What to bring, by licence
| Licence from | Bring | Where to get the permit or translation |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | Taiwanese licence, Japanese translation, passport | Motor vehicle offices in Taiwan (NT$100); in Japan, TECO offices including Naha, or JAF (¥6,000, 1–2 weeks) |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong licence, International Driving Permit, passport | Transport Department; its self-service kiosks issue it the same day |
| South Korea | Korean licence, International Driving Permit, passport | Licence test centres, police stations, Incheon and Gimhae airports (₩9,000) |
| United States | US licence, International Driving Permit, passport | AAA or AATA only (AAA: US$20) |
Permits that are refused
Rental companies accept only 1949 Geneva Convention permits from the same country as your licence. Permits under the 1968 Vienna Convention, “IDL” or “IAA” cards sold online, photocopies and expired documents are refused, and a Taiwanese international permit is not valid in Japan.
Picking up the car at Naha Airport
Find your company’s shuttle stop
Rental offices are in Toyosaki, 15–20 minutes away. Outside the domestic terminal (1F) each company has a numbered stop, such as OTS at 10-A and Nippon Rent-A-Car at 11-A. From the international terminal, walk through to the domestic terminal.
Show your documents
Show your licence, permit or translation, and passport: originals only. Ask for an ETC card if the car has an ETC unit, and set the satnav to your language.
Leave time to return it
Allow about an hour to return the car and ride the shuttle back to departures (3F).
Typical costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Small car, OTS (S class, booked online) | ¥7,700 for 24 hours, plus ¥1,650 compulsory damage waiver |
| Compact car, Toyota Rent a Car (C1 class) | ¥10,340 for 24 hours, ¥8,690 per extra day |
| NOC if the car is damaged (Toyota, Nippon Rent-A-Car) | ¥20,000 if it can be driven back, ¥50,000 if not |
| Nippon Rent-A-Car cover that waives the NOC | ¥440 a day |
| Okinawa Expressway, Naha to Kyoda | ¥1,040 with ETC, ¥1,610 in cash |
Useful before you fly
Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags
Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight
Driving rules
Drive on the left. Without signs the limit is 60 km/h on ordinary roads and 100 km/h on expressways. Children under 6 must sit in a child seat, and using a phone while driving is banned.
Do not drink at all: driving with 0.15 mg of alcohol per litre of breath or more can mean up to 3 years in prison or a ¥500,000 fine, and passengers can be punished too.
On weekdays from 07:30 to 09:00 and 17:30 to 19:00, lanes on Route 58 and other main roads in Naha are for buses only. Parking on the street is generally not allowed; use coin car parks.
After any accident call the police on 110, and 119 if someone is hurt. Without a police report the rental insurance does not pay.
Booking
Book with a rental company directly, or compare cars from several companies at Naha Airport on Klook · KKday and Trip.com.
Book early for busy periods: Toyota Rent a Car charges peak rates on 29 April–5 May, 6–15 August and 29 December–3 January.
Without a car (adult)
| Option | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Yui Rail 1-day pass | ¥1,000 (24 hours) | Naha, between the airport and Tedako-Uranishi |
| Yui Rail 2-day pass | ¥1,800 (48 hours) | Two days in Naha |
| Airport limousine bus | about ¥1,000–2,100 | Resort hotels in Chatan, Onna and Nago; book up to a month ahead |
| Okinawa Bus day tour B | ¥7,500 with lunch | Churaumi Aquarium and Nakijin Castle, about 10 hours |
