Renting a Car in Okinawa: Insider Guide + 8 Best Budget Tips [2025]

Here’s my honest take on whether you need a car or not in Okinawa: if you want to experience Okinawa to the fullest, visit multiple remote and hidden beaches, restaurants (the best are along the road), and do not want to be dependent on whether there are any taxis around, rent a car.

There are so many amazing hidden spots, like coffee shops and beaches in Okinawa, that it would be difficult to explore these with a taxi, and you would really miss out on a lot.

During my time in Okinawa, I rented a car on each trip, made some mistakes along the way (you’ll learn from mine), and picked up a lot of local tips.

This guide is all about what I wish someone had told me before my first rental! I’m covering how to book, what it costs, insurance, what to expect when picking up and returning, driving tips, and more.

How to Book a Car Rental

Where to Book

You’ve got two main options: international booking platforms or going direct with Japanese companies. I use trip.com for most of my flight tickets, but I also booked my cars in Okinawa through the app. I also always check Discover Cars.

International platforms like Trip.com and Discover Cars:

• Websites are a bit easier to navigate in English
• I use these most of the time just for convenience and peace of mind

Japanese companies (Toyota Rent-a-Car, Times Car Rental, OTS Rent-a-Car, Nippon Rent-a-Car):

• Sometimes, they have better rates
• English websites can be a bit clunky to navigate
• KS Rental Car (through Trip.com) is my personal favorite, super friendly with great service

Airport vs. city locations: Airport pickup is obviously most convenient. City locations are often cheaper, but it takes some time to get there (usually not more than 20 minutes).

I rented my cars with KS Rental Car’s service:

Here are the pros and cons of KS Rental Car’s:

Pros: 

• Cheaper than many other car rentals
• Free shuttle service from the airport to pickup (It’s close to the airport, pickup was very fast, and communication was easy)
• Friendly staff
• During pickup, I got clear explanations of traffic rules and handy documents.
• On return, my car had a big scratch on the front right bottom, which looked like it came from a sidewalk. They saw it, but it was fine, and I never heard from them.
• What I also liked is that on one trip we were in a big group, and you usually have to leave the car and take the little shuttle bus, but our car was packed really full, so they just brought us in our own rental car, which made everything quicker and easier.
• They have a 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews.

Cons:

• You will have to go to the company to pick up the car with the free shuttle bus, which takes about 15 minutes. It could have been like 5 minutes, but we got stuck in traffic because we arrived around 6 pm during rush hour.
• The road is a bit bumpy as you leave the car rental service, but they drove it out to the street for us.
• Other than that, there aren’t any cons in my experience.

When to Book

Book as early as you can, of course. Like, as soon as you book your flights. Car rental prices in Okinawa rise during peak seasons (Golden Week, the 1st week of October, and summer vacation).

Plus, if you need a specific car, like one for seven people, you have to book quickly because there are less of them available.

What You’ll Need

You really need an International Driving Permit. Get one before you leave home and make sure it is still valid because most International Driving Permits are only valid for one or three years.

There are basically two types of international driver’s licenses: 

• To drive in Japan, you must get an International Driving Permit (IDP) from a country that is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.
• IDPs from other conventions, such as the 1968 Vienna Convention, are not valid; please keep this in mind!

The types of international driving licenses are a bit confusing, but that’s just how it is. Make sure you have the 1949 version.

Required documents:

• International Driving Permit (IDP) 
• Valid driver’s license from your home country
• Credit card for the deposit
• Passport
• Booking confirmation

Cost of Renting a Car in Okinawa

On my recent trip to Okinawa, starting from the 8th to the 14th of October, I rented a 7-seater from KS Rental Car’s service. (We were with two families in total).

We paid $364.38, so for 7 days that $52 per day. If you divide that between the 4 adults, it’s only $13 per day, per person.

This included the regular insurance and 3 child booster seats.

Here is the receipt from my trip in October: 

This was the car: a 7-seater (could fit 8 as well), hybrid and automatic.

Daily Rates

Here are some average prices you might expect in Okinawa:

• Compact car: ¥4,000-6,000 per day (about $27-40 USD)
• Standard car: ¥6,000-9,000 per day (about $40-60 USD)
• SUV/minivan: ¥10,000-15,000 per day (about $67-100 USD)
• Luxury: ¥15,000+ per day (but honestly, who needs this in Okinawa)

These are ballpark figures and change with season, how far in advance you book, and which company you use.

Additional Costs

Some times there are some additional costs but most of the time many of these are included or are not really neccesary to get:

• Insurance: ¥1,000-2,000 per day extra (more details below)
• GPS/navigation: Usually included now; if they try to charge you, find another company…
• ETC card for tolls: ¥300-500 for the rental period (optional, but I find that paying cash at the booth, where you’ll meet the most polite staff ever, is part of the Okinawa experience)
• Child seats: ¥500-1,000 per day per seat (book in advance, they can run out)
• Additional driver fees: ¥1,000-2,000 for the whole rental period (worth it for splitting driving)
• Drop-off fees: ¥ 5,000- 10,000+ if returning at a different location (try to avoid this)

8 Budget Tips

There are several ways to keep costs down when renting a car in Okinawa, Japan:

• Book early: of course, the biggest money saver.
• Car type: Check if you really need that extra space. There’s probably only two trips where you have all your luggage in the car: from the pickup point to your hotel or guesthouse, and back.
• Compare multiple platforms: Check Trip.com, but also Booking.com who started their car rental service not long ago. Prices can vary by up to 10% for the exact same car.
• Weekly rates: way better than daily if you’re staying that long; per-day cost drops significantly
• Pickup locations: Rental services that are not at the airport are usually cheaper. If you’re only going for a weekend, you might want a car fast, but if you’re going for a week, I’d recommend just taking the extra time and getting a car from a rental service close to the airport to save money.
• Fill up gas yourself: they charge like 3x the normal rate if you return it empty.
• Drive Safe: Avoid extra costs by driving safely and not causing any damage, of course.
• Supermarkets: A big advantage of having a car is that you can go easily to the bigger supermarkets for groceries. Saves you money compared to convenience stores, or eating out!

Insurance: What You Need to Know

Types of Insurance:

• CDW (Collision Damage Waiver): Covers damage to the rental car
• Theft protection: Less common in Okinawa because crime is super low, but usually bundled anyway
• Supplemental Liability Insurance: Covers damage to other people’s property or injuries (you want this)
• Personal Accident Insurance: Covers medical expenses for you and passengers (check if your travel insurance already covers this)
• NOC (Non-Operation Charge) coverage: Japan-specific coverage for the rental company’s lost income if the car needs repairs (check if this is included)

What I Recommend

Of course, full coverage is better, but it will also cost more (unless you damage the car, which will be even more expensive…).

I actually always take the regular insurance in Okinawa because:

• People in Okinawa drive very slowly (a relaxed island pace 🙂 )
• Traffic is clear (not many signs or odd things on the road) 
• The quality of the roads is really good (a bit less, closer to remote beaches)

• Parking lots are wide and very spacious.
• There are basically no scooters or bikes on the road, so much less chance of accidents happening.
• I have a lot of experience driving in different countries (so if you’re not comfortable driving in another country, you might want to get the extra insurance) 

Check if your credit card provides rental car insurance first. Many do, but check what countries are covered and what the limits are.

Don’t skip NOC coverage. This is an extra insurance in case the car completely breaks down, so the company can no longer rent it out and loses money. This is to prevent that from happening.

In Japan, even if you have regular insurance, you can still be liable for the rental company’s lost business income while the car is being repaired. NOC coverage eliminates this. It’s like ¥1,000 extra and really worth it. Double-check if this is included or not.

Deductibles

Most basic insurance has a deductible, meaning you pay the first ¥50,000-100,000 (about $330-660) of any damage.

Zero deductible options cost more but mean you pay nothing out of pocket if something happens. If that extra ¥1,000/day helps you sleep at night, go for it.

Picking Up & Returning Your Car

When you land and grab your bags, follow the signs for rental car shuttles. It’s a car symbol with an “R” (I forgot to take a photo of it at the airport)

Quick tip: It is strictly prohibited to bring any fruit into Okinawa. There are specially trained police dogs sniffing around for fruit at the airport, so please be aware of that.

The pickup process:

• Shuttle buses usually run every 10-15 minutes to the rental car center (about 5 minutes away, without traffic)
• At the counter, show your passport, both licenses (regular and IDP), credit card, and booking confirmation
• They’ll explain the rental agreement (usually available in English) and insurance options
• They’ll take a deposit hold on your credit card
• Time needed: 30-45 minutes total, sometimes longer during busy times

Tip: Don’t schedule anything right after landing, give yourself some time because you might just miss the shuttle bus, you get stuck in traffic, etc. Unfortunately, picking up your car takes a bit more time compared to just taking a taxi.

The Car Inspection

Before driving off, do a walk-around inspection with a staff member. They’ll point out any existing damage, even the tiniest scratches! What I always do is I take photos of everything I see, but I also make a video and walk around the car.

This is your protection if there’s any dispute when you return. From my experience at KS Rental Car’s service, they are very relaxed and don’t care about tiny scratches.

Take a few minutes in the parking lot to:

• Set up the GPS in English (ask them to set it up if possible)
• Adjust your mirrors and seat
• Get comfortable with the car’s controls

Tip: driving is on the LEFT side of the road in Japan. If you're from a right-sided country, this takes some adjustment. The turn signal and wipers are also switched, so you'll probably accidentally turn on the wipers when you mean to signal for the first day or so. I forget it every time, and it looks so silly.

Returning Your Car

Before you return your car, do the following steps:

• Fill up the gas tank: at the nearest station to the rental place (they’ll show you where when you pick up; save your receipt). Getting gas at the gas station is pretty straightforward. You’ll most likely have to use a credit card.
• Clean out trash: Most Japanese rental companies expect the car back clean (no need to clean it really well, but just don’t leave trash behind)
• Check for belongings: under seats, in door pockets, the trunk, everywhere.
• Take photos of the car’s condition again, just like you did at pickup.

Return Process

Get back to the rental service at least 2,5 hours before your flight. The return inspection, shuttle ride back, and going through the airport all take time.

What happens:

• They’ll inspect the car and check for new damage
• They’ll confirm the gas is full
• If everything’s good (which it should be), you’re done
• They’ll release the hold on your credit card within a few days

If there are any issues, deal with them calmly and refer to your pickup photos if needed. Most rental companies in Japan are very fair, and disputes are rare, from what I’ve heard and experienced.

Take the shuttle back to the airport terminal, and you’re good. Check if you have all your luggage.

GPS & Driving Tips

First, get an Airalo travel eSIM so you can always use Google Maps wherever you go. Here are more tips:

• Built-in GPS: Most rental cars come with a GPS that has an English language option (staff can set it up at pickup)
• Google Maps: I still use this on my phone as backup; it works great in Okinawa
• Download offline maps before heading to remote areas, but in my experience, Google Maps works fine everywhere.
• Waze also works perfectly, and you don’t need to use much data (maybe just to load the map once); GPS is fine. Sometimes, when you get close to a beach, the roads are quite small and are missing in Waze, but this is just the final 100 meters.

Parking in Okinawa

Most attractions, beaches, and restaurants have free parking. Parking at small beaches are usually rather small (makes sense!) but they are also much less crowded, if there even are any people.

And many AirnBNB’s have these open garages below the house so you always have a parking spot for your car.

In Naha city:

• Paid parking is common
• Look for coin parking lots (usually ¥100-300 per hour)
• Pay at the machine when you leave
• Keep ¥100 coins handy

Hotel parking: Usually free outside Naha, might cost ¥1,000-2,000 per night in the city. Check when you book.

Toll Roads

In Okinawa, there are some toll roads that run north-south through the main island. It’s fast and convenient, but optional; the coastal roads are scenic and free but take a bit longer.

ETC card option:

• Rent an ETC card to drive through ETC lanes automatically
• Convenient if you’re using the expressway a lot

Cash toll booths:

• Available at every exit if you don’t have ETC
• You pay when you exit (not enter), based on the distance driven

Toll road costs: Going the full length is around ¥1,000 (6 dollars). Although usually you will just drive a part of it and spend about 3 dollars.

Tip:  Use the expressway when you're trying to get somewhere fast, like driving all the way north to your hotel the first day. Take the coastal roads when you have time to enjoy the views, which are spectacular.

Traffic Rules

Here are the most important traffic rules in Okinawa:

F.A.Q.

Here are some common questions about renting a car in Okinawa that I might have missed in the article:

Final Thoughts & Tips

Renting a car is really the way to go if you want to experience Okinawa properly. Taking taxis every time you want to explore another beach just isn’t a great way to get around in Okinawa.

Don’t let the left-side driving intimidate you. It’s very different if you’re not used to it, but Okinawa is genuinely one of the most relaxed places to drive. 

I’m not used to driving on the left, but after half an hour I already felt more comfortable and noticed I was even driving a bit faster than locals…

You’ll make mistakes like turning on the windshield wipers every time you try to signal, laugh at yourself, and be totally comfortable within a day.

Book early, get the insurance package (don’t stress too much about it, just drive safely), bring your International Driving Permit, and take photos and videos at pickup and return. Follow these rules and you’ll have zero problems.

The freedom of having a car transforms the entire trip. Random beach stops, spontaneous lunch spots, staying to watch the sunset as long as you want, these are really the moments that make Okinawa special. You just can’t do that by taking a bus or taxi anytime you want to go.