San Francisco to Okinawa Your First Night on Kouri
2026年9月11日
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Haisai from Villa Hale Noa!
Big news for Okinawa came through the other day. United Airlines has announced plans to fly nonstop between San Francisco and Okinawa three times a week from March 27, 2027, pending government approval. We’re already looking forward to it. If you’re in the Bay Area and Okinawa has been on your list, keep an eye on the approval and on United’s booking page for the actual days and times, and then come and see us.
While choosing your flights, think about that first night too. Will you head straight north to Kouri, or sleep in Naha and drive up the next day? How everyone feels after the flight, especially the driver, is a good place to start.
Booking the right arrival date
United’s August 25, 2026 announcement lists a Boeing 777-200ER on the route. You cross the date line on the way over, so check the local arrival date in Japan, not just the departure date from California, and match your first night and car pickup to it. Look at the return dates too before settling on how many nights to stay.
Heading north on arrival day
Immigration, bags, customs, the shuttle to the rental office, and the paperwork all take a while, so keep arrival day free of anything with a fixed start time. Once you have the car keys, be honest about how everyone feels. If the driver is fading after the flight, a night near Naha is a better idea than a long drive in the dark.
If you do drive up, shop before you cross the bridge. This is the one thing we’d call a must. Stop around Nago for breakfast, drinks, and a dinner you can eat without cooking, plus anything you’d like for the next day. That way, you can settle in when you arrive instead of heading out again for groceries.
Check-in at Hale Noa starts at 3 p.m. Put your expected arrival time in the notes when you book so we know when to look out for you.
Or rest in Naha first
A night near Naha lets everyone sleep off the flight, and you get your first drive on the left in daylight. The next morning, head to the rental office, pick up the car, and take the drive north with a shopping stop and a break or two along the way. It’s a relaxed way to start, especially with children.
Sorting out the rental car
Kouri is joined to the main island by a bridge, and a car makes groceries and outings around the north simple. If you plan to travel by bus, allow for connections, the last service, and how you will get meals and groceries during your stay. What you need to drive in Japan depends on the country that issued your license, so read the rental company’s requirements for your license before you leave home, and do the same for any additional driver. While you’re at it, ask about:
The latest pickup time and procedure for a delayed flight
Space for passengers and luggage
Child seats suitable for each child’s age and size
Toll payment options and the conditions for renting an ETC card
Refueling, return location, and transport back to the airport
Decide how you’ll get online before you fly, whether that’s roaming or an eSIM, and save the villa’s address and our contact details offline just in case. Card acceptance varies from place to place here, so carry some yen.
Your last day
Check-out at Hale Noa is 11 a.m., but there’s no rule that says you have to leave the island then. If you’d like a last afternoon on Kouri and a drive back to Naha in the evening, leave room for slower traffic on the expressway and in town at that hour. Work back from the time your airline wants you at the airport, and add the drive, refueling, the car return, and the shuttle.
Staying at Hale Noa
Hale Noa is a whole house for up to seven guests, including infants sharing a bed, with a full kitchen and a washer-dryer, which makes a longer stay easy. The room page has the details, and the booking page shows rates for your dates, and anything else can go through the contact form. We share the latest from the island on Instagram. We hope to see you here in 2027.
Compare Naha rental cars on Klook