Islands You Can Drive To in Okinawa: A Guide to the Bridged Islands by Rental Car

Did you know that on Okinawa’s main island you can drive straight onto several islands without ever boarding a boat? Bridges and sea roads connect a number of small islands to the mainland, and a rental car is the easiest way to enjoy them at your own pace.

This article covers Kouri, Yagaji and Sesoko in the north, Henza, Hamahiga, Miyagi and Ikei in the central area, and Oujima and Senaga Island in the south. For each one you will find the name of the bridge, how to get there and what to watch for while driving. Detailed sightseeing information is left to our existing articles, which are linked in the text. We also explain which islands need a ferry and cannot be reached by rental car, and what to know about no-stopping rules on bridges and strong winds.

Islands You Can Drive To: The Overview

Quick Reference to the Bridged Islands

Here are the islands reachable from the main island by bridge or sea road, grouped by area. The bridge lengths match the figures in our other articles, and numbers we could not confirm are left out.

When setting your car navigation, enter the name of a sightseeing spot or beach rather than just the island’s name. That way you will still reach your destination after crossing the bridge.

Distance from Naha Airport and How Much You Can Cover in a Day

The driving time from Naha Airport varies a lot depending on the island. All times below are estimates without traffic.

The closest is Senaga Island in the south, about 15 minutes from Naha Airport. Oujima is said to take roughly 40 to 50 minutes. The Kaichu Doro in Uruma City takes about 1.5 hours via the expressway. Kouri and Sesoko in the north take around 2 hours one way from Naha.

For a one-day trip, choose just one of three areas: the north, the Uruma islands or the south. Combining areas means spending more than half the day just driving.

Bridged Islands in the North: Yagaji, Kouri and Sesoko

Yagaji Island: Yagaji Ohashi Bridge and Warumi Ohashi Bridge

Yagaji Island lies just before Kouri Ohashi Bridge. From the Nago side of the main island you cross Yagaji Ohashi Bridge, and from the Nakijin Village side you cross Warumi Ohashi Bridge. Anyone heading to Kouri Island passes through this island, so many visitors have already driven across it without realizing.

The first Yagaji Ohashi Bridge was completed in 1953, and the current bridge is the third one, completed in March 1993. Warumi Ohashi Bridge, a distinctive arch bridge, opened in December 2010 and is said to be 315 m long. Both are ordinary prefectural road bridges, and the roads on the island are mostly village roads. Think of it as a quiet island where you can drive slowly and enjoy the calm coastal scenery.

Kouri Island: The Classic Island Across Kouri Ohashi Bridge

Kouri Ohashi Bridge, which links Yagaji Island and Kouri Island, opened in 2005. It is a toll-free bridge about 2 km long, with shallow water on both sides showing through in emerald green. Kouri Beach is just to the left after you cross, and from Kouri Ocean Tower on the hill you can see the whole bridge. The island is small enough to drive around in about 10 minutes, so even a quick visit to the beach and the tower is satisfying.

Stopping and parking on the bridge are prohibited. To look at the bridge or take photos, use the free parking lot at the Minamizume Viewpoint on the Yagaji Island side. It can fill up when crowded. For more on Kouri’s beach and observation tower, see our 2-day northern Okinawa drive article.

Sesoko Island: Sesoko Ohashi Bridge and the Beach

Sesoko Island, on the western side of the Motobu Peninsula near Churaumi Aquarium, is reached from Motobu Town over the 762 m Sesoko Ohashi Bridge. From the bridge you can see the shallow sea and the mountains of northern Okinawa. Sesoko Beach on the west side of the island is known for its clear water and white sand, and Ie Island can be seen offshore.

The beach parking lot is paid, at 1,000 yen per day for a regular car. Do not stop on the bridge; if you want to enjoy the view, pull into the beach parking lot first. For details on parking and how to spend your time, see our Sesoko and Minna Island article.

Bridged Islands in the Central Area: Kaichu Doro to Henza, Hamahiga, Miyagi and Ikei

Kaichu Doro and Henza Island

Kaichu Doro in Uruma City is a toll-free road about 4.7 km long that links the Katsuren Peninsula and Henza Island. It was built on an embankment across the shallows, so you have the sea on both sides. Along the way there is a parking area and the Umi no Eki Ayahashikan roadside station, where you can stop and enjoy the view.

Henza Island, on the far side, is the gateway to Hamahiga, Miyagi and Ikei. Many people simply pass through Henza itself, and from there each island is linked by its own bridge. For the full route and the highlights of each island, see our island-hopping drive article on Kaichu Doro.

Hamahiga Island: A Sacred Island Across Hamahiga Ohashi Bridge

From Henza Island you reach Hamahiga Island over Hamahiga Ohashi Bridge, which is about 1.4 km long. There is an observation deck near the foot of the bridge with a view of the bridge and the island. The island has a village of red-tiled houses and stone walls, and is known for its link to Amamikiyo and Shinerikiyo, the ancestral deities of the Ryukyuan people.

You cannot stop on the bridge, so take photos from the observation deck or another safe spot. The sacred sites on the island are places where local people still pray, so please visit quietly.

Miyagi and Ikei: To the Far End of the Islands

Cross the bridge from Henza Island and you reach Miyagi Island, home to Kafuu Banta, a cliff with a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean. Beyond Miyagi, you cross Ikei Ohashi Bridge (completed in 1982) to Ikei Island. Known by the nickname “Ichihanari” as the island farthest from the main island, it has quiet beaches.

On both Miyagi and Ikei, the village roads are the everyday roads of local residents, and some are narrow. Drive slowly and avoid street parking or entering private land. The view from Kafuu Banta is also introduced in our scenic drives article.

Bridged Islands in the South: Oujima and Senaga Island

Oujima (Nanjo City): A Small Island Across Ou Bridge

Oujima in Nanjo City is connected to the main island by Ou Bridge, and you can reach it by car or on foot. The island is small, with a circumference of roughly 1.6 to 1.7 km, and is easy to combine with a drive to Nirai Kanai Bridge and Chinen Misaki Park in the south.

The roads on the island are narrow and houses are close by, so avoid parking on the street. Check the location and capacity of parking with official sources such as the Nanjo City tourism association before you go. It can be crowded on holidays, so allow extra time. For a southern route that includes Nirai Kanai Bridge, see our half-day southern drive article.

Senaga Island: Just South of the Airport, the Easiest Island to Reach

Senaga Island is a small island of about 1.5 km in circumference, just south of Naha Airport, and is linked to Tomigusuku City by a road. Among the islands you can drive to, it is the closest to Naha Airport, and you can enjoy views of planes taking off and landing as well as the sunset. According to the official Tomigusuku City page, parking on the island is free for up to 693 cars.

Because it is so close to the airport, it also works well for your arrival evening or for killing time before returning the car. For more, see our scenic drives article.

Islands That Need a Ferry Cannot Be Reached by Rental Car

Minna Island Is Reached by Boat

Islands without a bridge are reached by ferry or high-speed boat. Minna Island in Motobu Town is the best-known example, about 15 minutes by high-speed passenger boat from Toguchi Port. Because it is a passenger boat, you leave your car at Toguchi Port and board on foot. Plan on the basis that you cannot take your rental car across to islands reached by ferry, such as Minna Island.

The timetable, where to leave your car and what to do if sailings are cancelled are covered in our Sesoko and Minna Island article.

Kerama, Kudaka and Other Islands

The Kerama Islands, Kudaka Island, Tsuken Island and Ie Island are also reached by boat, with no bridge. Think of them separately from the bridged islands, and plan to leave your car at the port parking lot and board the boat on foot. Even where a route carries vehicles, whether a rental car may be taken to the island depends on the rental company’s terms. Please be sure to check before you book.

The bridged islands are easy to combine into a day trip. For the islands reached by boat, allow for the number of sailings and possible cancellations, and plan them for a separate day with some room to spare.

Driving Tips for Bridges

No Stopping or Parking on Bridges

Even when the view is beautiful, the basic rule is not to stop on a bridge. Stopping and parking are prohibited on bridges, so park at the entrance, in a lot on the island side or at a viewpoint before taking photos. For Kouri Ohashi Bridge, use the Minamizume Viewpoint on the Yagaji Island side, and on Kaichu Doro you can use the parking area partway along the road.

Drivers are easily distracted by the scenery. On a bridge, keep your speed moderate and leave plenty of distance from the car in front. It helps to agree on roles beforehand: passengers enjoy the view, and the driver watches the road.

Strong Winds and Typhoons

Bridges and sea roads are over the water, so there is almost nothing to block the wind. Tall vehicles such as wagons and minivans can be pushed by crosswinds. In a typhoon or strong winds, bridges and sea roads may be closed to traffic. Check the weather forecast and road information before you leave, and do not take risks.

If a typhoon is approaching and you want to consult us about your reservation, please see our typhoon policy page.

Driving and Parking in Island Villages

The islands across the bridges are places where people live, before they are sightseeing spots. Village roads are narrow, and passing oncoming cars can be difficult in places. Do not park in front of homes, fields or private land; park only in designated parking lots. Please take all your trash with you.

If you are not confident about narrow roads, choose a compact car, which is easier to handle.

Planning a Bridged-Island Trip by Rental Car

Sample Combinations by Area

Here are the islands above arranged into combinations you can cover in one day without rushing.

The north is about 2 hours one way from Naha, so a day trip covering Kouri Island and Churaumi Aquarium means about 4 hours of driving. For a more relaxed plan, see our 2-day northern Okinawa drive article.

Refueling and Returning the Car

Some islands have few gas stations. It is safest to fill up on the main island side before crossing a bridge.

UMUI Rent a Car’s Naha Airport branch offers a free shuttle from the airport and is open from 8:00 to 20:00, every day of the year. The Omoromachi branch is open from 9:00 to 18:00. Cars can only be returned to a branch, and after returning at the Naha Airport branch we take you to the airport by free shuttle. On the day of your flight, plan to be back early, allowing for the return and shuttle time.

Just by crossing a bridge, you reach islands where time passes more slowly than on the main island. With a rental car, you can choose your destination at your own pace while watching the weather and wind. UMUI Rent a Car offers a free shuttle from Naha Airport to our branch, and completing online check-in beforehand makes the counter procedures smoother. We hope you will consider us for your bridged-island drive.

* Business hours, fees and other information in this article are as of October 2026. They may change, so please check the official websites of each facility or municipality before you go. Travel times are estimates without traffic. Bridge lengths can differ between sources, so numbers we could not confirm are not included.

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