日本 / 沖縄県
Travel Tips
When it comes to traveling in Okinawa, rental cars are essential. You may find that even though places look close on the map, the traffic can be slow, and you might be surprised by the intense setting sun in the evening. By understanding Okinawa's 'car society', you can think about how to plan your
Renting a car for a trip to Okinawa.
Driving along the coastline,
stopping wherever you like.
If you find a shop that catches your eye,
you take a detour even if it wasn’t in your plans.
I believe that Okinawa and driving
are a very good match.
However, once you actually start driving,
you realize something.
"Oh, we’re not moving at all."
It shouldn’t be that far on the navigator,
yet there’s a long line of cars.
Just when you think things are finally moving,
it gets congested again.
And then evening.
This time, from the front,
a strong west sun streams in.
If you travel this land by car,
it’s just as important to know
that it is a "car society"
as it is to research the tourist attractions.
Here, cars have become a part of life.
Regarding the traffic in the prefecture,
Okinawa Prefecture also identifies
"chronic traffic congestion" as a challenge.
Currently,
"Okinawa, where you can be secure,
comfortable, and vibrant without depending on a private car"
is presented as the direction of transportation policy,
indicating that dependence on automobiles is
a significant theme.
For travelers, renting a car is
"a means of transportation for sightseeing."
But for locals driving on the same roads,
it’s different.
Going to work.
Dropping kids off at school.
Going shopping.
Returning home.
In other words,
the roads that tourists travel on
overlap with the daily lives of
people living here.
Therefore,
"Just because it's close on the map =
it’s quick to get there"
doesn’t always hold true.
Living here,
"Here we go again with the traffic"
is not an uncommon scene.
Rather than thinking,
"Today happens to be congested," you often feel,
"This place is crowded too."
Of course,
not all the roads in the prefecture are
crowded all day long.
It varies by place,
time, and situation of the day.
However, the prefecture continues to treat traffic congestion
as an ongoing issue,
pushing forward measures such as
park and ride and a shift to public transport.
For travelers, what’s important is not
studying traffic issues.
It’s about not overloading your schedule.
Just this alone can change your trip quite a bit.
Don’t make plans based on "30 minutes to get there."
For example, looking at the navigator,
it says the destination is 30 minutes away.
So you just include that 30 minutes into your itinerary
and as soon as you arrive, you have the next reservation.
This is a bit scary.
The road might get congested.
You might have to find parking.
You might want to stop because the scenery catches your attention.
After all, is it really necessary to be
going somewhere every minute,
now that you’ve come this far?
Add a little buffer time to your travel time.
When traveling by car,
it’s better to include that buffer in your plan from the start.
If you’re not late,
you can use that time for a detour.
If you are late,
that buffer will come in handy.
And surprisingly, a hidden challenge is the "west sun."
Another thing
I personally feel strongly while driving
is the west sun.
In the evening,
when driving west,
it’s not just "dazzling" but can feel like,
"It’s hard to see ahead."
Even with sunglasses,
it can be tough.
Of course,
it doesn’t happen all the time.
The situation changes with the season,
time of day,
direction of the road, and clouds.
However, when you’re on a trip,
you’re also not familiar with the roads themselves.
On top of that, congestion and strong sunlight coincide.
During such hours,
instead of rushing through a packed schedule,
I think it’s better to drive with
more leeway than usual.
Just having sunglasses doesn’t mean you’ll be fine.
Not overtrusting that is also important.
Choosing not to use a car
is also a part of the journey.
That said,
"You’re better off not renting here" is not
the conclusion.
There are many places you can reach
only by car.
You can stop wherever you like.
You can take a turn into a place that wasn’t in your plans.
That freedom fits well with this trip.
On the other hand,
around Naha,
you also have options like using the Yui Rail or buses.
Okinawa Prefecture is promoting the use of public transport,
aiming for a transportation system that does not rely solely on cars.
So,
"Today we’ll use the car.
From here on, we walk.
In Naha, we'll take the monorail."
That kind of division is also fine.
You don’t have to decide from the beginning,
"It’s absolutely a rental car for this trip."
In this land, focus on
"now" rather than the distance.
When planning your trip,
of course it’s important to look at a map.
But once you’re actually here,
Is the road congested now?
What time do you think you’ll arrive?
Is the sun starting to set?
Do you have some leeway before your next schedule?
It becomes important to consider those aspects as well.
If things aren’t going as planned,
it’s okay to give up on one thing.
Conversely,
if the road is clear and you have extra time,
you might want to stop by a place that wasn’t in your plan.
Travel isn’t a competition to tick off
every item on your agenda.
Traffic jams and the west sun,
are things you encounter because you
are driving on the same roads as the people
who actually live here.
You can't understand just by seeing
"20 km to go" on the map.
Life in this land
is present on the roads too.
Know a little about being a car society before you drive.
Just that may make the scenery you see
while holding the steering wheel
look a little different.
Check the weather, transit, and what's happening now to help plan what's next.
See Okinawa right now on Machinau
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