Getting To & Around Okinawa
Located around 1600km to the southwest of Tokyo and surrounded by the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, the main islands of Okinawa are most easily accessed by flying with ferries connecting to smaller islands. On this page you will find the following information:
— Getting to Okinawa by Flight
— Getting Around the Islands by Ferry
— Getting Around: Rent a Car & Drive Yourself
— 25 Things to Do Around Okinawa & Where to Stay
The islands of Okinawa rank as some of the most beautiful and rewarding destinations in Japan. located at significant distance from the Japanese main islands, Okinawa is blessed with natural beauty and a rich, independent culture that in many ways make it feel like a different country. In short, it’s well worth visiting. On this page we will discuss how to get to Okinawa including the option of flying, ferries and once there, renting a car and driving yourself.
This page is intended for use by travelers already in Japan or intending to journey to Okinawa from within Japan, noting that airports including Naha on the Okinawan main island of ‘Okinawa Honto’, Miyako and Ishigaki are serviced by international carriers allowing you to access those islands directly from cities in Asia. This page is also intended to be used in conjunction with our ’25 Things to Do Around Okinawa & Where to Stay’ page – we hope they are of assistance in planning your visit.
WHERE IS OKINAWA?
The islands of Okinawa lie approximately 1600km to the southeast of Tokyo, surrounded by the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean. One of Japan’s 47 prefectures, it is part of Japan’s southern Kyushu region – despite its significant distance from the rest of Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu and Hokkaido – while maintaining a strong sense of independence and distinct cultural reflective of its close ties and contact to China and South East Asia. Located in the south of the Okinawan main island, Naha Airport is the primary point of access to the islands – approximately 2.5 hours flight from Tokyo. Some of the smaller islands are also accessible by flight from Tokyo and other cities in Japan, along with short regional flights Naha. Ferry services also connect Okinawa to Kagoshima in Kyushu – taking around 25 hours – while running from the Okinawa main island to smaller islands in the archipelago.
GETTING TO OKINAWA BY FLIGHT
Given the distance of the Okinawa islands from the rest of Japan, flying is by far the most convenient option. Naha Airport is the largest airport in Okinawa while smaller islands including Miyako, Ishigaki and Yonaguni also have airports, with routes connecting them to Naha and airports in the Japanese main islands. Flying directly to these islands will be the most convenient option. Once on one of those islands, ferries operate to the smaller islands with some small islands also serviced by regional flights.
NAHA AIRPORT
Naha Airport is located in the south of Okinawa’s main island, only 4km from central Naha City. As such, it is the primary point of entry and exit for the Okinawa archipelago, with flights connecting through to small airports on islands including Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni. When flying to Naha Airport, you can expect the following flight times:
FROM KAGOSHIMA: flights from & to Kagoshima Airport = 85 minutes.
FROM FUKUOKA: flights from & to Fukuoka Airport = 100 minutes.
FROM OSAKA: flights from & to Kansai Airport = 120 minutes.
FROM NAGOYA: flights from & to Chubu Centrair Airport = 135 minutes.
FROM TOKYO: flights from & to Narita Airport / Haneda Airport = 150 minutes.
FROM SAPPORO: flights from & to New Chitose Airport = 200 minutes.
Prices vary greatly depending on where you are flying from and the season you are traveling, with the summer months of July and August being especially expensive. In those months airlines also operate seasonal flights from other airports they may not operate through the rest of the year. Once in Naha, it’s a short distance to Tomari Port from where ferries operate to Kume, Tokashiki, Aka, Zamami and other islands – see below for details.
MIYAKO AIRPORT
Lying around 300km to the south of the Okinawa main island, the Miyako Islands are a popular destination thanks to their resort hotels. Miyako Island is by far the largest island in the grouping, accessible by flight via Miyako Airport. When flying to Miyako Airport, you can expect the following flight times:
FROM NAHA: flights from & to Naha Airport = 50 minutes
FROM OSAKA: flights from & to Kansai Airport = 130 minutes
FROM NAGOYA: flights from & to Chubu Centrair Airport = 140 minutes
FROM TOKYO: flights from & to Narita Airport / Haneda Airport = 160 minutes
Prices vary greatly depending on where you are flying from and the season you are traveling, with the summer months of July and August being especially expensive. In those months airlines also operate seasonal flights from other airports they may not operate through the rest of the year. Once on Miyako Island, ferries operate to the islands of Tarama and Ogami.
ISHIGAKI AIRPORT
The Yaeyama Islands are the southern and westernmost islands of Okinawa and include the popular destinations of Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni. From Ishigaki, ferries connect to Iriomote, Yonaguni and other islands with the option of also flying to Yonaguni. When flying to Ishigaki Airport, you can expect the following flight times:
FROM NAHA: flights from & to Naha Airport = 60 minutes
FROM FUKUOKA: flights from & to Fukuoka Airport = 120 minutes
FROM OSAKA: flights from & to Kansai Airport = 140 minutes
FROM NAGOYA: flights from & to Chubu Centrair Airport = 150 minutes
FROM TOKYO: flights from & to Narita Airport / Haneda Airport = 200 minutes
Prices vary greatly depending on where you are flying from and the season you are traveling, with the summer months of July and August being especially expensive. In those months airlines also operate seasonal flights from other airports they may not operate through the rest of the year. Once on Ishigaki, it’s a short distance to Ishigaki Port from where ferries operate to Taketomi, Iriomote, Yonaguni and other islands – see below for details.
YONAGUNI AIRPORT
Yonaguni is the westernmost island of both Okinawa and all of Japan, known-best for its diving and wild-roaming Yonaguni horse. It can be reached by flight from Naha and Ishigaki. When flying to YonaguniAirport, you can expect the following flight times:
FROM NAHA: flights from & to Naha Airport = 80 minutes
FROM ISHIGAKI: flights from & to Ishigaki Airport = 30 minutes
Prices vary greatly depending on where you are flying from and the season you are traveling, with the summer months of July and August being especially expensive. In those months airlines also operate seasonal flights from other airports they may not operate through the rest of the year.
GETTING TO OKINAWA BY FERRY
The main Okinawa island – known as ‘Okinawa Honto’ – can also be reached by ferry from Kagoshima in Kyushu. The journey takes around 25 hours and operates once per day from Shinkoku Port in Kagoshima City. Enroute to Naha, the ferry ports at the Amami Islands of Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabujima and Yoron. Services depart Kagoshima at 18:00 and arrive in Naha at 19:00 (subject of course to weather conditions). The return journey from Naha departs daily at 07:00 and is scheduled to reach Kagoshima at 08:30 the following day. Two companies – A-Line and Marix ferries – operate the services with little difference between them. Fares vary depending on the type of sleeping quarter (if any) you wish to have, starting from around JPY15,000 for a second class berth to JPY30,000 for a first class berth.
GETTING AROUND THE ISLANDS BY FERRY
While airports service some of Okinawa’s larger islands, most are only accessible by ferry. There are multiple ferry routes around the islands, which can be grouped as those servicing 1. the main grouping of ‘Okinawa Shoto’ – including the Okinawa main island – and nearby Kerama Islands; 2. the Miyako Islands and 3. the Yaeyama Islands including the popular destinations of Ishigaki, Taketomi, Iriomote and Yonaguni. Island-hopping is one of the most enjoyable aspects of traveling to Okinawa, with these services being of most interest:
MAIN ISLAND / NAHA ⇋ KUME / 3.5 to 4 hours
A twice daily ferry operates from Tomari Port in Naha to Kanegusukuko Terminal on Kume Island. Departing at 09:00 and 14:00, the journey takes between 3.5 to 4 hours and costs JPY3450 one-way. Please note that the schedule can vary be season and is subject to change or cancellation should the weather not allow for safe passage.
MAIN ISLAND / NAHA ⇋ TOKASHIKI / 35 minutes
High-speed ferries operate usually operate two or three times each day from Naha’s Tomari Port to Tokashiki at 09:00, 13:00 and 16:30. The journey takes around 35 minutes and costs JPY2530 one-way. There is also a slower car ferry taking round 70 minutes / JPY1690, operating daily at 10:00. Please note that the schedule can vary be season and is subject to change or cancellation should the weather not allow for safe passage.
MAIN ISLAND / NAHA ⇋ AKA ⇋ ZAMAMI / 50 to 70 minutes
Travelers heading to Aka Island and/or Zamami Island can do so using ferry services from Tomari Port in Naha. Two high-speed ferries operate to Zamami each day at 09:00 and 16:00 and taking between 50 to 70 minutes, noting that the ferry at 09:00 does not stop at Aka meaning that it is 20 minutes faster. Aka can be reached using the ferry at 16:30 – a journey of 50 minutes – or using the slower car ferry which operates daily at 13:00, taking 1.5 hours to reach Aka and 2 hours to reach Zamami. The high-speed ferry costs JPY3200 to both Aka and Zamami while the slower car ferry costs JPY2150 to both islands. Please note that the schedule can vary be season and is subject to change or cancellation should the weather not allow for safe passage.
ISHIGAKI ⇋ TAKETOMI / 10 minutes
Taketomi is only 10 minutes by high-speed ferry from Ishigaki Island. Services operate from Ishigaki Port every 30 minutes between 07:30 and 17:30. A one-way journey costs JPY1160. Please note that the schedule can vary be season and is subject to change or cancellation should the weather not allow for safe passage.
ISHIGAKI ⇋ IRIOMOTE / 50 to 70 minutes
Iriomote has two ports – Uehara and Ohara – from which high-speed ferries operate to Ishigaki. There are usually around 7 services each day between 06:50: and 17:00, taking between 50 to 70 minutes / JPY1600 to JPY2090 depending on which port you go from and which company you use. There is also a slower carry ferry, operating at couple of times each week – 110 to 130 minutes / JPY1450. Please note that the schedule can vary be season and is subject to change or cancellation should the weather not allow for safe passage.
ISHIGAKI ⇋ YONAGUNI / 4 to 4.5 hours
Yonaguni is the westernmost island of Okinawa. It can be reached by a twice weekly ferry – usually operating on Tuesdays and Fridays – that operates from Ishigaki Port to Sonai Port on the north coast of the island. The journey takes between 4 to 4.5 hours and costs JPY3550 one-way. Please note that the schedule can vary be season and is subject to change or cancellation should the weather not allow for safe passage.
GETTING AROUND: RENT A CAR & DRIVE YOURSELF
Depending on which island or islands you will be visiting when in Okinawa, renting a car and driving yourself can be a great option. This is especially so for travelers wanting to explore the main island of Okinawa Honto and larger islands including Kume, Miyako, Ishigaki and Iriomote. To rent a car and drive in Japan you must:
— be 18 years of age or older, and
— have a valid Japanese drivers license, or
— have a valid drivers license in your home country and a valid international drivers license*
It is important to note that if you do not have a Japanese drivers license, you cannot drive in Japan unless you are also carrying a valid international license – even if you have a valid license in your home country. To obtain one, you will need to apply and have it issued before traveling to Japan. The process and cost varies by country so check with your local/national automotive association for further details.
You’ll find car rental outlets through the most popular islands including at airports and nearby ferry terminals. Renting is typically economical and easy, just make sure to have them set your navigation system to English prior to driving away. For more information about renting a car and driving in Japan, see our ‘Moving Around Japan: Using Trains, Buses, Plans or Drive Yourself’ page; and for more suggestions of the best things to see and do around Okinawa, read on to the section below.
*Nationals of Belgium, Estonia France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland and Taiwan are not eligible for an international drivers license. However agreements between those countries and Japan means that those nationals can drive in Japan on the drivers license issued in their home country as long as they are also carrying an official Japanese translation of it.
25 THINGS TO DO AROUND OKINAWA & WHERE TO STAY
Lying around 1600km to the southwest of Tokyo, the islands of Okinawa are surrounded by the East China Sea and Pacific Ocean and in most regards, a world away from the rest of Japan. Enjoying a tropical climate and defined by its beaches, islands and diving, Okinawa is a destination unto itself and one that will challenge your idea of what Japan is. Our ’25 Things to Do Around Okinawa’ page has our recommendations of some of the best attractions and activities waiting for you and where to stay once you get there.
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO JAPAN
Despite Okinawa’s distance from Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, you’ll have no trouble getting there thanks for flights and ferries connecting the archipelago to the main Japanese islands. Our ‘Plan Your Visit’ page has everything you need to know about visiting Japan – from tips on the best time to travel, times to avoid, entering and exiting the country, money matters, staying connected, accommodation, staying safe and healthy and plenty more to ensure that you get the most out of your time here.
