Okinawa is a top pick for a self-drive trip in Japan, with simple roads and plenty of sights. If you want a flexible, free-and-easy itinerary in Okinawa, renting a car and driving yourself is the best option! This article breaks down everything you need for renting a car in Okinawa: the required documents, tips for driving on the left, insurance options (NOC/CDW) and what to do if you have an accident, so you can get up to speed fast and hit the road safely.
The most common questions about self-driving in Okinawa:
Q: What do I need to prepare before driving in Okinawa?
A: Just bring your Taiwanese driver’s license, a Japanese translation of your driver’s license, your passport and the credit card you used to book, and you’re all set to rent a car and drive in Okinawa!
Q: What should I watch out for when driving in Okinawa?
A: You don’t necessarily need to have held your license for a full year to rent a car, but before you book, check the rental company’s minimum age requirement. Also, since driving on the left takes some getting used to, stay alert at all times on Okinawa’s roads!
Q: Self-drive or a private charter in Okinawa?
A: Okinawa is a great place for a self-drive trip, because public transportation is less convenient than on Japan’s main island, so driving yourself is the more flexible option. It’s also the perfect beginner’s playground for driving in Japan: rental rates are low, there’s a wide choice of cars, and driving adds a whole extra layer of fun to your trip.
Q: How much does it usually cost to rent a car in Okinawa?
A: Right now, booking an Okinawa car rental through gogoout starts at just NT$890. Prices vary by car model, and some shops even throw in free pickup and drop-off or child seats!
gogoout also has early-bird rental deals right now. Take a look and grab your own promo code — book early and save even more!
👇👇Okinawa car rental from NTD 890 a day👇👇
1. Documents you need to drive in Okinawa and how to apply for them
To drive in Okinawa, you must have all four of these documents: “your original Taiwanese driver’s license, the Japanese translation of your driver’s license, your passport and a credit card” — no exceptions.
You’ll need to show all of the originals when you pick up the car. If you only have an International Driving Permit (IDP) and no Japanese translation, you won’t be able to rent a car in Japan.
| ID — passport | Essential for independent travel in Okinawa, renting a car and claiming tax refunds. Make sure your passport is valid for more than six months before you leave. |
| ID — home-country driver’s license | Must still be valid (if it has expired, renew it at a motor vehicles office first). Japanese rental companies need to check the original. |
| ID — Japanese translation of your driver’s license | Japan only accepts the “Japanese translation” issued by a Taiwanese motor vehicles office; an International Driving Permit is not accepted. (The translation must match the details on your license, so if your license has been renewed or updated, double-check that the information is identical.) |
| Credit card | Some rental companies charge your card when you book online, while others take payment when you pick up the car — it’s best to bring the same credit card. |
| Document — rental booking details | Once you’ve booked online, print or save your booking confirmation or reference number (remember to save the rental company’s contact details too, in case something comes up in Okinawa and you can’t reach them in time) |
How do I apply for a Japanese translation of my driver’s license?
In person: Bring your original ID card and your original car/motorcycle license to any motor vehicles office in Taiwan. The fee is NT$100 and it’s issued on the spot.
Online: Apply through the Motor Vehicles Service Website. It takes about 7–12 business days (including mailing) and costs NT$100 plus NT$28 postage.
2. Things to know before driving in Okinawa
Self-driving around Okinawa has become a hugely popular way to travel independently, but the traffic rules are quite different from those in Taiwan! If you’re about to drive in Okinawa, read the rules below carefully to keep your trip safe and avoid causing trouble for other drivers on Okinawa’s roads.
4 key driving points for Okinawa
1. Okinawa drives on the left
In Okinawa you drive on the left, so the steering wheel layout and the road rules are the mirror image of Taiwan’s. Don’t panic when you flick the wipers instead of the turn signal. Keep an eye on the traffic at all times, follow the local rules, and don’t overlook any important safety details.
- A handy Okinawa driving mantra: “tight turns to the left, wide turns to the right; wipers on the left, turn signal on the right.”
- When turning right in Okinawa, remember to stay on the left-hand side of the road as you come out of the turn.
- As you approach an intersection or exit, check to your right first and then to your left to avoid a collision with oncoming traffic.
2. Drive safely
Everyone in the car must wear a seat belt. Drinking and driving is strictly prohibited, and don’t speed or use your phone.
The top speed limit in Okinawa is 80 km/h, and anything over 100 km/h will definitely earn you a ticket, so be extra careful.
Drunk-driving fines
- Breath alcohol of 0.15 mg/l or below: fine of ¥500,000 or more / passengers are also fined ¥300,000 or more
- Too intoxicated to drive normally: fine of ¥1,000,000 or more / passengers are also fined ¥500,000 or more
Speeding fines
- Ordinary roads / expressways, up to 15 km/h over the limit: fine of ¥9,000
- Expressways, 30 km/h or more but under 35 km/h over the limit: fine of ¥25,000
- Expressways, 35 km/h or more but under 40 km/h over the limit: fine of ¥35,000
- Expressways, 40 km/h or more over the limit: fine of ¥100,000
- (The fines above are for ordinary compact cars; amounts differ for other vehicle classes.)
Yield to pedestrians
Always yield when you see a pedestrian — otherwise you risk a fine, which would put a real damper on your road trip.
Speed cameras in Okinawa
Okinawa’s expressways do have speed cameras! You can see exactly where they are on Orbis Guide.
There are 2 fixed cameras (green icons) on the expressway, plus 5 mobile units (orange icons) spread across the various districts.
Fines for using your phone while driving
- Using your phone while driving is strictly prohibited — both taking calls and scrolling are banned by law. Breaking this rule means a fine of ¥18,000
3. Clear right-of-way rules
- Vehicles going straight: Vehicles going straight have absolute priority, meaning they go through the intersection first and other vehicles must wait for them to pass.
- Vehicles turning left: Left-turning vehicles usually go before right-turning ones but after those going straight. That means a left-turning car has to wait for through traffic and other left-turning cars before making its turn.
- Vehicles turning right: Right-turning vehicles are usually the last through the intersection, so they must wait for all other vehicles, including those going straight and turning left.
- Main road priority: the main road always has the right of way, so cars on side roads must wait until the main road is clear before merging
4. Stop and go (止まれ, “stop”)
When you see a red inverted triangle 「止まれ」(stop) sign or a railroad crossing, you must bring the car to a complete stop, check both directions for traffic, and only then move off.
- Fine for not stopping: if you fail to come to a complete stop before a “止まれ” (stop) sign, you face a fine of ¥7,000.
- Fine for not stopping at a railroad crossing: failing to stop completely before a railroad crossing carries a fine of up to ¥9,000.
A guide to Okinawa’s traffic rules
1. Traffic lights
- Red light + straight arrow: you may continue straight ahead, but you may not turn.
- Red light + left-turn arrow: you may turn left, but you may not go straight or turn right.
- Green light + right-turn arrow: traffic in all directions may proceed safely, including right turns.
2. Flashing yellow / red lights
- Flashing yellow light: slow down and drive carefully, watch your surroundings and proceed once you have confirmed no traffic is coming.
- Flashing red light: this has the same effect as a “止まれ” (stop) sign. You must bring the car to a complete stop and may only proceed once you have confirmed the intersection is clear.
3. Road signs
Below are some of the most common road signs. When driving in Okinawa, keep an eye on the signs at all times so you don’t break the law.
Telling the lane markings apart
1. Yellow lane lines
- You may not cross the line to overtake unless a sign specifically allows it.
- Where there is no sign prohibiting it, you may turn left, turn right or make a U-turn, but yield to oncoming traffic first and only proceed once the road is clear
2. White lane lines
- Solid white line: you may not cross it to change lanes at will, but it is fine to drive over it to go around a car parked at the roadside — just return to your lane as soon as possible.
- Dashed white line: you may change lanes or overtake when it is safe to do so.
- Solid yellow line alongside a dashed white line: cars on the white-line side may change lanes across to the yellow-line side, but cars on the yellow-line side may not change lanes.
3. Parking rules and fees in Okinawa
There are plenty of parking lots in Okinawa’s urban areas, but rates vary widely. Always park in a legal parking lot and never park illegally on yellow lines or on private land. Parking fees usually differ by “weekday/holiday” and “daytime/nighttime” rates.
1. Temporary stopping
If you have to stop at the side of the road, pay close attention to the markings along the curb:
- Dashed yellow line: you may stop briefly, but you may not park and switch off the engine — the vehicle must stay ready to move.
- Solid yellow line: stopping or parking with the engine off is completely prohibited; parking in such a spot counts as a serious violation.
- Illegal parking can result in a fine, starting from ¥10,000.
Tip｜Check carefully before you pull into a parking lot and make sure it isn’t a 「月極駐車場」(monthly-contract parking lot). These are rented by the month rather than charged by the hour, so you could end up in a local resident’s space — and your rental car may get locked up!
2. Understanding parking lot fees
- Days of the week: some lots split rates into 平日 (weekdays) and 土日祝 (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays); others into 月~土 (Monday–Saturday) and 日曜 (Sunday)
- Time blocks: daytime 8:00~20:00 / xxx yen, nighttime 20:00~8:00 / xxx yen
- Maximum charge: 晝間最大xxx円 (daytime maximum xxx yen), 夜間最大xxx円 (nighttime maximum xxx yen); 入庫から/駐車後12時間最大 (maximum charge within 12 hours of entering/parking)
Every one of these rules is priced differently, so if you only look at the maximum charge you may overlook the fine print next to it and end up paying a hefty parking bill!
Further reading on Japanese parking lot rate signs: Times parking lot sign / Meitetsu Kyosho parking lot sign
3. Parking lot search apps
Finally tracked down a parking lot on Google Maps, only to arrive and discover the rates are frighteningly high?
We recommend this super handy Japanese parking search app — 「駐車場検索 – PPPark」(Parking Lot Search – PPPark)
iOS download here ｜ Android download here -> you need to switch your store region to Japan before you can download it!
(The steps for changing regions vary by device, so check the settings for your particular phone.)
Think switching regions to download the app is too much hassle? No problem — they also have a web version!
4. What car rental insurance should you buy in Okinawa?
Car rental insurance in Japan mainly comes in three parts: compulsory insurance, the collision damage waiver (CDW) and non-operation charge (NOC) coverage. We recommend choosing a full-coverage plan that includes CDW + NOC so you don’t have to pay a hefty deductible and non-operation charge if you have an accident.
| Coverage | Details | Recommendation |
| Basic compulsory insurance | Required by law. It covers basic liability for injury, property and the vehicle, but there is usually a deductible the driver has to pay. | Included as standard |
| Collision damage waiver (CDW) | Waives the deductible the driver would otherwise have to pay in an accident. | Strongly recommended |
| Non-operation charge (NOC) coverage | Covers the rental company’s lost business income while the car is being repaired and can’t be rented out. Standard CDW usually doesn’t include this. | Strongly recommended |
Note | CDW and NOC coverage are separate, and buying one doesn’t necessarily cover the lost-income fee as well. In most cases the two are charged separately.
| Basic mandatory insurance | +CDW (collision damage waiver) | +NOC compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury compensation (to the injured party) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Property damage compensation | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Vehicle damage compensation | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Personal injury compensation (to passengers) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Deductible waived | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Lost business income fee waived | ✔️ |
5. Okinawa expressway tolls and using an ETC card
Tolls on Okinawa’s expressways are collected through general lanes (cash) and ETC lanes. If you expect to use the expressway often and your tolls will likely add up, renting an ETC card is a good idea: it saves time at the gates and gets you discounts during certain hours.
How the tolls work
- General lanes (cash):
- Entering the expressway: take a toll ticket at the gate.
- Exiting the expressway: hand the ticket to the attendant or insert it into the automatic machine, then pay the amount shown in cash.
- Note: paying cash costs about 35% more than paying by ETC, so if you know you’ll be on the expressway several times, it’s worth renting an ETC card.
- ETC lanes:
- You need to reserve an ETC card from the rental company in advance.
- Keep your speed under 20 km/h at the gates and go through once the barrier opens.
- Tolls are settled at the rental branch when you return the car.
- Late-night discount: drive on Okinawa’s expressways between midnight and 4 a.m. and get up to 30% off tolls
6. How do you refuel on an Okinawa road trip?
Gas stations in Okinawa are either full-service or self-service, and most rental cars take Regular (レギュラー) fuel from the red nozzle.
Be sure to confirm your car’s fuel type when you pick it up so you don’t damage the engine with the wrong fuel.
At a full-service station, just tell the attendant you’d like a full tank of regular gas, then hold out cash or a credit card so they know how you want to pay.
In Japanese: レギュラー満タンお願いします (re-gyu-ra man-tan o-ne-gai-shi-ma-su), meaning “fill it up with regular, please”)
| Fuel type | Nozzle color | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gasoline (95) | Red | レギコラー | Regular |
| Premium gasoline (98) | Yellow | ハイオク | Premium |
| Diesel | Green | 軽油 | Diesel |
Self-service refueling step by step:
1. Choose the fuel, the amount and the payment method:
After selecting the fuel, follow the on-screen prompts to set how much you want (by liters or by amount), or simply choose “満” (full tank) to fill it up. You can pay by credit card or at the payment machine next to the pump.
2. Refuel:
Open the fuel door, insert the nozzle and squeeze to start pumping. When you’re done, put the nozzle back, close the fuel cap tightly, and collect your receipt and any change.
Tips for saving money on gas
- Avoid filling up on the expressway: gas at expressway rest areas is usually pricier than in town.
- Check prices on gogo.gs: it shows the cheapest gas stations nearby.
- Return the car with a full tank: most rental plans require a full tank on return, so fill up at the nearest gas station before you drop off the car and keep the receipt to avoid a hefty refueling fee
7. How do you pay a traffic fine in Okinawa?
If you’re unlucky enough to get a traffic ticket, follow these steps to pay it:
- 💡Step 1: Take the ticket you were handed or that was left on the car to an Okinawa police box (交番所, kōban) to pick up a payment slip. Don’t ask the rental company to pay it for you, as they’ll charge an extra handling fee!
- 💡Step 2: Take the payment slip (納付書, nōfusho) and cash to the counter of a designated bank or post office and pay before the deadline.
- 💡Step 3: Ask for the payment receipt and keep it safe. When you return the car, be sure to show the ticket together with the receipt to the rental company staff as proof that you’ve taken care of it.
Note | You must pay the fine yourself. If you skip it or try to dodge it, the amount will only grow, and the Japanese rental company will keep a record of it and blacklist you for good!
8. What should you do if you have an accident while driving in Okinawa?
If you’re involved in an accident in Okinawa, no matter how minor the scrape, you must call the police (110) and obtain an accident certificate, or your insurance won’t pay out.
- 💡Step 1:Check whether anyone is hurt and look after the injured first, then photograph the scene from every angle you can. If the car is blocking traffic, you can move it to the side of the road once you’ve finished taking photos (this keeps cars behind you from crashing into it, and it’s very different from what you’d do in Taiwan)
- 💡Step 2:Set out a traffic cone or similar warning marker to alert oncoming cars, then call 110 to notify the police. Even the smallest accident has to be reported, otherwise you can’t file an insurance claim.
- 💡Step 3:When you call 110, clearly state where the accident happened and whether anyone is injured, and leave your name and phone number. Next, contact the rental company; it helps a lot if they have Chinese-speaking staff who can explain things over the phone. Once everything is settled, do not forget to ask for the accident certificate, as it’s what your insurance claim will be based on.
- 💡Step 4: Once the police report is complete and everything is in order, you’ll be allowed to go. Then check with your rental company about services like towing and how to handle the rest of the process.
9. Okinawa self-drive tips only insiders know
How to navigate when driving in Okinawa? An introduction to Mapcode
Japan has its own Mapcode navigation system. Just enter your destination’s Mapcode into the GPS unit and you’ll get there without a hitch — an essential tool for driving in Okinawa!
Here’s how to look up a destination’s Mapcode on Mapion:
Let’s say you’re driving to the VESSEL HOTEL CAMPANA OKINAWA for the night.
💡Step 1:
Search for VESSEL HOTEL CAMPANA OKINAWA on Google, then copy the address 沖縄県中頭郡北谷町美浜９−22 (9-22 Mihama, Chatan Town, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture).
💡Step 2:
Paste the address into Mapion.
💡Step 3:
Check that it’s the right destination, click「便利ツール」(handy tools) in the top right corner, then click「地図URL」(map URL).
And there you have it — the Mapcode for VESSEL HOTEL CAMPANA OKINAWA!
Now that you’ve gone through the rules, driving in Okinawa doesn’t seem so hard, does it? Book now and enjoy the freedom of the open road 👇👇
More Okinawa travel articles:
👉Renting a sports car in Okinawa: recommended cars, price comparison and a full self-drive guide
👉Must-eat food in Okinawa: top picks for yakiniku, ramen and desserts you shouldn’t miss
👉 Where to stay in Okinawa (10 top-rated picks for 2026 you can book with confidence!)
This article was translated by AI from the original Chinese version.
