Naha Airport (OKA) handles a lot of Japan’s air traffic from a surprisingly compact terminal complex. The terminal comprises domestic and international areas within connected buildings, and you’ll find it easy to navigate. The Okinawa Yui Rail monorail connects directly to the airport, and taxis are plentiful, with most ground transportation clustered at the domestic end.
Like many Japanese airports, the majority of shops and restaurants are in the Domestic Area, both before and after security, with a smaller selection in the International Area. So plan your dining and shopping accordingly. Here are the rest of my tips for Naha Airport.
Getting around the terminal at Okinawa
Domestic flights operate from the southern end of the terminal, while international flights use the northern end. Most public transportation serves the domestic end, though taxis can pick you up or drop you off at either end.
The airport terminal buildings are connected, and you can walk between the international and domestic areas inside on level 2 (departures) and level 3 (check-in), or outside on level 1 (arrivals).
If you have some extra time, level 3 is home to an observation deck on the domestic side of the terminal. This is a pleasant way to soak up some sunshine and fresh air. There’s also one on the international side, up on level 4.
When departing, I’ll usually grab an onigiri rice ball or bento takeaway meal from one of the convenience stores and sit outside on the observation deck rather than heading to one of the restaurants.
Getting to and from OKA by public transit
The quickest and easiest way to get into Naha city itself is the monorail, which I love not just because it’s so easy but because the views are great.
The airport sits at the western end of the Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yui Rail). You’ll reach the station via a connecting passage from the domestic zone on level 2.
Trains run approximately every 12 minutes throughout most of the day. The ride into central Naha takes 13 to 17 minutes depending on your destination, and fares are cheap - you can grab single tickets or spring for 24- or 48-hour passes. The OKICA IC card works here, and you can check with station staff about other transit cards. Traveling with luggage? Every station has elevators.
Multiple bus routes serve the airport, and the bus area is outside the domestic zone of the terminal. I generally wouldn’t recommend trying to figure out the bus systems from the airport unless you’re going to be spending a long time in Okinawa. Between the monorail and taxis you can get to most local places more easily than the bus. The information office can help if you need to take the bus.
How to get to and from Naha Airport by car
Taxis are plentiful at the airport, with taxi stands outside both the international and domestic areas of the terminal on level 1. Note that there are several types of taxi available at the airport.
If you’re not fluent in Japanese, I’d recommend finding your hotel address in Japanese – not English – and taking a screenshot of it to show the driver. I speak a bit of Japanese and I still do this to avoid any confusion.
GO has the largest Japanese taxi network and works well on Okinawa - download it and link your credit card before you leave home. Uber’s also available, and I find it particularly useful when I’m unsure of the best route. Being able to select your destination in English is helpful if you don’t speak Japanese, and credit card payment is convenient.
Other regional ride apps may also work here, but I haven’t found any real advantages to using them over GO and Uber.
Okinawa Airport has a wide range of rental cars, and driving yourself is a great way to visit parts of the island outside Naha. Note that Japan is one of the few developed countries where most visitors will need additional documentation beyond just their local license in order to rent a car.
Most visitors to Japan, including those from the US, Canada and UK, will need an international driving permit. Getting one is usually simple but you need to sort it out before leaving home. In the US, the international driving permit is issued by AAA.
Arriving at Naha Airport
Most passengers will arrive as domestic travelers from another Japanese airport, usually either Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT), both serving Tokyo.
Connecting through another Japanese airport before Okinawa means you’ll clear passport control, collect your bags, go through customs, and re-check everything at your first entry point. It’s quite the process, so build in extra time.
Here’s a smarter option: connect through Seoul (ICN) or Taipei (TPE) instead. You’ll arrive in Okinawa as an international passenger and skip the mid-journey luggage collection entirely.
Departing from OKA
The monorail connector passage brings you to level 2, while buses and taxis will drop you off at level 1, which is arrivals. From either, take the elevator or escalators to level 3 for check-in and then down to level 2 for departures.
Note that if you have a domestic-to-international connection, you may not be able to check in online, but you should be able to check your bags through – contact your airline for details, and always remember to verify the final airport on the luggage tag for your bag.
As with most places in Japan, you can send your luggage ahead of you for a very reasonable price, often significantly less than what you’d pay for a checked bag. It’ll usually take a couple of days, and you can have it delivered to your hotel (which is what I normally do), convenience stores, homes, offices and most airports.
I usually use Yamato Transport (Kuroneko Yamato, literally “black cat Yamato,” with the cute logo of the black cat carrying its kitten) but Sagawa Express is also popular. These luggage services can be especially useful if you’ve been shopping and your bag is overflowing. Send your souvenirs in a box ahead of you to the hotel where you’re staying for your last night in Japan, then do the big repack there.
Passport control and security lines at Naha Airport
If you’re arriving on an international flight, I recommend using Visit Japan Web online for your immigration clearance and customs forms. I like to do this well in advance of my flight to be sure everything is set and reduce stress on arrival.
The security lines at Okinawa generally move quickly, although peak times can mean long lines, as with any airport. Good news if you’re traveling domestically, though: There’s no 3.4-ounce limit to your liquids, so you can bring drinks with you through security.
Lounges and free Wi-Fi at Naha Airport
Japan Airlines and ANA both have their own lounges at OKA for business class or first class passengers, along with certain frequent flyer loyalty members. JAL operates the Sakura Lounge near Gate 20, and ANA has their lounge after security checkpoint B. Both of these lounges are pretty solid and have light refreshments, comfortable seating and power outlets.
There are also two lounges run by the airport: Lounge Hana (level 1 in arrivals) and Lounge RYURIN on level 4 in international departures, which is used by some other airlines as their business class lounge. Neither is affiliated with Priority Pass, so it’s lucky that the terminal itself is nice, especially before security.
Free and fast Wi-Fi covers most of the terminal building. Look for the “Free_Wi-Fi_NAHA_Airport” network.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
