattern is a free shuttle from a numbered stop across the road from the domestic terminal to the company’s office.[2] Check the stop name on your booking confirmation.

I arrive on an international flight. Where do I go?

Walk to the domestic terminal and use the same shuttle stops as domestic passengers.[4] Complete your arrival formalities first; the Visit Japan Web guide shows what to prepare before you land.

Can I pay the toll in cash?

Yes, in a General lane, at the standard toll rather than the ETC toll.[7]

Sources

  1. Car rental — Naha Airport Passenger Terminal Building (checked )
  2. Free transfer service in Naha area (Domestic) — OTS Rent-a-car (checked )
  3. Naha Airport Seaside Shop — TOYOTA Rent a Car (checked )
  4. Shuttle Bus from Naha Airport — Times Car RENTAL (checked )
  5. Yui Rail — Okinawa Urban Monorail (checked )
  6. Information — Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yui Rail) (checked )
  7. Naha to Kyoda expressway toll and route — Drive Plaza (NEXCO) (checked )