What's It Like To Drive In Okinawa
As Foreigners
Okinawa, Japan, October 28, 2024
Okinawa is a large island with mostly rural areas. Public transportation options is much more limited compared to major cities in the mainland. There are taxis and buses that service the main cities like Naha, but in more rural areas, can be much less options and service are more infrequent. If you’re thinking of visiting Okinawa, we highly recommend renting a car to be able to explore the island and enjoy your visit.
Driving in Okinawa as a foreigner is a unique and enjoyable experience, but it comes with its own set of challenges and things to be aware of.
Driving Requirements
Most foreigners will need an Internationally Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to their home country’s driver’s license to drive legally in Okinawa. Some countries have agreements with Japan that may allow you to use your home country’s license directly.
As A Canadian who lives in British Columbia, we get our IDP from the local BCAA.
You can only receive an IDP if you are 18 years of age or older and hold a valid Canadian provincial driver’s licence. In addition to meeting these conditions, you’ll need:
- Two (2) passport-sized photos. Available at your local BCAA.
- An IDP fee payment of $31.
- A completed and signed CAA IDP Application form, available to download at BCAA website. We recommend that you print and fill in the application prior to your visit to expedite your transaction time.
There was no appointment needed at the time of my application. Just bring the necessary items to the nearest BCAA asn ask for an IDP. They will ask for which country you’ll be driving. I got my IDP in less than 20 minutes.
Car Rentals
We rented our car with Times Car Rental. Their rental options range from compact cars to larger vans. Due to the narrow roads, smaller cars are often more practical.
In Japan, it’s mandatory to purchase insurance package when renting a car. It doesn’t matter if you have purchased an international insurance from home or if your credit card covers the insurance, you must purchase the insurance package from the rental company. But the insurance package is quite affordable so it wasn;t a big deal for us.
For 5 days rental, including insurance package and a booster seat for the kid, it costed us JPY 36,850, or about $315 CAD.
It’s a 10 minutes shuttle bus ride form Naha airport to Times Car Rental office. The bus ride is provided by the company free of charge for customer. It’s very easy to find. As you exit from the airport, the area for shuttle bus for all rental company is just right outside the gate. Times Car Rental shuttle bus is located by pillar 11-B. There will be a person waiting for you there with your name in it.
We were amazed by how efficient this car is. This car took us travelling all over Okinawa for 5 days and we only needed to fill the gas once, which is just before we returned the car at the airport.
Most rental car comes with GPS system but it’s all in Japanese. We use our phone for navigation most of the time. Just make sure to purchase wifi solution before you leave the airport.
Driving Experience
Okinawa offers beautiful coastal drives and scenic routes. I enjoyed driving here so much. The roads are well maintained and the weather is almost always perfect to drive around the island.
Japan, including Okinawa, drives on the left side of the road. If you’re used to driving on the right, this can take some getting used to. Since the driver’s seat is on the right side of the car, the turn signals and other controls are also reversed. During my first few days driving in Okinawa, I often ended up turning on my wipers instead of the turn signal!
Traffic in cities like Naha can be heavy, especially during peak hours, which adds to the stress of adjusting to the new driving rules and signs. However, most road signs are in both Japanese and English, making navigation easier.
In urban areas, speed limits are usually between 40-60 km/h, while on highways, they range from 80-100 km/h. I preferred driving in rural areas because there’s less traffic. Even though some of the roads are very narrow, there are fewer vehicles, and the scenery is absolutely beautiful.
Even though driving in the city can be challenging, Japanese drivers are generally very polite and patient. Our rental car had a sign indicating we were tourists, which might have made other drivers more understanding when we made mistakes or took longer to turn. However, it seemed like this is just how everyone treats each other on the road. There isn’t a lot of police presence, yet everyone follows the rules and speed limits. It’s important to reciprocate this behavior.
Japanese culture places a high value on following rules and regulations, so we made sure to adhere to all traffic laws and signs, maintain the speed limit, and be respectful towards other drivers. I wish we could apply the same driving behavior in Canada, but I digress.
Overall, driving in Okinawa can be a highly enjoyable and convenient way to explore the island, offering flexibility and the chance to see areas that are less accessible by public transport.
It’s always great to be well-prepared and mindful of the local driving customs and regulations.
While it requires some initial adjustments, the polite driving culture, beautiful scenery, and well-marked roads make it a worthwhile experience.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery and the freedom to explore at your own pace!
