For you who travel to Okinawa! 6 ways to avoid traffic jams and car congestion in Okinawa

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For you who travel to Okinawa! 6 ways to avoid traffic jams and car congestion in Okinawa

2023.05.18 / Last modified at 2025.04.04
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Traffic jam on Kokusai-dori, Naha City, Okinawa

Okinawa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan, but due to the fact that Okinawa Prefecture is a car-based society and attractive tourist attractions,Frequent traffic jams with carsThis article details and provides a better understanding of the car traffic congestion situation in Okinawa,Here are some effective ways to avoidThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

Table of Contents

1 Car Traffic Jams in Okinawa
2 How to avoid traffic jams while traveling in Okinawa
3 summary

Car Traffic Jams in Okinawa

Crowding due to popular tourist attractions

The sea at Cape Maeda, Onna Village, Okinawa

Regular tourist spots tend to be congested.

Okinawa has many beautiful beaches and historical sitesTherefore, tourist season and weekends,Many people drive around at the same timeThe city has a number of tourist attractions. Especially in the northern resort areas and around tourist attractions in the central part of the country (e.g., American Village),Traffic congestion tends to be frequentThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

As a workaroundHa,You can go early or late, make the trip on a weekday, or in the off-season!The following is a list of the most common problems with the

[speech_balloon_left2 user_image_url="https://okibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/sono.png" user_name ="Son-chan"]Traffic jam at Onna village and Maeda cape during high season is amazing. [/speech_balloon_left2]

Too many cars for the road.

Rental car with Okinawa license plate number

Commute to work because of few roads. The rush to leave work is basically traffic jam!

Okinawa is a car-based societyIt is so famous for the number of cars relative to the road that it is said that the number of cars in the city is so large.All roads are basically congested from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., when the prefectural residents rush to work, and from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., when the residents rush to leave work.The following is a list of the most common reasons to stay in Naha City. Especially for those staying in Naha City, be aware that driving during the rush hours of commuting and leaving work can reduce your free time by several hours due to traffic congestion.

With the return of the U.S. military base, the road has been widened a little, but it is far from improved. In addition, when it rains or during the high season for travel, the volume of cars increases. Also, the area around the airport is always crowded.

As a workaroundHa,Plan to avoid driving during rush hours to and from work as much as possiblewould be a good idea.

[speech_balloon_left2 user_image_url="https://okibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/sono.png" user_name ="Son-chan"]In Okinawa, even if there is a traffic jam, I'm not bothered if I can see the ocean...[/speech_balloon_left2]]

Bus lane restrictions on major roads in the morning and evening

The left lane of National Route 58 and other major roads around Naha City from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. and from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the evening,Bus lane restrictions on public transportationwill be laid down. No general vehicles are allowed during this time.Only left turns are allowed before the intersectionThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

Not knowing this, in the morning or evening, "It's open!" and say,Keep going straight on that road during bus lane restrictions., ,The police will get you.Be careful, I have actually seen rental cars being caught many times.

So that area is congested because one lane cannot be traveled due to bus lane restrictions.

[speech_balloon_left2 user_image_url="https://okibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/sono.png" user_name ="Sonchan"]We don't want to drive in Naha city in the morning and evening either. w[/speech_balloon_left2]

Route 58, Route 330, and Okinawa Road IC are crowded

Major roads near Naha are basically crowded.

National Route 58 and then National Route 330 are the main arteries of the main island of Okinawa. These roads are necessary for getting around the main island of Okinawa, though,It is always crowded in Naha city.Note that the

Also,On the Okinawa Expressway, going up (toward Naha) near the Nishihara IC, it is very crowded during the commute to and from work.Northernmost The northernmostTraffic jams also occur at the Hsuuda IC during high seasonI will do so.

As a workaroundHa,Estimated time for car navigation systems and Google Maps - watch for 1.5 times that time!Please be sure to allow plenty of time to get around. Okinawa is often a place of wrong turns, so be sure to allow plenty of time for travel.

[speech_balloon_left2 user_image_url="https://okibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/sono.png" user_name ="Son-chan"]Traffic jam before Nishihara Interchange on Okinawa Expressway is very bad. w[/speech_balloon_left2].

How to avoid traffic jams while traveling in Okinawa

(i) Avoid detouring on side streets even in heavy traffic.

If you have some understanding of the roads in Okinawa Prefecture, you can still make a detour,It is not recommended to encroach on unknown roads to avoid traffic jams!. There are times when the detour leads to a dead end, or a surprisingly narrow road or steep hill. Take the main road as far as possible with a strong "I have no choice but to trust this road! and stay on the main road as much as possible.

ETC card must be brought!

Okinawa Prefecture has the worst ETC penetration rate in Japan. Even in a congested area, waiting in line at expressway toll booths is a major time-loser.Don't forget to bring your ETC card!The following is a list of the most common problems with the

(3) GoogleMap can be trusted there.

GoogleMap offers the shortest route to your destination, taking into account traffic congestion. I feel pretty comfortable using it, but sometimes it tries to take me down incredibly narrow roads. It's like, "Do you think you're riding a motorcycle?" I think. Just be careful.

4) Avoid travel to and from work.

If you are leaving from your hotel in Naha, you should leave by 7:30am or after 9:00am. If you want to enjoy American Village at night, you should arrive by 5:00 pm. Or arrive after 7pm.

(5) Avoid travel plans that take a detour.

Be sure to include tourist attractions, sights, and restaurants along the way that will be the final destination of the day (e.g., hotels).If it is an unnecessary detour + traffic jam, you will lose a great deal of time by traveling!The following is a list of the most common problems with the

6) Sightseeing around your hotel

Or,It is also a good Okinawa trip to do sightseeing only in the vicinity of your hotel.It is. Stay at hotels in Yomitan Village, Onna Village, or Nago City,Minimize wasted travel time by sightseeing in the vicinity of the hotel.Sightseeing and swimming in the sea, etc.More time for fun!The following is a list of the most common problems with the

summary

There are many tourist facilities, spots, and beaches in Okinawa Prefecture. However, Okinawa is a car-based society. Traffic jams are a fact of life in Okinawa. We have suggested several methods to help you avoid traffic jams.

A particularly efficient way to avoid traffic jams is to stay at a hotel near the tourist spot you want to visit in the first place! For example, if you stay at Hotel Nikko Alivila in Yomitan Village, you can visit many spots and restaurants in Yomitan Village, and American Village is only a 30-minute drive away. If you stay at a resort hotel in Onna Village or a hotel in Nago City, you will have no trouble getting to tourist facilities in Nago City, Churaumi Aquarium, and Kouri Island!

[speech_balloon_left1 user_image_url="https://okibracom.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sono.png " user_name="Son-chan"]You can have a fulfilling sightseeing experience by planning an efficient Okinawa trip that avoids traffic jams! [/speech_balloon_left1]

Contributor Profile

OKIBRA

Okinawa travel media "OKIBRA" has been happily operated since 2020 by Kazunari, a computer geek, and Son-chan, an anime & food lover! They love Okinawa so much that they have visited more than 50 hotels and 500 restaurants in the prefecture, and they share the charms of Okinawa on Instagram and on the web. We will bring you the charms of Okinawa that you can't find anywhere else, from the unique perspective of a husband and wife team!