Okinawa is an archipelago located in the southern part of Japan, in the East China Sea. The subtropical archipelago belongs to Japan and stretches from Kyushu to Taiwan. Reaching Okinawa is easier than most people imagine. From Japan’s main islands, daily flights connect Tokyo, Osaka and 12 other large cities to Naha Airport on Okinawa. When planning a trip to Okinawa, knowing how to get there, from which airport, and the best season to book to avoid expensive fares, is the first thing you must know.
How to fly to Okinawa?
Reaching Okinawa is easier than most people imagine. Naha Airport (OKA) is the largest airport situated on the main island (Okinawa Honto). It is served by several airlines, including Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan transocean and low-cost companies such as Peach, Jetstar Japan, and Solaseed Air for domestic flights. From Japan’s main islands, daily flights connect Tokyo, Osaka, and 12 other large cities to Naha Airport on Okinawa Honto (Okinawa main island) in 2 hours on average (only Sapporo, on the northern island of Hokkaido, is over 3 hours).
If you’re travelling from other parts of Asia, Okinawa is also surprisingly well-connected. There are direct flights from major regional hubs such as Singapore, Bangkok, Seoul, Hong Kong and Taipei to Naha International Airport. Ishigaki also has an international airport with connections to Taipei, Hong Kong, and Seoul.
For divers and travellers coming from Europe, Australia, or the Americas, the best strategy is to connect via Japan’s main international airports, as they offer direct flights to many countries. Once in Japan, foreign visitors on a tourist visa with an international return flight ticket to Japan can get special domestic fares with the ANA Discover Japan fare or the JAL Explorer Pass. Depending on your starting point and preferences, you might also consider flying to other Asian cities such as Hong Kong, Taipei or Singapore and then taking a connecting flight to Tokyo. This could save you money on airfare.
- From the USA: Major airlines such as All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, American airlines offer direct flights from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD) to Tokyo’s airports, Narita International Airport (NRT), Haneda International Airport (HND) and to Kansai international Airport (KIX) in Osaka.
- From Europe: Major airlines such as All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Finnair and Turkish Airlines operate direct flights from European hubs such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Helsinki, and Istanbul to either Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND) in Tokyo and to Kansai international Airport (KIX) in Osaka.
- From Australia: Major airlines such as Quantar Airways, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways offer direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Tokyo’s both Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda International Airport (HND).
- From Hong Kong: Japanese airline companies such as ANA (All Nippon Airlines), JTA(Japan Transocean air), Peach and Jetstar airlines operate direct daily flights from Hong Kong to Naha Airport in Okinawa. The flight time is approximately 3 hours. You can also fly direct to Ishigaki International Airport (ISG) in only 2 hours.
- From Taiwan: Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) in Taipei and Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) are the two main options to get to Okinawa. There are several airlines that offer direct flights from either Taipei or Kaohsiung, such as China Airlines, EVA Air, Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), Peach, Malindo Air, Tigerair and Starlux Airlines. The flight from Taiwan (either Taoyuan or Kaohsiung) to Okinawa takes about 2.5 to 3.5 hours. You can also fly direct to Ishigaki International Airport (ISG) in only 1 hour.
- From Singapore: There is now an option to fly direct Changi International Airport (SIN) to Naha International Airport with Scoot in 5 hours.
Once in Japan, you can fly from Tokyo, Osaka or 12 other cities on the main islands to Naha (main island of Okinawa), Ishigaki or Miyakojima. There are several airlines that offer direct flights from Osaka to Naha, including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, Peach and Jetstar.
- From Tokyo: It takes about 3 hours to get to Okinawa from Tokyo. All Nippon Airlines, Japan Airlines, Skymark Airlines, and Solaseed Air operate nonstop flights from Tokyo (HND) airport to Okinawa. Peach and Jetstar airlines operate nonstop flights from Tokyo Airport (NRT) to Okinawa.
- From Osaka: Osaka has two main airports that offer flights to Naha Airport (OKA): Kansai International Airport (KIX), located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay and Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport, ITM), situated closer to central Osaka.
How much does it cost to go to Okinawa?
The cost of flying to Naha varies depending on the airline, the time of year, and the departure city. Before booking, it’s always a good idea to compare prices online on different dates to find the best fares. Note that once in Japan, foreign visitors on a tourist visa with an international return flight ticket to Japan can get special domestic fares with the ANA Discover Japan fare or the JAL Explorer Pass.
Here are the average prices for return direct flights to Okinawa:
- Tokyo to Naha: 130 USD
- Osaka to Naha: 110 USD
- Taipei to Naha: 400 USD
- Hong Kong to Naha: 400 USD
- Singapore to Naha: 900 USD
And here are some average fares of return long-haul flights to Tokyo:
- London to Tokyo: £550 – £1200
- Paris to Tokyo: 700€ – 1300€
- Frankfurt to Tokyo: 800€ – 1300€
- New York City to Tokyo: 900 – 1500 USD
- Los Angeles to Tokyo: 700 – 1200 USD
- Sydney to Tokyo: 1000 – 1800 AUD
Alternative: Going to Okinawa by ferry
It is possible to reach Okinawa Honto from the south of Kyushu after crossing Japan in a high-speed train (Shinkansen). From Kagoshima, you can take a ferry to Naha in 25 hours via the Amami Islands. Then there are ferries between the islands, but not all the islands, especially Miyako Island.
From Naha, you can go to the Kerama National Park and from Ishigaki, you can go to Yonaguni, Iriomote and Taketomi. It only takes 35 minutes from Naha to Tokashiki in the national park of the Kerama Islands, or even 15 minutes to go from Ishigaki to Taketomi. However, only the slow travellers among us will get to Yonaguni by ferry from Ishigaki, as it takes 4 hours (people usually fly from Ishigaki or Naha to Yonaguni). Note that there are no ferries at all between Okinawa Honto and Miyako, or Miyako and Ishigaki.
What is the best time to go to Okinawa?
Okinawa has a subtropical climate, with warm temperatures and high humidity year-round. The best time to visit is from March to May or September to November, which offer the most comfortable weather. The summer months, hot and humid, offer the best conditions, but typhoons may occur.
The typhoon season in Okinawa usually runs from June to September, with August and September as the peak months. It’s important to understand that it is not always stormy or rainy during that time, but the occurrence is more frequent. Be sure to monitor the weather both before and during your trip. Needless to say that boat trips and scuba diving trips are cancelled whenever a typhoon is approaching.
What visa do you need to go to Japan?
Visitors from most countries, including the United States, Canada, the European Union and Australia, do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days in Japan. However, it’s always a good idea to check with the Japanese embassy in your country before travelling to confirm the visa requirements.
Make sure to visit the official website to access the most current and accurate information directly from the Japanese government. You can also find a wide range of information on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Do you need more information to plan your dive trip to Okinawa?
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