The main airport servicing the Island of Okinawa is the Naha International Airport, located 2.5 miles west of downtown Naha.

If you have not booked a private transfer with us you have a few options for transportation to your hotel including the Okinawa monorail, buses, taxis and rental cars.

The Okinawa Monorail (Yui Rail) departs from the airport station and travels to Shuri Station (last stop) which is around 8 miles and takes around 27 minutes, there are a total of 15 stations. The first train starts at 6 am and the last train departs at 11:30 pm and tickets cost approximately ¥230. Follow the signs through the airport for Yui Rail to catch the monorail and purchase your tickets.

Taxis are available at the airport with estimated base fares starting around ¥530 - ¥550.

There is a Local Bus that operates from the airport to the Naha bus terminal, number 111 and the Yanbaru Express bus that travels to central Naha and to the Motobu Peninsula. The bus counter is located in the arrivals hall where tickets can be purchased at the airport bus counter. Estimated tickets costs start around ¥220.

There is a car rental counter located inside the terminal and the following rental car agencies are available Nippon, Toyota, OTS, ORIX, and Luft. There is a complimentary shuttle bus that takes you to the rental care office.

If you arrive at Shuri Station which is located in Naha on the monorail from the airport you are close to the center of downtown Shuri where Shuri castle and other attractions can be found and are within walking distance. Taxi and bus stops can also be found in the area.

The main form of public transportation in Okinawa is the Yui Rail (monorail) which travels around Naha city starting at the airport it covers 15 stations and ends at Shuri Station covering most of the sightseeing destination in the city. The trains depart every 10 - 15 minutes and runs from 6 am until 11:30 pm daily with an average ticket costing around ¥220 - ¥300 for adults and ¥110 - ¥160 for children depending on the total distance traveled. There are passes available for 24 hours for around ¥700 or 48 hours for about ¥1,200.

The city offers an extensive bus network, however trying to figure out timetables and which bus to catch can be complicated. The Busmap Okinawa can be a helpful guide if you plan on using the city buses. Bus stops can be found around the city with the main terminal located at the Naha Bus Terminal (near Kokusai-Dori), where buses travel from one end of the island to the other (2 - 3-hour journey). The most important bus is number 111 which travels from the Naha Airport to the Naha Bus Terminal and goes via the Okinawa Expressway and connects to the Nago Bus Terminal in the north. Bus fares start at approximately ¥220 and increase depending on the total distance traveled.

Express buses are helpful for visitors as they cover most of Okinawa`s mainland and the outlying islands. The Yanbaru Express Bus travels from Naha Airport to central Naha and to the Motobu Peninsula.

Taxis are plentiful in Okinawa and available 24 hours a day, basic fares start around ¥500 for the first mile and go up around ¥60 yen ever 0.22 miles. The cost from Naha city to the Churami Aquarium can cost around ¥15,000. There is a 20% increase between 10 pm and 5 am.

A rental car is a good way to travel around the island and visit destinations that are outside of Naha at your own pace. There are plenty of rental car options found at the airport and in the major cities and the Okinawa Expressway extends from Naha to Nago. Traffic is heavy during the summer months and it can take upwards of over an hour just to get from Naha airport to Shuri (which is a 27-minute ride on the monorail), parking on the island tends to be very expensive.

There is a ferry service that operates daily between Naha and Kagoshima with stops at Motobu Port on Motobu Peninsula, this is a one-way ferry and the total journey (to Kagoshima) takes two hours with a cost around ¥2,400. Ferries depart from the Naha Port which is located near the Naha Bus Terminal.

The island of Okinawa is only 5 miles wide and 65 miles long, walking along the coastal areas and attractions including castle ruins are one of the best ways to explore the culture and history the city has to offer. Many attractions can be reached by foot from Naha including the Shikina-en Gardens and the Shuri Castle which are both great locations to wander around and enjoy the beauty and surroundings. Walk along the beautiful beaches along the turquoise blue shoreline and soak up the sun. Wander around the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites found in Okinawa.

Okinawa is an incredibly safe place to visit. There may be the risk of pickpockets lurking around busy tourist attractions or at transportation stations, so it is advised to keep your belongings secure at all times. Keep your wits about you and practice safe street smarts.

Okinawa Island offers a wide variety of shopping options offered in shopping malls, outlet malls, international name brand stores, souvenir shops and markets. The following are some of the popular places to shop at on the island.

Aeon Mall is a large mall with around 230 different stores along with restaurants, a 2,400 seat food court and a movie theatre situated opposite the Omoromachi station.

The T Galleria is a duty-free shopping area covering 10,000 square meters and featuring over 130 brand stores with largely discounted items which are located about 20 minutes by monorail from the Naha airport.

The Okinawa Outlet Mall Ashibinaa features over 100 famous brand names international stores with a few American fast food chains and other restaurants for a fun day out.

Kokusai Street is a mile long shopping avenue known as `Miracle Mile` that features restaurants and souvenir shops with Okinawan style food courts. The Daiichi Makishi Public Market is located in between Kokusai Street and Yachimun Street which is filled with stalls selling fresh produce, fish, and meats along with other stalls selling crafts, clothing, and souvenirs in a bustling vibrant market atmosphere popular with the locals and tourists.

Tipping is not practiced in Japan, leaving a tip for a waitress, taxi driver or bell boy will cause some confusion. At some high-end, restaurants and hotels a 10 - 15% service charge may be added to your bill. For a more detailed guide on tipping please see our tipping guide by clicking here Japan

Okinawa offers a wide range of excellent cuisine with many traditional dishes that include sushi, rice, noodles, and tofu as well as freshly caught seafood from the waters around the island; tuna is amongst the popular fish caught here in large quantities. Okinawans hold the title for the longest lifespan in the entire world due to the food which enhances longevity, some of the local ingredients include sea grapes, Beni-imo (purple sweet potatoes), soba, black pork, peanut tofu and jasmine tea along with locally produced produce all found in the area.

Okinawa`s vibrant island vibe provides visitors a wide variety of nightlife options for a fun night out. Naha is the Island`s capital and home to some of the best nightlife options that has something to offer everyone. The main street in Naha is filled with restaurants, cafes, bars, jazz clubs and clubs with a vibrant island atmosphere.

Sakurazaka is a great area for bar hopping with establishments that are open until the wee hours. Matsuyama is situated close to the popular shopping area on Kokusai Street where visitors can find pubs and bars with a bustling atmosphere.

Chatan is a great beachside entertainment destination with a wide variety of international restaurants and nightlife venues. The Mihama American Village is also situated in Chatan featuring an American themed outdoor mall, restaurants, shops, a movie theatre, a bowling alley and the giant Ferris wheel with Sunset Beach situated close by which is the perfect spot to capture the sunset.

Japanese is the language spoken in Osaka, but English is widely spoken throughout the country with announcements on public transportation frequently made in Japanese and English, most signs include roman characters or an English explanation. Most Japanese people study English in junior high and high school so you are best seeking out younger people who may be able to help and translate for you.

It is best to have your destinations written down in Japanese so you are able to show this to your taxi driver or people on the street. People are always willing to help whether they can speak English or not.

We recommend you get a good English - Japanese guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me and numbers 1 - 10.

In case of an emergency dial 110 for police, 119 for Ambulance and Fire.

Hospitals:

Okinawa Chubu Central Hospital tel. 81-93-973-4111

Naha City Hospital tel. 81-98-884-5111

Okinawa Central Hospital tel 81-98-854-5511