Island-Hopping by Car from Kaichu Doro: Hamahiga and Ikei Islands

Did you know you can drive from the main island of Okinawa to a chain of small islands without ever boarding a boat? Cross the Kaichu Doro causeway in Uruma City and you can reach Henza, Hamahiga, Miyagi and Ikei islands, all linked by bridges and roads. Public transport is limited out here, so this is one of the drives where having a rental car really pays off.

This article follows a route that starts at Umi no Eki Ayahashikan, the roadside station on the causeway, and loops through the four islands. Besides the highlights of each island, it covers approximate driving times from Naha, tips for driving on bridges and coastal roads (especially on windy days), and the manners to keep in mind on narrow residential roads in island villages.

The Big Picture of the Island-Hopping Drive

The route and approximate driving times from Naha

According to Uruma City materials, it takes about 50 minutes by car from Naha Airport to the Okinawa-Kita and Ishikawa interchanges on the expressway. From Okinawa-Kita IC, tourism sites give about 33 minutes to Hamahiga Island, and about 27 km (roughly 50 minutes) to Ikei Island. These are figures for traffic-free conditions, but it is safest to allow 1.5 to 1.75 hours of pure driving from Naha Airport to the far end of the islands.

Roads on the islands are narrow and the sights are spread out, so even for a day trip we recommend leaving in the 9 a.m. hour. The schedule below is a model for leaving Naha in the morning and returning in the evening.

The times are only a guide. If you want to take it slowly, pick either Hamahiga or Ikei Island and skip the other so the day does not feel rushed.

How the four islands are laid out

Kaichu Doro connects the Yokatsu Peninsula to Henza Island, and Uruma City’s own materials describe it as a road that runs over the sea. Henza Island, just across, is where the routes to the other islands split. You can go from Henza by bridge to Hamahiga Island, or continue through Miyagi Island on to Ikei Island.

The islands are not on one single road. Hamahiga branches off from Henza, so after visiting it you return toward Henza before heading to Miyagi and Ikei. Entering waypoints into your car navigation system helps you avoid wrong turns.

Best season and weather

Because the route is made up of bridges and coastal roads, the weather and wind matter a great deal. On a clear, calm day the sea along both sides of the road is at its most beautiful. In a typhoon or strong winds, however, Kaichu Doro can be closed to traffic (closures during past typhoons have been reported in the news). Bridges over the sea in Okinawa are easily affected by weather, so check the forecast and road information before you set out.

Kaichu Doro and Umi no Eki Ayahashikan

Kaichu Doro

Kaichu Doro is a toll-free road about 4.7 km long that links the Yokatsu Peninsula to Henza Island. It was built by raising an embankment-like causeway across shallow water, so the sea lies right alongside the road on both sides, a driving experience that is distinctly Okinawan. As you set off, the emerald-green water on either side makes you want to reach for your camera.

According to Uruma City’s tourism materials, the calm, shallow water around Kaichu Doro is popular for marine sports such as windsurfing, sea kayaking and SUP. There are parking areas along the road where you can stop and take in the view.

Umi no Eki Ayahashikan

The ship-shaped building roughly halfway along the causeway is Umi no Eki Ayahashikan. Uruma City’s materials introduce it as a place for barbecue, homemade sweet-potato chips, Okinawa soba made with local mozuku seaweed, and official goods of the Uruma-born band HY. It is a convenient first rest stop, with restrooms and souvenir shopping too.

On the second floor is the Uruma City Sea Culture Museum. It has a permanent exhibition on the maaran-sen (Yanbaru-sen) trading boats and the shipwrights who built them, and admission is free. Note that opening hours for the facility differ depending on the source, so we do not state them in this article. Please check directly with the facility before you go.

Driving tips for Kaichu Doro

Kaichu Doro has sea on both sides, so there is almost nothing to block the wind. Tall vehicles such as wagons and minivans in particular can be pushed around by crosswinds. On windy days, do not push your luck, and be ready to change your destination. When a typhoon approaches, the road may be closed.

Another thing to watch is slowing down while admiring the view, or stopping suddenly on the road. When you want to take photos, always pull into a parking area first. Sea breezes also carry salt, so driving with the windows open can leave your car feeling sticky.

From Henza Island to Hamahiga Island

Henza Island, the island you pass through

As soon as you finish crossing Kaichu Doro, you are on Henza Island. The roads to Hamahiga, Miyagi and Ikei islands split from here, so for most visitors it is an island to pass through. At junctions, check the signs carefully so you do not take the wrong road.

The island has villages with rows of homes. At busy times you may need to pass oncoming cars on narrow streets, so keep your speed down.

Hamahiga Bridge and Hamahiga Island

To get from Henza to Hamahiga Island, you cross Hamahiga Bridge. There is an observation deck at the foot of the bridge from which you can view the bridge and the island. The island has two villages, Hama and Higa, where red-tiled houses and stone walls remain, and it is known as a place connected with Amamikyo and Shinerikyo, the goddess and god considered the ancestral deities of the Ryukyu people.

Some village streets are too narrow for cars to pass each other. It helps to decide where you will park before entering the island. Tourism sites sometimes list public parking as “none,” so check near the island entrance or at an information center for places you can park, and avoid parking on the street.

Shirumichu and the Tomb of Amamichu

Hamahiga Island’s best-known sacred site is Shirumichu, said to be where Amamikyo lived. Pass through a stone torii gate in the forest and climb stairs said to number 108, and you reach a cave known as a place to pray for children. On the Higa side there is also the Tomb of Amamichu, believed to be the grave of Amamikyo.

Before they are sightseeing spots, both are important places where local people still offer prayers today. Keep the basics in mind: do not shout, do not enter areas where entry is forbidden, follow the posted rules, and pay your respects quietly. Visiting is free and there are no set opening hours.

Miyagi Island: Kafu Banta and Nuchimasu

Kafu Banta

The highlight of Miyagi Island is Kafu Banta, where cliffs open onto a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean. “Banta” is the Okinawan word for cliff. True to its name, “cliff of good fortune,” blue sea and sky fill your entire field of view.

Kafu Banta is on the grounds of the Nuchimasu salt factory, and a walk around takes about 15 minutes. The grounds cannot be used outside business hours, so visit in the early afternoon rather than rushing in the evening. The footing is not always easy, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Nuchimasu Tourism Salt Factory

The grounds with Kafu Banta are also a working salt factory. The directly operated shop offers a full view of the Pacific from inside, and you can try a massage using silk salt. For factory tour reservations and details such as hours and parking, please check the official website or its inquiry form.

Driving on Miyagi Island

The villages on Miyagi Island are also residential roads where local people live. You may meet local cars and bicycles, so slow down at blind curves.

The Farthest Island: Ikei Island

Ikei Island (Ichihanari)

Ikei Island, beyond Miyagi, is the island farthest from the main island of Okinawa, which is why it is nicknamed “Ichihanari.” It is a quiet place where time seems to move slowly, and just looking out over the beach and the sea can be satisfying enough.

The sights are scattered, and apart from the beaches, the drive through the island scenery is itself the attraction. There are restaurants on the island, but their days and hours vary from shop to shop, so having lunch on Hamahiga Island or elsewhere beforehand is the safer plan.

Ikei Beach

Ikei Beach is the island’s best-known beach. White sand and shallow water spread out here, and it also suits marine sports. Tourism sites say it is open around 10:00-17:00, can be used year-round, and charges a usage fee. Days and hours can change with the weather and conditions, and swimming may not be possible when the caretaker is absent.

Odomari Beach

Ikei Island has another beach, Odomari Beach. It is introduced alongside Ikei Beach as a beach suited to marine sports, and its charm lies in its quiet, cove-like scenery. Some areas have rocks underfoot, so marine shoes are reassuring if you plan to enter the water. Sea conditions change from day to day, so check on-site signs and guidance.

Manners on Island Drives and the Way Back

Manners on residential roads in villages

The village roads on Hamahiga, Henza, Miyagi and Ikei islands are, before anything else, everyday roads for the people who live there. Some are narrow, and passing oncoming cars can be difficult. Drive slowly in villages, and never park on the street or drive onto private property.

In particular, avoid stopping in front of entrances, fields or homes. Always take your trash with you, and when taking photos of laundry or houses, take care that individuals cannot be identified. If you visit in a large group, spreading out over several parked cars makes it less of a nuisance.

Respect at worship sites and sacred places

Starting with Shirumichu and the Tomb of Amamichu on Hamahiga Island, Okinawa’s islands have many places of prayer called ugan-ju. Keep these points in mind: avoid loud voices and commotion, do not touch offerings, and follow the fences and signs. Please also refrain from pointing a camera at people who are praying.

Refueling, returning the car and managing your time

Check in advance where gas stations are on the islands and when they open, and it is reassuring to refuel near Okinawa-Kita IC or on the Naha side before you head onto the islands. Rental cars are normally returned with a full tank, and working back from your return time to decide when to leave the islands keeps you from rushing on the expressway home.

UMUI Rent-a-Car’s Naha Airport Store offers a free shuttle from the airport and is open 8:00-20:00, every day of the year. The Omoromachi Store is open 9:00-18:00. Cars can be returned only at our stores, and after you return the car at the Naha Airport Store, we take you to the airport by free shuttle. On a day you have a flight home, work backwards including the time for return procedures and the shuttle.

Island Drive FAQ

Can beginners drive this route?

Kaichu Doro is an easy road to drive, but villages on the islands have narrow streets. If you are not confident behind the wheel, choosing a compact car with a smaller body makes driving easier.

Can I go in strong winds or a typhoon?

On windy days or when a typhoon approaches, Kaichu Doro may be closed to traffic. If a typhoon looks likely to coincide with your trip, do not force it, and change your plans. UMUI Rent-a-Car’s typhoon policy can be found on the typhoon response page.

Can I see all four islands in a day trip?

It is possible, but spending a long time at each island makes the day feel rushed. We recommend a relaxed plan centered on Hamahiga Island and Miyagi Island (Kafu Banta), with Ikei Island added if time allows.

Cross Kaichu Doro and, after only a short drive, you reach islands where time flows more slowly than on the main island. UMUI Rent-a-Car offers a free shuttle from Naha Airport to our store. Completing online check-in beforehand makes the counter procedures smoother. We hope you will consider us for your island-hopping drive.

* Opening hours, fees and other information in this article are as of October 2026. They may change, so please check each facility’s official website or call before you go. Travel times are estimates without traffic.

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