Okinawa

[RH1667]

Had a quick look at my itinerary and realized that I didn't really follow my plan but just a quick summary of my 7D6N trip:

 

We stayed 2 nights in central area (Yomitan) in a AirBnB which I used as a base to visit attractions around there and further up north. Places visited were:

American Village

Cape Manzamo

Churaumi Aquarium

Kouri Beach

Kaichu-Doro

Nuchi-ma Salt Factory

Aeon Mall Rycom

 

After Aeon Mall Rycom, we checked in at Naha hotel for 4 nights.

Places visited:

Sefa Utaki

Factory Outlet

Whale Watching (not really recommended on hindsight as most of us got seasick and we only saw the tail of one whale coming out of water, no dramatic scenes of whales jumping out of the water)

T Galleria DFS

Makeshi Public Market

Fish Market near Naha (can't remember the name; it was not on my itinerary)

Kokusai-dori

Shurijo Castle.

 

Driving was easy except in Naha area where the back streets were narrow. I rented an Alphard but I only had to do it once. Parking was expensive in Naha.

 

After that I returned the car, we moved around Naha on foot and metro.

Thank you

[Jon_cclau]

Had a quick look at my itinerary and realized that I didn't really follow my plan but just a quick summary of my 7D6N trip:

 

We stayed 2 nights in central area (Yomitan) in a AirBnB which I used as a base to visit attractions around there and further up north.  Places visited were:

American Village

Cape Manzamo

Churaumi Aquarium

Kouri Beach

Kaichu-Doro

Nuchi-ma Salt Factory

Aeon Mall Rycom

 

After Aeon Mall Rycom, we  checked in at Naha hotel for 4 nights. 

Places visited:

Sefa Utaki

Factory Outlet

Whale Watching (not really recommended on hindsight as most of us got seasick and we only saw the tail of one whale coming out of water, no dramatic scenes of whales jumping out of the water)

T Galleria DFS

Makeshi Public Market

Fish Market near Naha (can't remember the name; it was not on my itinerary)

Kokusai-dori

Shurijo Castle.

 

Driving was easy except in Naha area where the back streets were narrow. I rented an Alphard but I only had to do it once.  Parking was expensive in Naha.

  

After that I returned the car, we moved around Naha on foot and metro.   

 

The fish market should be Itoman fishing cooperative fish center.

 

There are shopping lane behind that stretches next to the main road.

[Fcw75]

I have checked Nippon car rental but they only open at 8am. My flight is at 9am. 

 

Anyone rented from OTS car rental before? They can return car earlier. 

[Jman888]

14 minutes ago, Fcw75 said:

I have checked Nippon car rental but they only open at 8am. My flight is at 9am. 

 

Anyone rented from OTS car rental before? They can return car earlier. 

 

 

you can always return the day before and stay at Naha to take the monrail to airport.

[bsswan]

 

On 8/27/2019 at 3:38 PM, Fcw75 said:

I have checked Nippon car rental but they only open at 8am. My flight is at 9am. 

 

Anyone rented from OTS car rental before? They can return car earlier. 

We went last October and rented OTS, starting Naha airport using the shuttle bus from terminal and first driving out and staying 2nights in Nakama.

Whilst staying round that area, went to a karting track, Zakimi Castle Ruins and Yomitan fishing village, rented a boat for an hour with my boy and went out fishing - his first experience. Caught a couple of buckets of fish but it was only when captain asked "What to do with the fish?" that we went...…. "Errrrr." In the end took a couple of the better ones that captain chose, had the fish market on the quay cook them up then donate the left over fish to them if they can use.

The idea was to do Blue Groto on the way back to hotel but given the sea was a bit rough, we would be forced to hire a guide but at the same time, it was quite busy and a little pricey negotiating in the car park.

Anyway, stayed a week by heading further north and long story short, returned the car back to OTS Tomarin (town centre) since they organise free transport/shuttle to/from local hotels, in our case a taxi with all our luggage.

[Fcw75]

1 hour ago, bsswan said:

 

We went last October and rented OTS, starting Naha airport using the shuttle bus from terminal and first driving out and staying 2nights in Nakama.

Whilst staying round that area, went to a karting track, Zakimi Castle Ruins and Yomitan fishing village, rented a boat for an hour with my boy and went out fishing - his first experience. Caught a couple of buckets of fish but it was only when captain asked "What to do with the fish?" that we went...…. "Errrrr." In the end took a couple of the better ones that captain chose, had the fish market on the quay cook them up then donate the left over fish to them if they can use.

The idea was to do Blue Groto on the way back to hotel but given the sea was a bit rough, we would be forced to hire a guide but at the same time, it was quite busy and a little pricey negotiating in the car park.

Anyway, stayed a week by heading further north and long story short, returned the car back to OTS Tomarin (town centre) since they organise free transport/shuttle to/from local hotels, in our case a taxi with all our luggage.

Thanks bro! Did you fly by Jetstar? 

Anyone took the ferry to Miyako island?

[Jman888]

4 minutes ago, Fcw75 said:

Thanks bro! Did you fly by Jetstar? 

Anyone took the ferry to Miyako island?

 

so far from mainland, almost in between  Taiwan and Okinawa liao 

what to do there? beware of the monsoon that come one after another lately. 

[bsswan]

8 minutes ago, Fcw75 said:

Thanks bro! Did you fly by Jetstar? 

Yes, arrive Naha 8:10am.

Booked rental starting 10am and headed to nearby outlet mall for a quick see & price check only before heading to Umikaji Terrace for lunch and onto Nakama

[Fcw75]

1 hour ago, bsswan said:

Yes, arrive Naha 8:10am.

Booked rental starting 10am and headed to nearby outlet mall for a quick see & price check only before heading to Umikaji Terrace for lunch and onto Nakama

Appreciate your info once again.

Coming back here, u also took the 9am flight? U return the car before office hours?

Damn, this Okinawa trip harder to plan than the US trips I have went.

[Fcw75]

1 hour ago, Jman888 said:

 

so far from mainland, almost in between  Taiwan and Okinawa liao 

what to do there? beware of the monsoon that come one after another lately. 

Wah lau, you and your monsoon/typhoon. 🤨

[bsswan]

3 hours ago, Fcw75 said:

Appreciate your info once again.

Coming back here, u also took the 9am flight? U return the car before office hours?

Damn, this Okinawa trip harder to plan than the US trips I have went.

Yes, 9am flight back.

Returned car to OTS downtown three days before leaving Okinawa and took their free shuttle service to our hotel - 3days later take cab to airport. Due to early departure I made sure to make Naha our last stop. Early landing, can go/reach anywhere so why do Naha first unless you think too tired to drive after such a crap flight? I got tired later in the day but not before reaching our hotel and I could play with how quickly to get there depending on how I felt.

Free shuttle from airport to OTS, pick up car, drive North, 2nights Nakama, 2nights Nakijin, drive South back to Naha and drop car at OTS downtown, take their free taxi to hotel, stay 3nights, take cab to airport, fly home. Not complicated, just you need to decide where to stay but because the flight is 9am your/our only option should be to stay in Naha the night before.

[Rkankc]

I'm planning a road trip to Okinawa in November for my family of 4. Plan to cover as much of the place over 10 days. 

Looked at a few car rental companies there and with regards to toll charges, some companies provide just an ETC device (without card) while others add the ETC Card for a flat rental charge excluding toll fees. OTS also offers a package deal to cover all toll fees for a daily charge. Otherwise, there's always the option of paying cash at each toll booth.

May I ask how much toll fees should I expect to incur driving in Okinawa and which is the most cost effective option? Thanks! 

[Lotr]

3 minutes ago, Rkankc said:

I'm planning a road trip to Okinawa in November for my family of 4. Plan to cover as much of the place over 10 days. 

Looked at a few car rental companies there and with regards to toll charges, some companies provide just an ETC device (without card) while others add the ETC Card for a flat rental charge excluding toll fees. OTS also offers a package deal to cover all toll fees for a daily charge. Otherwise, there's always the option of paying cash at each toll booth.

May I ask how much toll fees should I expect to incur driving in Okinawa and which is the most cost effective option? Thanks! 

I probably pay tolls once or twice on my trip even though I covered a fair bit of Okinawa from Nago to South of Naha.  Somehow most of the roads I used were normal roads.

Found this link: https://okinawahai.com/okinawa-expressway/

[Rkankc]

18 minutes ago, Lotr said:

I probably pay tolls once or twice on my trip even though I covered a fair bit of Okinawa from Nago to South of Naha.  Somehow most of the roads I used were normal roads.

Found this link: https://okinawahai.com/okinawa-expressway/

Thank you.. Cash payment at each toll booth sounds like the most feasible option then. 

[Fcw75]

2 hours ago, bsswan said:

Yes, 9am flight back.

Returned car to OTS downtown three days before leaving Okinawa and took their free shuttle service to our hotel - 3days later take cab to airport. Due to early departure I made sure to make Naha our last stop. Early landing, can go/reach anywhere so why do Naha first unless you think too tired to drive after such a crap flight? I got tired later in the day but not before reaching our hotel and I could play with how quickly to get there depending on how I felt.

Free shuttle from airport to OTS, pick up car, drive North, 2nights Nakama, 2nights Nakijin, drive South back to Naha and drop car at OTS downtown, take their free taxi to hotel, stay 3nights, take cab to airport, fly home. Not complicated, just you need to decide where to stay but because the flight is 9am your/our only option should be to stay in Naha the night before.

Many thanks bro. 

OTS office staff are OK? Hahaha. I scared they shout BAKERO! 

WIll book from them. I wanted to book Nippon Rental but that period I wanted no cars available?!...Dafug..

 

 

[bsswan]

2 hours ago, Fcw75 said:

Many thanks bro. 

OTS office staff are OK? Hahaha. I scared they shout BAKERO!

You drive like Grave Digger or what, why shout at you?

They were fine. Two groups of us turned up on the same flight and explain they Toll and Driving etc. before heading to cars. Not a great car or great condition but did a job.

 

Handover also okay, easy.

[Jman888]

if getting a small basic car, is it good enough to travel the whole island?

[Fcw75]

Which hotel did you guys stay at Naha? Any recommendation below S$150?