“When I land at Naha Airport, how do I pick up my rental car?” “And how do I get back to the airport when I return it?” These are the most common worries of first-time renters in Okinawa. Many people are surprised to learn that there is no rental counter inside the airport terminal itself.
Using UMUI Rent a Car’s Naha Airport branch as the example, this article walks through what happens from the moment you land until you drive off, and from returning the car until you are back at the airport. It also collects the first-timer Q&A: what to bring, changing a reservation, returning the car with a full tank, ETC, coverage, and what to do after an accident. Everything about UMUI is based only on what the official website says. Where the site says nothing (for example, the shuttle meeting point or exact times), we say “not stated” and tell you who to ask.
From Landing to Driving Away
From Booking to Online Check-in
UMUI’s official website describes the process in this order: book online, complete online check-in, shuttle and visit the branch, pick up and depart, and return with a full tank. Reservations are accepted only through the website or at a branch, and you can book up to one hour before pick-up. Busy periods such as summer holidays and Golden Week are expected to be especially crowded, so booking early is recommended.
After booking, we recommend completing online check-in on your smartphone. You log in with your reservation number and email address, photograph your driver’s license (overseas visitors also add their passport and International Driving Permit), read the rental agreement and sign on screen, and a QR code is shown. You show this QR code at the branch. According to the website, the branch only needs to confirm your identity and check the car, so the car can be handed over in as little as 5 minutes.
The check-in form has fields for airport shuttle requests (outbound only, return only, or both) and for the airline and flight number of your arrival and departure flights. The site says that entering your arrival flight makes the shuttle guidance smoother.
From the Airport to the Branch by Free Shuttle Bus
The Naha Airport branch guides customers from the airport to the branch by free shuttle bus. There is no rental counter inside the airport; instead you take the shuttle bus from the airport to the branch and pick up your car there.
| Branch | UMUI Rent a Car, Naha Airport branch |
|---|---|
| Address | 〒901-0225 沖縄県豊見城市豊崎1-325 |
| Hours | 8:00-20:00 (open every day of the year) |
| Phone | 050-1783-5687 |
| Access from the airport | Free shuttle bus (the official site says “we will guide you by free shuttle bus from Naha Airport”) |
Please note that the official website does not state where the shuttle stop is, how often buses run, or how long the ride to the branch takes. We do not guess here; check your booking confirmation email, the guidance after online check-in, or call the branch. Because the branch closes at 20:00, if your flight arrives late in the evening it is safest to ask before you book.
At the Counter: Rental Agreement, Prepayment and Vehicle Check
When you arrive at the branch, tell the staff your name. After they confirm your reservation, you sign the rental agreement. If more than one person will drive, every driver’s name, signature and license must be checked on the agreement. You also prepay the estimated rental amount (not needed if you already paid online).
Every driver must present the physical license. The site clearly states that “we cannot rent the car without the physical license,” so photos or copies are not accepted. Also, under the rental agreement, if you do not start the rental procedure within one hour after your reserved pick-up time, the reservation is treated as cancelled. If a flight delay is likely to make you late, contact the branch early.
Before you leave, you check the condition of the car. During your rental, always carry the rental certificate (貸渡証) handed to you at the branch.
Naha Airport Basics: Getting Around After You Land
Domestic and International Areas; Arrivals Lobby Is on the 1st Floor
The official website of Naha Airport Passenger Terminal Building describes a domestic area and an international area. For domestic arrivals, you go to the 1st-floor arrivals lobby and collect your bags at the baggage claim; passengers without checked baggage can go straight to the exit. The arrivals lobby of the international area is also on the 1st floor.
| Arrivals lobby | 1st floor (both domestic and international) |
|---|---|
| Buses, taxis, car rentals | Around the entrance and exit of the 1st-floor arrivals lobby |
| Yui Rail monorail | Via the 2nd-floor connecting passage of the domestic area to Naha Airport Station |
| Source | Naha Airport Passenger Terminal Building official website (checked October 2026) |
The airport’s official guidance says that buses, taxis and car rentals are at the entrance and exit of the 1st-floor arrivals lobby. As noted above, please check UMUI’s own guidance for where its shuttle bus stop is.
The Yui Rail Is Another Option
Some itineraries involve staying in Naha city and renting a car only on certain days. In that case you can take the Yui Rail (Okinawa Urban Monorail) and pick up your car at the Omoromachi branch. UMUI’s Omoromachi branch is a 3-minute walk from Omoromachi Station on the Yui Rail and is open 9:00-18:00 every day of the year. However, the free shuttle is available only at the Naha Airport branch. Use the Naha Airport branch to pick up at the airport and the Omoromachi branch to pick up in the city.
Tell Them Whether You Arrive on a Domestic or International Flight
UMUI’s official website does not say whether the shuttle guidance differs between domestic and international arrivals. If you arrive on an international flight, enter your airline and flight number in online check-in, and if in doubt, call 050-1783-5687 (hours 8:00-20:00). As for crowding at the airport, we could not find any guidance about busy-season crowding on Naha Airport’s official website. Holidays and summer vacation may mean longer waits for baggage, so plan your schedule with some margin.
From Returning the Car to Getting Back to the Airport
Return Only at a Branch, Within the Scheduled Time
You can return the car only at a branch, not at any other location. If you return it at the Naha Airport branch, you can use the free shuttle bus to the airport. Please come back to the return branch by your scheduled return time. The car is returned with a staff member present. Check the car for belongings before you hand it back (under the rental agreement, the branch is not responsible for keeping items left behind after return).
If you return after the scheduled time, the overtime fee in the rate table applies. For example, the official rate table (as of October 16, 2026) lists a fee per extra hour for each vehicle class. If you want to change your return time, contact the branch beforehand. Depending on the vehicle’s schedule, a change may be declined.
Refuel Within 2 km of the Return Branch
The rule is simple: the car is lent with a full tank, and you return it with a full tank. The official guide says to fill the tank at a gas station within 2 km of the return branch and show the receipt to the staff. If you cannot return it full, the fuel is charged by a separate distance-based calculation, which works out more expensive than the actual refueling cost.
A tip from the renter’s point of view: do not start looking for a gas station in a hurry close to your departure time. Check on a map app the day before where the gas stations near the return branch are. Putting the wrong fuel in the car is excluded from coverage (incorrect fueling is listed among the exclusions). When refueling, check that the fuel is right for the car, for example from the label inside the fuel-filler flap.
Work Backward From Your Flight and Leave a Margin
After returning the car, you take the free shuttle bus to the airport. However, the official website does not state the shuttle’s frequency or travel time after return. For that reason we cannot give a figure such as “return the car X minutes before.” Instead, add up each step below and work backward with a margin.
- Check your airline’s check-in deadline for your flight
- Time to refuel near the return branch (assume it may be busy)
- Time for the return inspection and payment settlement at the branch
- Waiting time for the shuttle and travel time from the branch to the airport (ask UMUI)
- Time for baggage drop and security screening at the airport (can be longer in busy seasons)
If you are taking an early-morning flight on your last day, note that the Naha Airport branch opens at 8:00. For early flights, please consult the branch in advance.
First-Timer Q&A: Preparation and Procedures
What Do I Need to Bring? Can I Rent With Less Than a Year of Driving Experience?
| Driver’s license | The physical, valid license of every driver (we cannot rent without the physical license) |
|---|---|
| Payment | Credit card, QR code payment, e-money, etc. (cash not accepted; not needed if you already paid online) |
| Smartphone | One that can reach the branch |
| Overseas visitors | International Driving Permit + passport with an entry stamp showing your arrival date / Taiwan license + Japanese translation + passport |
You can rent even if you got your license less than a year ago. Beginner-driver stickers (初心者マーク) can also be rented; choose it as an option when you book. For overseas licenses, please also see UMUI’s page on International Driving Permits and our blog article on which license you need to drive a rental car in Japan (by country and region).
Can I Pay in Cash?
UMUI Rent a Car does not accept cash. You pay by credit card, QR code payment, e-money, and so on. If you already paid when booking online, you do not need to pay at the counter. However, if overtime fees or fuel settlement arise at return, they are settled at return.
What Happens If I Change or Cancel My Reservation?
If you want to change the rental conditions (such as date and time or vehicle), you need the branch’s approval beforehand. If you booked through a travel agency or other booking site, you can apply for changes or cancellation only through that site’s office. The official website lists the following cancellation fees.
| Up to 7 days before the pick-up date | Free |
|---|---|
| 6 to 3 days before the pick-up date | 20% of the base rate |
| 2 days before to the day before | 30% of the base rate |
| On the pick-up date | 50% of the base rate |
If the conditions differ by booking site, follow that site’s guidance. Also, if you want to extend your rental during use, you need the branch’s approval beforehand. An accident that occurs during an unauthorized extension is not covered.
Can I Rent a Child Seat?
The online check-in form lists option seats: “Baby seat (newborn to 1 year),” “Child seat (1 to 4 years),” and “Junior seat (3 to 12 years).” There is a field to write in if you need more than one. If you are traveling with young children, check the number of seats and the children’s ages when booking. The official website does not state seat fees, so please check on the booking screen or at the branch.
First-Timer Q&A: Driving, Money and Trouble
Do I Have to Return the Car With a Full Tank?
Yes. The car is lent with a full tank, so please return it with a full tank. For the refueling steps, see “Refuel Within 2 km of the Return Branch” above.
What About ETC and Toll Roads?
We could not find any mention of ETC card rental or ETC on-board units on UMUI’s official pages (home, flow of use, rates, coverage). So we cannot say “available” or “not available” here. If you want to use ETC, please check by phone (050-1783-5687) or email (info@u-mui.com) before booking. The rental agreement does state that if you use toll roads such as expressways or paid parking during use, you are responsible for paying those fees yourself.
What Does the Coverage Include?
UMUI’s base rate already includes car insurance (top-tier plan), deductible coverage and NOC coverage, with no extra coverage fee (bookings through some external booking sites may have different coverage). Deductible coverage covers up to ¥150,000 of the deductible you would otherwise bear after an accident or breakdown.
| Bodily injury to others (per person) | Unlimited (including ¥30 million compulsory insurance) |
|---|---|
| Property damage (per accident) | Unlimited (deductible ¥50,000) |
| Vehicle damage (per accident) | Up to the vehicle’s market value (deductible ¥50,000 or ¥100,000) |
| Personal injury (per person) | Up to ¥30 million |
What you should watch out for is the cases that are not covered. The official website lists drunk driving and drug use, unauthorized extensions, driving by someone who was not reported as a driver, and driving by a person without a license. Tire punctures or damage, lost keys, stains or odor from smoking in a non-smoking car, incorrect fueling, and damage from driving off the road are also excluded. Failing to contact the police and the company after an accident, whatever its size, is also grounds for exclusion. This is only a partial list. Please be sure to check UMUI’s coverage page for details.
What Should I Do After an Accident or Breakdown?
The rental agreement asks for the following.
- After an accident, stop driving immediately, report it to the police regardless of its size, report to the company right away and follow its instructions (this is a requirement under Article 72 of the Road Traffic Act)
- Obtain an accident report certificate from the police
- Get the company’s approval beforehand for any settlement with the other party
- Have repairs done at the company’s designated workshop
- If you notice an abnormality or breakdown, stop driving immediately, contact the company and follow its instructions
- If you suffer theft or other damage, report it to the nearest police station and also to the company
If you park illegally, you must go to the police station and pay the fine yourself. During your trip, saving the branch’s phone number (050-1783-5687) in your smartphone will give you peace of mind in an emergency.
Checklist Before Departure and Before Return
Before You Depart
- The physical license of every driver (overseas visitors also bring an International Driving Permit, passport, etc.)
- The credit card or other payment method you will use (not needed if you already paid online)
- Complete online check-in and have your QR code ready to show
- Enter your arrival airline and flight number and choose your airport shuttle request
- Carry a smartphone that can reach the branch and has a data connection
- If you will arrive late, contact the branch with its hours (8:00-20:00) in mind
By the Day Before Return
- Check on a map where the gas stations near the return branch (within 2 km) are
- Keep your refueling receipt somewhere you can show it right away
- Work back from your flight’s check-in deadline to decide your return time
- If you want to change your return time, contact the branch early
- Check that you have not left anything in the car
Take the shuttle bus from the airport to the branch, pick up your car and set off, then take the shuttle bus back to the airport after returning it. Once you have grasped this flow, renting a car in Okinawa for the first time becomes much easier. If any worries remain, feel free to contact UMUI Rent a Car even before booking. UMUI Rent a Car provides guidance in four languages: Japanese, English, Korean and Traditional Chinese.
* Information in this article is current as of October 2026. Details about UMUI Rent a Car are based on the official website (u-mui.com). Rates and conditions may change, so please check the official website or the branch for the latest information. Airport information refers to the Naha Airport Passenger Terminal Building official website.
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons (CC0 / CC BY 2.5 / CC BY-SA 4.0). Each photographer is credited in the photo caption.
