Can I drive in the bus lane in Okinawa?

Not during the hours shown on the signs. In the Naha area that is weekdays 7:30–9:00 and 17:30–19:00. Only buses, taxis, motorcycles and permitted vehicles may use the lane then. Outside those hours, and on weekends and public holidays, the lane is open to all traffic.

What is the fine for driving in a bus lane in Japan?

Miyazaki Prefectural Police list driving in a bus-only lane as a lane violation (通行帯違反), with a ¥6,000 fine and 1 point for an ordinary car. Tokyo Metropolitan Police list the same fine for this violation.

How much is the Okinawa Expressway from Naha to Kyoda?

NEXCO West lists ¥1,040 with ETC and ¥1,610 in cash for a standard car. The ETC-only discount of 35.5% is planned to run until 31 March 2027.

Is the rental car office at Naha Airport?

Not always. Nippon Rent-A-Car and OTS, for example, pick you up by shuttle bus at the rental car bus stops outside the domestic terminal and drive you to their offices in Toyosaki, about 15–20 minutes away.

Can I drive during a typhoon in Okinawa?

It is best not to. The Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau asks visitors to refrain from driving, and the Okinawa Meteorological Office warns that strong winds can tip cars over. Buses may stop and bridges and highways may close.

Driving a rental car in Okinawa: bus lanes, traffic and expressway

The biggest difference in Okinawa is the bus lane. On weekdays from 7:30 to 9:00 and from 17:30 to 19:00, the lane next to the sidewalk on National Route 58 and other main roads in the Naha area is for buses, taxis and motorcycles only. Rental cars must stay in the other lanes during those hours. Naha’s roads are also very congested at peak times, so plan your airport and hotel trips around rush hour.

When and where are the bus lanes in Okinawa?

Okinawa Prefectural Police run bus lanes on these roads in and around Naha. The lanes cover sections between points such as Naha IC, Asahibashi, Kumoji, Prefectural Office North Exit, Aja, Makiminato, Isa and Nishihara IC.

Item	Details
Roads	National Routes 58, 329, 330 and 507; Prefectural Roads 29 and 82
Hours	Weekdays 7:30–9:00 and 17:30–19:00
Who may use the lane	Buses, taxis, motorcycles and permitted vehicles
Not in force	Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, 2 and 3 January, and days when route buses are suspended (for example in a typhoon)

Source: Okinawa Prefectural Police, Bus lane regulations; Roads with bus lane regulations, valid from 2 May 2025 (checked on 26 October 2026)

The police list two types:

Bus-only lane (バス専用通行帯): on roads with several lanes, such as Route 58. Only the first lane, on the sidewalk side, is restricted.
Bus-only road (バス専用道路): on roads with one lane each way, such as Kokusai-dori.

The signs and rules differ, so read the sign each time. The police page has maps in English, Korean and Chinese.

What happens if I drive in a bus lane?

Do not drive in a bus-only lane during its hours. Under the national rules, other vehicles may enter it only to turn left or right.

Violation	Fine (ordinary car)	Points
Driving in a bus-only lane (lane violation, 通行帯違反)	¥6,000	1

Source: Miyazaki Prefectural Police, bus lane leaflet; Akita Prefectural Police, bus lanes; Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Traffic violation fines (checked on 26 October 2026)

Before 7:30 and 17:30 on a weekday, check which lane you are in.
If you see a bus lane sign over or beside your lane, move to the lane on the right.
If you need to turn left, follow the road markings and the sign.

See Road signs in Japan for how to read time-limited signs.

Is traffic bad in Naha?

Yes. Cabinet Office material on Okinawa’s roads calls Naha’s congestion among the worst in Japan.

Average speed in congested hours	km/h
Naha	10.8
Tokyo 23 wards	14.6
Osaka	15.3
Nagoya	16.4
Japan average	32.0

Source: Cabinet Office, Road congestion measures in Okinawa, based on the 2015 national road traffic census (checked on 26 October 2026)

Allow extra time when you return your car before a flight, especially on weekday mornings and evenings.

How much is the Okinawa Expressway?

The Okinawa Expressway (沖縄自動車道) is run by NEXCO West. Cars with ETC get a discount of 35.5% on the whole route.

Section (standard car)	With ETC	Cash
Naha – Kyoda	¥1,040	¥1,610

Source: NEXCO West, Okinawa Expressway ETC discounts (checked on 26 October 2026). The ETC discount is planned to run until 31 March 2027.

Ask for an ETC card when you book. See Expressways and ETC cards for how to pay.

How do I pick up a rental car at Naha Airport?

Many rental offices are not in the terminal. You take a free shuttle bus from the rental car bus stops outside the domestic terminal. For example:

Company	Where to board (domestic terminal)	Office	Time by shuttle
Nippon Rent-A-Car	Rental car bus stop 11-A	Toyosaki office	About 20 minutes
OTS Rent-a-car	Rental car bus stop 10-A	Toyosaki office	About 15–20 minutes

Source: Nippon Rent-A-Car, Naha Airport Toyosaki office; OTS Rent-a-car, Free transfer from Naha Airport (checked on 26 October 2026)

Leave the arrivals lobby on the first floor of the domestic terminal.
Cross the crosswalk to the rental car shuttle bus stops.
Find your company’s stop number and tell the staff your booking name.

Check your company’s own page for the stop. Stop numbers can change, and traffic can make the ride longer.

What should I do if a typhoon comes?

The Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau gives this advice:

Do not drive or use taxis while strong wind and rain make roads unsafe. If you must drive, go slowly.
Bridges and highways may close. Buses, the monorail, flights and ships may stop.
Get to your accommodation early and do not go out until the storm warning is lifted.

Source: Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau, Typhoon precautions in Okinawa; Okinawa Meteorological Office, Typhoon information (checked on 26 October 2026)

The Okinawa Meteorological Office warns that strong typhoon winds can tip cars over. Bus lanes are not in force on days when route buses are suspended. If your flight is cancelled, contact your rental company about returning the car.

For help in English, Chinese, Korean or Thai, Okinawa Prefecture runs the OKINAWA Multilingual Contact Center (9:00–19:00, every day). It also helps during disasters such as typhoons. Contact it through its official site, okinawa-mcc.jp.

Source: Okinawa Prefecture, OKINAWA Multilingual Contact Center (checked on 26 October 2026)