Okinawa 7 days

[absolut777]

Beginning to think self drive is best option. But read they quite aggressive drivers there.

Initially thought can bus/train everywhere

 

[gentoro]

Hmm...I think I am one of the aggressive driver there... hahaha....

Even a monster truck pick-up can be very polite and giving way. Well, I take advantage of their nice and drive aggressive - I think......

 

[rayban]

My trip from a solo trip become a trip of 4.... jia lat, now family follow me go...
If a family of 4 is public transport ok? cause non of us drive haha

 

[juxtaposition]

No car in Okinawa is jialat. U will be restricted to those areas with train which is only a small part. Public transport is lousy and if u take scheduled buses to places of interest will be too expensive because x4.

I don’t rem got 包车服务 there, unlike Taiwan.

My trip from a solo trip become a trip of 4.... jia lat, now family follow me go...
If a family of 4 is public transport ok? cause non of us drive haha

 

[rayban]

No car in Okinawa is jialat. U will be restricted to those areas with train which is only a small part. Public transport is lousy and if u take scheduled buses to places of interest will be too expensive because x4.

I don’t rem got 包车服务 there, unlike Taiwan.

i intend to book those 1 day tour lor? better to book at okinawa itself?

 

[gentoro]

I did saw their 1-2days tour package - very expensive! (IMHO)

https://www.japanican.com/en/tour/list/?destcd=M24

 

[rayban]

Just an update i book my first 2 days stay at motobu area.... i intend to travel all the way southwards....

Any recommend that which area should i stay next?

i plan to stay 1-2 day at American village

1-2 at the naha shopping area

 

[megaweb]

Just want to check regarding about driving in Okinawa.

Do we need International Driving License to drive there?

Planning to go there in early June.

 

[evilerniex]

Just want to check regarding about driving in Okinawa.

Do we need International Driving License to drive there?

Planning to go there in early June.

yes, need IDP

 

[megaweb]

yes, need IDP

Thank you very much

 

[gentoro]

Just want to check regarding about driving in Okinawa.

Do we need International Driving License to drive there?

Planning to go there in early June.

IDP can be done at AAA amk central with validity 1 year at $40. The gps build-in car suck! Seriously recommend to use google map with destination pre-saved in your hp. For data, subscribe datatravel for SH or data passport for M1. Parking and toll and taxi is overall cheaper than tokyo. Likewise for its LRT and buses, also cheaper. My favourite place to visit yearly!

 

[evilerniex]

IDP can be done at AAA amk central with validity 1 year at $40. The gps build-in car suck! Seriously recommend to use google map with destination pre-saved in your hp. For data, subscribe datatravel for SH or data passport for M1. Parking and toll and taxi is overall cheaper than tokyo. Likewise for its LRT and buses, also cheaper. My favourite place to visit yearly!

it is $20 only.
other than AAS AMK branch, can also do at AAS Geylang branch

so far there was only 1 time where i found the GPS crappy. all my driving trips in japan, i find their GPS super accurate, better than google map or the GPS i have in sg. so i guess it depends on the rental company and the GPS they provided

 

[gentoro]

it is $20 only.
other than AAS AMK branch, can also do at AAS Geylang branch

so far there was only 1 time where i found the GPS crappy. all my driving trips in japan, i find their GPS super accurate, better than google map or the GPS i have in sg. so i guess it depends on the rental company and the GPS they provided

hehe, i tok its $40...

2014 - i planned to go slightly early to avoid traffic in tokyo to hakone. first time in Japan.

4pm, our convoy beginning our journey to an onsen in hakone from narita AP. Its quite an ulu hostel so cannot find on the GPS when key in address... When ask the rental car company, he told us to key in the tel no. We did and gotten an address - similar name as onsen but i find weird because i know its quite far about 2hr+ drive and gps only indicate 1hr. Whole convoy (3mpv) also follow the same routes move off at 4pm as sun starting to set.

KNN! we landed in somewhere tokyo and other 2 cars missing due to heavy traffic jammed in tokyo. Yes, the building indicate the same bloody name and it is the office of the onsen hostel company... (ard 6pm)

The company staff assisted us to get the correct address of their hostel in hakone and they themselves cannot do it via gps in car. Told us to re-route back to Narita for help!

Super hot and fustrated! I open my google map - find a meeting point enroute to hakone and had to call all the drivers' passenger. Wasted tons of my IDD calling ($$$).

From then - i rely on google map. it has never failed me since...

Another reason being - all 3 similar car eg. estima all having different model of GPS. I manage to find my destination but 2nd or 3rd car cannot. 2nd and 3rd drivers were more experience on GPS cos they use it alot in SG - they not much of route memorising. They are like so disabled. Google map they manage to pick up fast and easy to follow. Data plan is critical...

 

[evilerniex]

hehe, i tok its $40...

2014 - i planned to go slightly early to avoid traffic in tokyo to hakone. first time in Japan.

4pm, our convoy beginning our journey to an onsen in hakone from narita AP. Its quite an ulu hostel so cannot find on the GPS when key in address... When ask the rental car company, he told us to key in the tel no. We did and gotten an address - similar name as onsen but i find weird because i know its quite far about 2hr+ drive and gps only indicate 1hr. Whole convoy (3mpv) also follow the same routes move off at 4pm as sun starting to set.

KNN! we landed in somewhere tokyo and other 2 cars missing due to heavy traffic jammed in tokyo. Yes, the building indicate the same bloody name and it is the office of the onsen hostel company... (ard 6pm)

The company staff assisted us to get the correct address of their hostel in hakone and they themselves cannot do it via gps in car. Told us to re-route back to Narita for help!

Super hot and fustrated! I open my google map - find a meeting point enroute to hakone and had to call all the drivers' passenger. Wasted tons of my IDD calling ($$$).

From then - i rely on google map. it has never failed me since...

oh.. yah, finding the location may be a problem. need to have the correct tel. no. then can find. searching by name usually not as easy. i encountered before also in okinawa where i searched GPS using tel.no for some ulu nature spot. turns out to be the office number in the city.

but in terms of accuracy of ur position, their GPS is spot on. in sg, sometimes i got problem deciding whether to turn here or next turn coz too close together, and the car position not so accurate. but in japan, the GPS no such problem

 

[hwz_zx]

with regards to driving in Okinawa, how to pay for toll and parking (usually in attraction spot with big parking area)?

Also for refueling, is the communication with the attendant a problem? Like how much to top up, and what type of gas?

 

[evilerniex]

with regards to driving in Okinawa, how to pay for toll and parking (usually in attraction spot with big parking area)?

Also for refueling, is the communication with the attendant a problem? Like how much to top up, and what type of gas?

can just pay in cash.

i usually just tell them "mantan" (full tank) when filling petrol.

 

[gentoro]

with regards to driving in Okinawa, how to pay for toll and parking (usually in attraction spot with big parking area)?

Also for refueling, is the communication with the attendant a problem? Like how much to top up, and what type of gas?

For rental, I take OTS and they have their specific petrol pump station at DFS gallery before returning their car to their CP. I cant even use half tank after driving for 400km in 3 days - hydrid car...good!

For toll & CP, just either manual press for ticket/card and then when leaving, either put card in machine or staff at toll, then pay with cash. Very smooth and hassle free.

 

[hwz_zx]

can just pay in cash.

i usually just tell them "mantan" (full tank) when filling petrol.

For rental, I take OTS and they have their specific petrol pump station at DFS gallery before returning their car to their CP. I cant even use half tank after driving for 400km in 3 days - hydrid car...good!

For toll & CP, just either manual press for ticket/card and then when leaving, either put card in machine or staff at toll, then pay with cash. Very smooth and hassle free.

Thanks both!

Will take a look at OTS, i'm thinking of renting for about 2 days for travelling up north, Naha area i'll probably stick by rail. Will not be going to a lot of outskirt area

 

[juxtaposition]

Not bad, will revisit soon.

https://moncochon.wordpress.com/2018/05/22/hai-sai-okinawa-4d3n/

 

[absolut777]

Understand that Okinawa still deals plenty in cash. I have Japanese IC cards but those don't work there do they? Asking if Visa PayWave widely accepted?