anyone self drive in okinawa?

[kikilin]

Is okinawa easy to self drive just like hokkaido?
I would like to do some planning for my next trip.

 

[evilerniex]

Is okinawa easy to self drive just like hokkaido?
I would like to do some planning for my next trip.

yup, u can refer to my trip report here:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/j...mano-okinawa-9-nov-24-nov-2012-a-3994176.html

i have not driven in hokkaido before, but i have done so in other parts of japan. driving in okinawa is quite okay... there are peak hour jams in Naha city, but outside of the city, the roads are quite empty and easy to drive.

 

[kikilin]

yup, u can refer to my trip report here:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/j...mano-okinawa-9-nov-24-nov-2012-a-3994176.html

i have not driven in hokkaido before, but i have done so in other parts of japan. driving in okinawa is quite okay... there are peak hour jams in Naha city, but outside of the city, the roads are quite empty and easy to drive.

Thanks evilerniex.

 

[icequeenz]

I did my Okinawa self drive trip this Feb. Driving is a breeze, esp out of the city as evilerniex said. This, coming from an inexperienced driver who drove abt only 5 times in the past 10 years. (Ok maybe not very safe for me to have done that...don't flame me )

I booked my prius aqua hybrid from OTS. Chose them because they had special discount for booking 60days in advance. OTS is very popular with Taiwanese..so they have Mandarin speaking staff, Chinese instructions n info sheets.

 

[kikilin]

icequeenz: do OTS have ETC card for rental?
I see. How about the parking at Okinawa?
Is the parking free over there?

I wondering when is the best timing to visit.

 

[icequeenz]

Afaik none of the car rental companies rent ETC cards. Meaning if you drive on the toll expressway, you can only use cash-payment exits. I used route 58 and not the expressway so no issues for me.

San Marina hotel charged 500Yen for 24 hrs parking, whereas Mahaina Wellness resort was free. Comfort Inn Naha was also 500yen...and it was a scary rotating garage across the road. Have to check individual hotels. Haven't paid any other parking charges for attractions for the 4 days I was driving.

Best time is generally summertime!

 

[evilerniex]

the hotels i stayed in charges 500yen for overnight parking. city area parking usually must pay. outside the city, parking is usually free, even for tourist attractions

 

[kikilin]

Air ticket seem to be very expensive to travel to okinawa.
Either I stopover at Taiwan, Hongkong, or japan.

 

[icequeenz]

For your reference I did a Scoot to taipei and Peach to Naha. $550 per pax including seats and bags. But that was Feb lah...non peak.

 

[kikilin]

the hotels i stayed in charges 500yen for overnight parking. city area parking usually must pay. outside the city, parking is usually free, even for tourist attractions

evilerniex, you rent car from which car rental company?
Do they have ETC cards for rental?

 

[evilerniex]

evilerniex, you rent car from which car rental company?
Do they have ETC cards for rental?

i rented from Tocoo. dunno about ETC, but i find it ok not having the ETC card

 

[Deathskull88]

How was the weather in Feb?

I think Jetstar goes to Naha too, but has to transit 2 times. Once in Taipei, once in Osaka.

I think now ToCoo! includes ETC units on their cars. Read from an email they sent sometime this year.

 

[icequeenz]

Weather is Feb was around 15deg i think. Remember to bring a good windproof jacket thou..zanpamisaki and manzamo was very very windy. Does get a bit chilly after sunset too.

 

[Deathskull88]

Wow, that's cold. Thanks for the heads up!

Probably go during warmer seasons, would like to dive if I am there. Won't want the water to be freezing cold haha

 

[kikilin]

Do you all still drive at nite over there ard like 8pm -9pm?
is it easy to drive at nite?

 

[kikilin]

my draft itinerary

Day 0: SG > Taoyuan airport
Day 1: Taoyuan airport > Okinawa Outlet Mall > American Village > Hotel
Day 2: Hotel > Busena Marina Park > Orion Beer Factory > Churaumi Aquarium > Hotel
Day 3: Hotel > kouri Bridge > kouri tower > pineapple park > Zanpamisaki > Hotel
Day 4: Hotel > Ryukyu Mura > Ryukyu Glass village > Kokusai Street > Hotel
Day 5: Back to taoyuan airport

Please advice and also I would want to visit Shurijo Castle Park but it look like my itinerary have no time for it.

How? >.<"

 

[evilerniex]

my draft itinerary

Day 0: SG > Taoyuan airport
Day 1: Taoyuan airport > Okinawa Outlet Mall > American Village > Hotel
Day 2: Hotel > Busena Marina Park > Orion Beer Factory > Churaumi Aquarium > Hotel
Day 3: Hotel > kouri Bridge > kouri tower > pineapple park > Zanpamisaki > Hotel
Day 4: Hotel > Ryukyu Mura > Ryukyu Glass village > Kokusai Street > Hotel
Day 5: Back to taoyuan airport

Please advice and also I would want to visit Shurijo Castle Park but it look like my itinerary have no time for it.

How? >.<"

where u planning to stay?
note that churaumi and pineapple are in nago, which is quite far from naha city. so u may want to stay a night in nago to visit these places

 

[kikilin]

hm...not sure which hotel to stay yet.
more likely will be staying in 2 or 3 different hotel for the entire trip.
Do you have recommendation for the hotel?

 

[evilerniex]

hm...not sure which hotel to stay yet.
more likely will be staying in 2 or 3 different hotel for the entire trip.
Do you have recommendation for the hotel?

i like the super hotel in nago. cheap and good. comes with onsen bath somemore
Super Hotel Okinawa Nago-SuperHotel

and i stay in toyoko inn omoromachi coz it is just beside the car rental shop in DFS
http://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00184/index.html