Naha Airport to Kouri Island By Car or Bus

日本語版を読む Haisai from Villa Hale Noa! If you’re wondering how to get from Naha Airport to Kouri Island, here’s the short version: rent a car, drive north, shop for groceries in Nago, then cross the Kouri Bridge. Everything below fills in the details, including how to do it by bus if you’d rather not drive.

Kouri Bridge across the turquoise sea — Kouri Bridge connects Yagaji Island with Kouri Island.

The route

Pick up your rental car from the office in your booking
Enter the Okinawa Expressway at the interchange nearest that office
Exit at Kyoda IC, the northern end of the expressway
Follow Route 58 toward Nago
Shop for groceries and fuel up around Nago
Cross to Yagaji Island, then over the Kouri Bridge

Driving time depends a lot on traffic, so glance at a map app before you set off. Late afternoons around Naha and holiday periods can be slow.

By rental car

A rental car also makes groceries and outings during your stay easier. You can compare Naha rental cars on Klook. When you book, look at the pickup location, shuttle and office hours, insurance, and cancellation terms.

Nissan Note shown as an example of a rental car — Vehicle example. Choose your dates to check available models and rental terms.

One thing to know: landing time is not the time you’ll be driving. Most rental offices at Naha are off-airport, so you collect your bags, ride the shuttle, do the paperwork, and then leave. Where the shuttle meets you and how often it runs is in your company’s booking instructions. What you need to drive in Japan depends on the country or region that issued your license. For some it’s an International Driving Permit; for others it’s the original license plus an approved Japanese translation, and your passport. Read your rental company’s guide for foreign license holders before you travel and bring what it lists. Nippon Rent-A-Car’s English guide shows the kind of requirements to expect, though your own company’s guide is the one that counts. Japan drives on the left. Ask the rental company how tolls are paid and whether an ETC card is available. Hale Noa has parking for two cars.

By bus

Without a car, take the Yanbaru Express Bus. Board the Airport Line at Naha Airport and transfer at Nakijin Village Office to the Santo Line, which continues toward Kouri Island. Check times, fares, and connections on the official timetable for your travel day, and pack light for the transfer. Day tours from Naha sometimes include Kouri, but we don’t recommend them as a way to reach your accommodation; whether you can leave partway depends on the operator. Arriving by bus makes groceries and trips off the island harder, so if that’s your plan, the shopping section below matters even more.

Before you cross the bridge

Groceries

This is the one thing we’d call essential. Hale Noa has an induction kitchen, cookware, and a fridge, so cooking is easy. Buy dinner, breakfast, and drinks around Nago before you cross. Restaurants and shops on Kouri keep their own days and hours, so if you’d like to eat out one evening, look the place up on its own site or social media first. Just past the bridge is Sorahashi, a stop with local produce and food. Its hours and evening opening change by season, so see the official site. Some shops take cash only, so carry some yen.

Fuel

Fill up around Nago before you cross to the island.

Let us know when you’ll arrive

Check-in at Hale Noa is from 3 p.m. and check-out is by 11 a.m. If you’ll be late, a quick message helps.

Photos on the bridge

The Kouri Bridge has sea on both sides, and you’ll want a photo. Don’t stop on the road; park in a designated area first.

Your departure day

Work backward from the time your airline wants you at the airport. Subtract the shuttle from the rental office, the return paperwork, refueling, and the drive from Kouri to the office, then allow extra time for traffic that day. For an early flight, plan to leave before the 11 a.m. check-out time.

BBQ and meal options

Hale Noa offers BBQ and meal options. What’s included and what it costs change by season, so see the optional services page or ask through the contact form. Enjoy the drive up. Details are on the room page, dates on the booking page, and we share the island as it looks right now on Instagram.