I recommend a fuel efficient vehicle that is smaller to navigate tight roads in small neighborhood. Roads otherwise are wide and easy to get around. I recommend the car insurance provided at the location - it was a good value. Regardless of who you book with, you will need to take a shuttle to pick up your vehicle. Don’t forget your international drivers permit!!
Verified travelerJan 2025
Hiring a car in Okinawa is a necessity for getting around. Fuel was well-priced, the speed limit is more of a recommendation, and there is zero tolerance for drunk driving. Typically other drivers are considerate and generous as well.
BennOct 2024
I booked a hybrid compact, easy to drive. Learn the traffic laws and be ready to drive slow and easy. Okinawa is a beautiful place, so I suggest slowing down and experiencing it. The gas stations are easy enough and there is always an attendant available to help.
Verified travelerJun 2023
Ask airport information to help find the car rental shuttle. It was a little difficult to find.
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Okinawa
Car hire in Okinawa offers travellers considerably more freedom of movement for travelling around this fascinating island than would otherwise be possible. Although Japan is justifiably famous for its excellent public transportation, it cannot cover everywhere you might like to go, and it is here that you will find hiring a car presents some major advantages. Attractions on Okinawa can be very spread out and hard to reach without a vehicle.
There are 13 airports on Okinawa, but only Naha Airport (OKA) serves international routes. Car hire in Okinawa is very straightforward, and several major international and Japanese car hire companies can be found at Naha Airport, including Budget, ABC, Europcar, Nissan, Nippon Car Hire, Orix and Alamo. Okinawa Rent-A-Car, located on the arrivals level of the airport, is immediately available to travellers on arrival. Other agencies also serve the airport but are located nearby rather than inside the airport building itself. If you contact your preferred agency on arrival, they will pick you up and take you to their offices.
Naha is a relatively small city and getting around should not present too many problems. You should be sure to keep your International Driving Permit, local driving licence and passport on you at all times while driving in Japan. Traffic in the city is generally orderly, and drivers tend to be respectful of road rules. The same is usually true of pedestrians, and you will not need to worry much about jaywalkers or other such minor traffic hazards.
Naha city is quite small, and the biggest difficulty you are likely to face is rush-hour congestion. As the city is not large and is well served by public transport, many residents prefer not to drive inside the city, which is well set up for both pedestrians and patrons of the buses and monorail. The drivers of the city, however, tend to conglomerate at rush hour, which is from 06:00-07:00 in the morning and 19:00-20:00 in the evening, and, perhaps surprisingly, it registers as the slowest rush-hour traffic in the country. Outside the city, driving is very straightforward and you are unlikely to face any significant difficulties. Something to bear in mind when driving outside the city, however, is that many roads on the island are subject to tolls, which you need to pay to pass.
Cheap car hire in Okinawa offers great flexibility for touring the area. There are some roads you will likely encounter, as they are primary to the city. One such road is Route 58. This is a major north-south road that runs the length of the island. It is the main route for getting around Naha and the southern part of the island. It can be busy, especially during rush hour, so it is important to allow extra time for travel. Another main road is Route 331, which runs along the east coast of the island. It is a scenic route that offers beautiful views of the ocean. It can be narrow and winding in some areas, so it is important to drive cautiously.
There are two toll roads that you will likely come across when driving your hire car in Okinawa. The Okinawa Expressway is a major toll road from Naha to the island's northern area. The other toll road in Okinawa is the Naha Airport Expressway. This toll road connects Naha Airport (OKA) to the Okinawa Expressway. It is a convenient way to get to the expressway if you're arriving or departing from the airport. If you plan on using these roads, make sure to have cash or an ETC card to pay the tolls. If you're hiring a car, most car hire companies have ETC cards available to lend to you.
The drunk driving laws in Okinawa, Japan, are very strict and carry severe penalties. Drivers with a blood alcohol content of 0.03% or higher are considered to be driving under the influence. If caught driving under the influence, penalties can include imprisonment and fines. It is recommended to not drink and drive and instead use alternative transport means or designated drivers when consuming alcohol.
Book your rental car in Okinawa at least 4 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Economy rental cars in Okinawa are around 28% more expensive than other car types, on average
See more tips
FAQs about renting a car in Okinawa
What type of car is recommended for driving in Okinawa?
When considering car hire in Okinawa, smaller cars are preferable over larger ones for maneuverability and ease of parking. Fuel economy may also be a consideration, as cutting down on petrol expenses makes pretty obvious sense, especially if you intend to do a lot of driving during your stay.
What’s the speed limit in Okinawa?
Unless specifically signposted otherwise, the official speed limit on Okinawa is 100 km/h on expressways and 60 km/h on other roads. There are few police officers enforcing these limits, but speed cameras are in operation on many routes.
Where are the best places to park in Okinawa?
An advantage of Okinawa car hire is that many hire companies can secure free parking in certain locations in Naha city for drivers of their vehicles. Normally, parking in the city costs and prices can vary. There are a number of car parks and some metered on-street parking. It is illegal to park outside of designated areas in the city and you should be sure not to park anywhere illegally, as there are quite stiff penalties for doing so and these are strictly enforced.
How much is gas price in Okinawa?
The average gas price in Okinawa is ₪15.38 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between ₪185 and ₪246, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Okinawa?
Economy (Class Economy Car or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Okinawa.
How much does an Economy car rental cost in Okinawa?
An Economy car rental in Okinawa costs ₪179 per day, on average.
What are the child car safety seat laws in Okinawa?
Child car safety seat laws in Okinawa mandate that children under six years of age and weighing less than 18 kg must be secured in a proper child car seat while in a vehicle. Children who are too large for a car seat should be secured with a seat belt. For cheap car hire in Okinawa, make sure to book any required seats in advance.
How old should I be to hire a car in Okinawa?
To book a hire car, you need to be at least 18 years old, as that is the required age for driving in Japan. Some Okinawa car hire companies may have additional requirements, such as a minimum age of 21 or 25 or a minimum number of years of driving experience.
KS car rentals were a great experience. They picked us up from the airport and dropped us off. The first car I booked was too small (One family member brought far more luggage than expected). But luckily KS upgraded us to a larger car for a generous price. This car was a little damaged but the condition report was accurate and there was no attempted skulduggery. I would absolutely recommend this company.
Staff were friendly and courteous. Pick up logistics were not communicated in advance so we had to ask where to go. Otherwise, process was quick and efficient. Value was great!
10.0 Wonderful
Benn, Oct 2024
Intermediate
Quick easy and efficient.
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Mar 2024
Compact
I had a simple last minute change - to our flight number and arrival time - and Avis website could not confirm it, rejecting my information for no clear reason. The telephone number at the local office answered with a recorded message in Japanese and nothing further, which did not help. I wound up calling the north America reservations line, waiting on hold for 16 minutes, and the agent was unenthusiastic to say the least. The confirmation email arrived after our call, and showed no change to the flight numbeer or reservation. I had to get on the flight with no certainty that I would even have a car waiting for me, but fortunately at the office when I arrived, the staff was the usual hyper-competent Japanese experience. The Avis experience was only saved due to their action on the day, but in general was awful.
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Feb 2024
Compact
There's not any plug charger for cell phone. GPS on the car can not find some place, we have to use our own Google maps in our smartphone.
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