Car rental in Okinawa
沖縄のレンタカーRental
Renting a car in Okinawa means a free shuttle from Naha Airport to an off-airport lot, and visitors need an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or a JAF Japanese translation for licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan, valid for up to a year from entry.
At Naha the cars aren't at the terminal. You walk out of domestic arrivals, cross to the rental-car shuttle stop and look for your company's sign, and a minibus takes you to its lot in Naha or Tomigusuku; Times' station is 1.5 km away, OTS and ORIX about 15 and 20 minutes. The smaller islands make it simpler. On Kume-jima six companies have desks in the arrivals hall, and Ishigaki's shuttles pull into the car park across the crosswalk. On Yonaguni two rental offices stand across the road from the terminal and a third has a desk inside it.
Japan accepts International Driving Permits issued under the 19 September 1949 Geneva Convention, and JAF says permits under other treaties, such as the 1968 Vienna Convention, aren't valid. A permit lets you drive for up to a year from your date of entry. Drivers with licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan carry an official Japanese translation from JAF instead. It costs ¥6,000 plus printing and takes about two to three business days, and JAF takes applications online only and only from inside Japan, so check its overseas page before you fly. Rental companies add their own checks, and ots-rent-a-car and times-car-rental describe theirs.
The Okinawa Expressway runs 57.3 km from Naha to Kyoda in Nago and is the quick way north; Times fits every car with an ETC reader and OTS rents a flat-rate ETC card (see their files). Watch the bus lanes. On weekdays from 7:30 to 9:00 and 17:30 to 19:00 the kerbside lane of Route 58 between Naha and Ginowan, and stretches of Routes 329, 330 and 507 and prefectural roads 29 and 82, belong to buses, taxis and motorcycles, and Kokusai-dori becomes a bus-only road. The Okinawa Prefectural Police lift the lanes on weekends, holidays, 2 and 3 January and days when the buses stop for a typhoon. Children under 6 must ride in a child seat under Article 71-3 of the Road Traffic Act.
Services
| Service | Time | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naha Airport: shuttles to off-airport lots | – | – | – |
| New Ishigaki Airport: shuttle pickups in the car park | – | – | – |
| Miyako and Shimojishima airports | – | – | – |
| Kumejima Airport: counters in the arrivals hall | – | –Counters open 7:30–19:00 | – |
| Yonaguni and Yoron | – | – | – |
| Okinawa Expressway (E58), Naha IC – Kyoda IC | – | – | – |
Fares
- JAF Japanese translation of a Swiss, German, French, Belgian, Monegasque or Taiwanese licence, for drivingTax-exempt, plus ¥20 per printed page. JAF fee table, 2026; applied for online from inside Japan, usually 2–3 business days.¥6,000
- JAF translation printing, per pagePrinted at a convenience store. JAF, 2026.¥20
Weather and cancellations
Okinawa Bus's annual congestion forecast lists 30-minute to one-hour delays around Naha Airport and across the island over New Year (1–5 January) and on the February holiday weekends, afternoon jams between Nago and the expressway during the Nago cherry blossom festival from late January to early February, and about 30 minutes of extra traffic near the pro baseball spring camps in February. The Okinawa General Bureau announces possible closures of national roads when a typhoon approaches.
Worth knowing
- On Miyako, check that your pickup is the airport you're flying into: Miyako Airport and Shimojishima Airport are separate places, and Shimojishima Airport flags this on its rental page.
- Bring the IDP from the country that issued your licence; OTS requires the permit and the licence to come from the same country (see ots-rent-a-car).
- Plan the drive north around the February festival and holiday traffic in Okinawa Bus's forecast, and leave Nago before mid-afternoon during the cherry blossom festival.
- The Okinawa Prefectural Police publish an English map of every bus lane; save it before your first weekday drive through Naha.
FAQ
Quick answers about Car rental in Okinawaよくある質問
Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Okinawa?
Yes, unless your licence comes from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan. Japan accepts only permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, valid for up to a year from entry. Holders of those six licences carry a JAF Japanese translation instead; JAF charges ¥6,000 for it in 2026.
Where do I pick up a rental car at Naha Airport?
Off the airport, by free shuttle. Leave domestic arrivals, cross to the rental-car shuttle stop and find your company's staff, then ride to its lot in Naha or Tomigusuku. Allow extra time at busy periods.
Is a child seat required in Okinawa?
Yes, for children under 6. Article 71-3 of Japan's Road Traffic Act bars driving with a child under 6 who isn't in a child seat, according to the National Police Agency. OTS is one of the rental companies that rents child and booster seats.
Is there a toll expressway in Okinawa?
Yes. The Okinawa Expressway runs 57.3 km from Naha IC to Kyoda IC in Nago. Times fits ETC readers in every car and OTS rents a flat-rate ETC card for its cars.
How much is Car rental in Okinawa?
JAF Japanese translation of a Swiss, German, French, Belgian, Monegasque or Taiwanese licence, for driving on Car rental in Okinawa costs ¥6,000.
Does weather cancel Car rental in Okinawa?
Okinawa Bus's annual congestion forecast lists 30-minute to one-hour delays around Naha Airport and across the island over New Year (1–5 January) and on the February holiday weekends, afternoon jams between Nago and the expressway during the Nago cherry blossom festival from late January to early February, and about 30 minutes of extra traffic near the pro baseball spring camps in February. The Okinawa General Bureau announces possible closures of national roads when a typhoon approaches.
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