How to Use the Okinawa Expressway: ICs, Tolls, ETC Discount and Rest Stops

“Should I use the expressway in Okinawa? Where do I get on, and where do I get off?” It’s a question we often hear from first-time visitors driving a rental car. Okinawa’s main island doesn’t have a web of expressways like mainland Japan. There are essentially two: the Okinawa Expressway, which runs the length of the island from south to north, and the Naha Airport Expressway, which connects to it.

This article covers the main interchanges (ICs) and where they lead, the tolls and the ETC discount, how to use ETC, rest stops such as Ije Service Area, and tips for driving on the expressway. If you’re planning a trip to the north, including the Churaumi Aquarium, please read it before you book.

The Basics: Okinawa Expressway and Naha Airport Expressway

The Okinawa Expressway runs about 57 km from Naha to Kyoda

The Okinawa Expressway (route number E58) is a roughly 57 km expressway linking Naha IC in Naha City with Kyoda IC in Nago City. The Kyoda-to-Ishikawa section opened first in 1975, and the Ishikawa-to-Naha section followed in 1987, completing the whole route. It is the backbone of the main island, running north to south.

It is the standard route to the main sights of the north, such as the Churaumi Aquarium, Kouri Island and the Yanbaru forest. Compared with Route 58, a regular road, it has no traffic lights, and on a day trip north, whether or not you use the expressway can change your arrival time a lot.

The Naha Airport Expressway links the south with the Okinawa Expressway

The Naha Airport Expressway is a motorway that heads south from Nishihara Junction (JCT) on the Okinawa Expressway. It loops around the east side of central Naha, and the section from Nishihara JCT to Tomigusuku-Nakachi IC is currently in use. Work is under way to extend it close to Naha Airport, which is expected to make expressway access from the airport even better (the opening is reported to be around fiscal 2027, but please check official announcements for the latest schedule).

Both the Okinawa Expressway and the Naha Airport Expressway carry the route number “E58.” If you see E58 on your GPS or on signs, you are on one of these two roads.

From the airport to the expressway

After you pick up your rental car at Naha Airport, set your GPS destination to a place such as “Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium,” and it will usually route you from Naha IC onto the Okinawa Expressway. The route depends on your GPS settings, so please check before you leave that toll roads are allowed.

According to materials from Uruma City, it takes about 50 minutes by car from Naha Airport to Okinawa Kita IC and Ishikawa IC using the expressway. That is a guide for times without traffic, so leave yourself some extra time.

Main ICs and Where They Lead

ICs from Naha to the central area

The ICs are listed in order of distance from Naha IC. Distances come from a list on Wikipedia based on NEXCO West Japan route information, with Naha IC as 0.0 km.

New ICs are also planned, such as Nishihara-Kochi IC, which is scheduled to open in fiscal 2026. Entrances and exits can change, so please check your GPS or the latest road information when you actually drive.

ICs from the central area to the north

For the Churaumi Aquarium, Kouri Island and the Yanbaru area, the most common choice is to stay on all the way to the end at Kyoda IC. When you exit at Kyoda IC, you merge straight onto Route 58.

How to choose your exit

Choosing where to exit by destination, weather and time of day keeps things smooth. For example, when you head back to Naha from Manzamo in the evening, you can avoid the congestion on Route 58 by getting on the Okinawa Expressway at Ishikawa IC or Yaka IC. For the Kaichu Doro causeway and the islands of Uruma City, Okinawa Kita IC or Ishikawa IC is a good guide.

It can also be handy to drive straight through to Kyoda IC on the first day and join the expressway at an intermediate IC on the way back on the second day. Enter your exit IC into the GPS before you set out.

Tolls and the ETC Discount

The toll from Naha IC to Kyoda IC

The toll for the whole stretch from Naha IC to Kyoda IC (standard car) is ¥1,040 with ETC or ¥1,610 in cash (as of October 2026). The ¥570 difference between ETC and cash shows up even on a single trip.

ETC discount conditions: for ETC vehicles

On the Okinawa Expressway, a 35.5% “special discount” applies to the whole route for vehicles using ETC. According to NEXCO West Japan, this discount is for ETC vehicles, and paying in cash does not get the discount. Cash payers used to get a discount as well, but since April 2024 it has been limited to ETC vehicles.

Even in a car with an ETC on-board unit, if the ETC card is not inserted in the unit, you cannot use the ETC lane, and the ETC toll does not apply. Don’t assume “the car must have ETC.” Make sure you have the card as well.

The discount is scheduled to run until March 31, 2027

NEXCO West Japan says this special discount is scheduled to run until March 31, 2027 (as of October 2026). It has been extended before, but what happens next may change. If your trip is in April 2027 or later, please check the latest tolls on the NEXCO West Japan website.

There are also other discounts that apply at certain times, such as the late-night discount. Some require registration in advance, though, so as a traveler it is enough to remember that if you pass through with ETC, the special discount applies. Please check the official website for details.

How to Use ETC

You need both an on-board unit and an ETC card

To use ETC, you need both an ETC on-board unit installed in the car and an ETC card inserted in it. For rental cars, whether a unit is installed can differ from car to car. If you want a UMUI Rent a Car vehicle with an ETC unit, please check whether the unit is installed when you make your reservation.

You basically need to prepare the ETC card yourself, such as one issued by your credit card company. Many visitors from overseas don’t have an ETC card that works in Japan, so it’s safest to plan on paying in cash.

Choosing a lane at the toll gate

Toll gates have an ETC-only lane and a “general” lane that handles both ETC and cash, among others. When you go through with ETC, enter a lane marked for ETC and slow down to the speed shown on the sign. If the bar does not open, stop calmly and follow the staff’s instructions.

Naha IC and Kyoda IC also have toll gates (Naha TB and Kyoda TB) on the main road. Follow the signs on the road and the staff’s instructions about where and how to pay.

If you pay in cash

You can use the Okinawa Expressway without ETC. In that case, follow the signs to a general lane and pay in cash. For the whole stretch from Naha IC to Kyoda IC, the cash toll for a standard car is ¥1,610.

The payment methods accepted may differ by time and by toll gate. Having coins and bills ready keeps you from fumbling at the gate.

Rest Stops: Ije SA and Nearby

Ije SA (on both northbound and southbound sides)

For a break on the Okinawa Expressway, Ije Service Area (SA) at the 36.7 km point is handy. It is on both the northbound and southbound sides, and is described as having restrooms, a food court where you can eat Okinawa soba and other dishes, and a souvenir shop. The southbound side, heading from Kyoda IC toward Naha, is the first service area after Kyoda IC.

On a day when you head north, it is about an hour’s drive each way. If you have small children or aren’t used to driving in Japan, don’t push yourself. Taking a break here is a good idea.

Nakagusuku PA (nearer Naha)

About 10.2 km from Naha IC is Nakagusuku Parking Area (PA). You can use it as a rest stop soon after leaving Naha, but we could not confirm detailed information on its facilities or hours, so please check the signs on site or official information when you use it.

After exiting at Kyoda IC: Michi-no-Eki Kyoda

Just after you exit at Kyoda IC, you’ll find “Michi-no-Eki Kyoda Yanbaru Bussan Center,” a roadside station you can use as a break on the drive north. For its opening hours and parking, see also our blog article on roadside stations on Okinawa’s main island (“Michi-no-Eki Roadside Stations on Okinawa’s Main Island”).

Tips for Driving on the Expressway

Merging at the entrance: accelerate fully in the acceleration lane

When you enter the expressway, accelerate fully in the acceleration lane to match the flow of the main road before you merge. Stopping partway along the acceleration lane is dangerous, so start accelerating right after you pass the toll gate. Use your turn signal, check the traffic behind you, and merge where there is a safe gap.

In Japan you drive on the left, and the driver’s seat is on the right. If you are used to cars where the turn signal and wiper levers are the other way around, it is easy to mix them up, so check before you set off.

Use the passing lane only to pass

In Japan, the right lane is the passing lane and the left lane is the driving lane. Use the passing lane only to overtake, and return to the original lane after you pass. Staying in the passing lane makes cars back up behind you and can lead to danger.

The maximum speed is shown on signs for each section. Watch for the signs and keep to the limit. On an expressway, driving too slowly can also be a violation, so drive safely with the flow of traffic around you.

Check official sources for congestion and roadworks

We couldn’t confirm official information on congestion-prone times or sections for this article, so we don’t give specifics. Lane closures for roadworks also happen, so before you set out, check NEXCO West Japan’s road traffic information or the traffic information on your GPS. If your trip falls on a long weekend, Obon or another peak season, it’s especially wise to plan with time to spare.

If you miss your exit, and if the car breaks down

If you drive past your IC, never make a U-turn or reverse on the main road of the expressway. If you miss your exit, continue to the next IC, get off there and come back. That distance is charged separately.

If the car breaks down or you have an accident, turn on your hazard lights and, if you can, pull over onto the shoulder and stop. Have your passengers move somewhere safe, and contact the emergency phone on the road or the rental company’s emergency number. It is also a good idea to fill the tank before you get on the expressway.

FAQ

Is it OK not to use the expressway in Okinawa?

Yes, you can get around without it. For sightseeing in Naha City and the south and central areas, regular roads are often enough. However, when you cover the Churaumi Aquarium, Kouri Island and other sights in the north in a day trip or one night, the expressway cuts your travel time, so it’s also a good idea to use it only on the way there or only on the way back.

Can I rent a car with an ETC on-board unit?

Whether a unit is installed can differ from car to car. If you want a car with an ETC unit, please check when you make your reservation. You also need to prepare your own ETC card.

Is the Naha Airport Expressway a toll road?

Much of the information available describes the section from Nishihara JCT to Tomigusuku-Nakachi IC as a toll-free road. However, tolls may change, so please check the latest information with the national government, local authorities or NEXCO West Japan. The Okinawa Expressway (Naha IC to Kyoda IC) is a toll road.

Used wisely, the expressway makes the trip north easier and gives you more time on site. If you have any worries about ETC cards or tolls, feel free to contact UMUI Rent a Car before you book. At our Naha Airport shop, we also offer a free shuttle from the airport.

* Information in this article is as of October 2026. Tolls, the ETC discount period, ICs and roadwork conditions may change. Please check the NEXCO West Japan website for the latest information.

Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0 / CC BY-SA 3.0 / CC BY-SA 2.0). Photographers are credited in each caption.