Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA) Flights & Information

Naha Airport on the island of Okinawa in Japan receives both domestic and international air travel to this subtropical vacation and cultural destination.

While travel in Japan can sometimes present a language challenge for Americans, I’ve found that Naha Airport’s small size and multilingual focus on the leisure tourism industry means English-speaking visitors can travel through it with relative ease.

Although Naha Airport is fairly small and manageable, I would still recommend putting together your Okinawa transit plan before arriving to make your airport experience as smooth as possible.

How to get to and from Naha Airport

Naha Airport’s location adjacent to Naha city makes for easy access to the city and southern Okinawa as well as flights to other nearby islands and multiple Asian destinations. It does not currently have direct flights to the US.

Naha Airport location

Naha Airport (OKA) is located just outside the capital city of Naha on the island of Okinawa. It is about 1000 miles southwest of Tokyo, about a 2 hour and 45-minute domestic flight from Tokyo’s Narita or Haneda Airports.

Naha Airport is the vacation gateway to Okinawa’s many beach resorts, a favorite of both Japanese and Chinese leisure travelers. So be prepared for many large groups of vacationers mobbing the airport during winter high season, which can cause delays on both arrivals and departures. I’d recommend allocating extra time for customs and security during holiday periods.

Naha Airport Ground Transport

Naha Airport is very well connected to the city of Naha, with a wealth of available ground transport options.

Monorail at OKA

If you can manage your own luggage and are staying in the Naha area, I would highly recommend using the monorail (Yui Rail) from Naha Airport. Trains are timely, clean and efficient, fares are cheap and directions are posted and even announced in English. The trains depart directly from a station connected to the airport’s second level.

Monorail tickets and daily passes are available at automated kiosks with bilingual instructions and at the Tourist Information centers.. If you’re flummoxed at any point in the transfer process don’t worry. Like most places in Japan, I’ve found that if you are standing looking confused, a polite Japanese person will invariably stop to offer you help.

If you’re staying for multiple days in the Naha area and are planning to do some sightseeing, I’d recommend you buy a daily or multi-day pass on the monorail to save money and time.

Taxis and rideshare services at OKA

While Okinawa does not have Uber or Lyft, the Naha Airport does have what I think is a very well managed and efficient taxi system. Separate taxi stands just outside the domestic terminal baggage claim have lineup spots for taxi rides going short, medium and long-distances. “Wagon Taxi” stops are for groups of more than four people, or for those with a lot of luggage.

Since many taxi drivers on Okinawa speak limited, if any English, I would recommend having a printout or screenshot of your destination in English and Japanese.

Long distance taxis to destinations in central or northern Okinawa can be quite expensive rides from Naha Airport. Instead, I’d suggest arranging a ride via a hotel shuttle or using an Airport Limousine Bus.

Bus transport at OKA

Okinawa Airport offers a dizzying array of public bus access options. The good news is that bus rides are cheap. The bad news is that even for a person like myself with experience living in Japan and speaking some Japanese, getting around via bus there can be a real challenge. I’d recommend travelers stick to the tourist-focused Limousine Bus and Shuttle Bus options.

Naha Airport’s Limousine Bus and Shuttle Bus options can be a great deal for visitors, particularly those going to farther destinations in the north or central regions of Okinawa. While you can buy tickets at the airport, I’d recommend making reservations online in advance. These buses can bring you directly to your hotel and have plenty of space for luggage.

Rental cars at OKA

Okinawa Airport has multiple offsite rental car companies, most with free shuttle service from the airport. However, driving a car in Japan can be extremely difficult and stressful for a foreigner, I personally wouldn’t recommend it even as a frequent traveler to Japan. Driving is on the left side of the road, signs are sometimes only in Japanese, traffic can be bad, gas is very expensive and parking near impossible.

If you do decide to rent a car, make sure it comes with a English display GPS navigation system, an ETC electronic toll collection device. Map your destinations in advance and research your parking options. For the intrepid traveler, renting a car on Okinawa does give you the ability to get off the beaten track and explore some of the natural wonders, particularly in the north of the island.

Navigating OKA terminals

I think Naha is a very manageable airport. It is on the smaller side, with about 20 gates in the Domestic Terminal and just 8 gates in its International Terminal. Signage across the airport is in multiple languages, with English featured in every important sign, with directions clearly marked. The two terminals are connected, just a short walk will get you from one to the other.

Most US passengers will arrive to Naha Airport in its domestic terminal via transfers from mainland Japan. The domestic terminal has a small information desk, but if you’re looking for more assistance, maps and brochures and help buying tickets and tours, I’d recommend you go to the Visitor Service Center located in the arrivals area of the international terminal. Both info centers have English-speaking staff, although fluency level varies by staff member.

Outbound travelers at Naha Airport should allocate extra time for check-in and processing during peak holiday periods. The International Terminal in particular can get quite crowded with Chinese package tour groups especially during the lunar New Year period. The Domestic Terminal can get crowded with Japanese holiday visitors during Japan’s Golden Week (late April to early May) and over New Years.

If you have some extra time before your flight, I’d recommend you get out on OKA’s fourth floor outdoor observation deck to do some plane-spotting and check out the offshore scenery.

Okinawa weather and Naha Airport

If you’re planning a visit to Naha Airport and Okinawa during peak typhoon season from June to September be aware there can be significant weather-induced delays and cancellations of flights. Be sure to schedule extra time for return transfers from OKA as your outbound flight may be delayed.

Airport Wi-Fi

Naha Airport provides free Wi-Fi in both terminals with adequate connectivity and speeds to get you connected and help sort out your onward travels.

Airport food and drink

On the third and fourth floors of the terminals, Naha Airport has a good selection of decently priced airport food options, including a food court and the cleverly named “Airport Restaurant.” Don’t be put off by the name, the spot actually has good, cheap bowls of noodles and other quick dishes. The “Potama” restaurant has fun pork and egg nigiri “sandwiches” wrapped in rice and seaweed instead of bread.

The airport also has sit-down sushi, steak and ramen restaurants, with good food and prices, and menus in English. Don’t be worried about going hungry if you get to the airport early.

Lounges at OKA

Naha Airport has a single lounge in the international terminal, the Ryurin Lounge, accessible by passengers with frequent flier status or credit card benefits tied to Asia-based airlines. The lounge is about average for a small airport, and can be very crowded during busy travel periods.

Naha Airport’s Hana Lounge is outside of security in the Domestic Terminal. Access is free for selected Asia-issued credit cards, but visitors can also purchase a day pass for a reasonable price. I’d recommend visiting the Hana Lounge if you have some extra time and if it isn’t too crowded (which can happen often during peak travel periods). JAL and ANA also provide travel lounges in the Domestic Terminal. Access is available only to their premium passengers and holders of certain Asian bank-issued credit cards.

Airline service to and from Naha Airport

Naha Airport is very well connected to Japan with routes to more than two dozen domestic airports. OKA also serves more than a dozen routes to international airports across East and Southeast Asia.

If you’re looking to travel to Okinawa from the US, you’ll probably fly to Naha Airport via Tokyo’s Haneda or Narita airports where connections are fairly frequent. But sometimes you can find good flight deals to Naha Airport via South Korea, Hong Kong or Taiwan, so I’d suggest getting a little creative with your flight searches.

Flight service to Naha Airport is currently only possible via airlines from Japan, Asia, and Australia’s Jetstar. Maximize your frequent flier miles by choosing a partner to your preferred US airline. JAL and ANA have the largest number of OKA-bound flights, but may also be the most expensive. I’d recommend shopping around, but be cautious with discount airlines to Naha which have a reputation for poor service and add-on charges.