🌺 Okinawa · 2 days
Okinawa Main Island: Naha to Cape Hedo Coastal Drive
Okinawa by rental car: from Itoman in the south along the west-coast beaches to Yanbaru jungle and Cape Hedo — 7 michi-no-eki with island food and ocean views.
Okinawa has no trains beyond the Naha monorail — the island is made for driving. This route runs the full length of the main island: war-memorial south around Itoman, the resort west coast at Onna, and finally the Yanbaru jungle of the far north, home of the flightless Okinawa rail.
Okinawan michi-no-eki are a food tour in themselves: taco rice, sata andagi doughnuts, beniimo (purple sweet potato) everything, and the famous fish tempura at Onna. Kyoda is routinely ranked among the best roadside stations in Japan, and Yuiyui Kunigami at the top of the island is the gateway to the UNESCO-listed Yanbaru forest.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Itoman 道の駅 いとまん · Okinawa
Michi-no-Eki Itoman (道の駅 いとまん) is a government-designated roadside station in 糸満市, Okinawa, Japan, registered in 2009 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 131 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00 –18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Okinawa road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Toyosaki, Kadena and Ki Mei Bansho.
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Toyosaki 道の駅 豊崎 · Okinawa
Michi-no-Eki Toyosaki (道の駅 豊崎) is a government-designated roadside station in 豊見城市, Okinawa, Japan, registered in 2008 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and hands-on experiences. There is free parking for about 159 cars and 13 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00 –18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Okinawa road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Itoman, Kadena and Ki Mei Bansho.
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Kadena 道の駅 かでな · Okinawa
Michi-no-Eki Kadena (道の駅 かでな) is a government-designated roadside station in 中頭郡嘉手納町, Okinawa, Japan, registered in 2003 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and an observation deck. There is free parking for about 54 cars and 10 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:30–20:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Okinawa road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Ki Mei Bansho, Ginoza and Toyosaki.
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Ki Mei Bansho 道の駅 喜名番所 · Okinawa
Michi-no-Eki Ki Mei Bansho (道の駅 喜名番所) is a government-designated roadside station in 中頭郡読谷村, Okinawa, Japan, registered in 2006 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a tourist-information desk and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 35 cars and 2 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00 –18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Okinawa road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kadena, Ginoza and Kyoda.
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Kyoda 道の駅 許田 · Okinawa
Michi-no-Eki Kyoda (道の駅 許田) is a government-designated roadside station in 名護市, Okinawa, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 257 cars and 9 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:30–19:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Okinawa road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Ginoza, Oogimi and Ki Mei Bansho.
- 6 Michi-no-Eki Oogimi 道の駅 おおぎみ · Okinawa
Michi-no-Eki Oogimi (道の駅 おおぎみ) is a government-designated roadside station in 国頭郡大宜味村, Okinawa, Japan, registered in 1999 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 109 cars and 9 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 【直売所】10:00–19:00 【レストラン】11:00–19:00（Lo.18:30） 【パーラー】10:00–17:00 【観光案内所】9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Okinawa road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Yuiyui Kunigami, Kyoda and Ginoza.
- 7 Michi-no-Eki Yuiyui Kunigami 道の駅 ゆいゆい国頭 · Okinawa
Michi-no-Eki Yuiyui Kunigami (道の駅 ゆいゆい国頭) is a government-designated roadside station in 国頭郡国頭村, Okinawa, Japan, registered in 1999 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 61 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Okinawa road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Oogimi, Kyoda and Ginoza.
Make this route yours — load all 7 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- Okinawa traffic is slow — average 30 km/h on Route 58. Distances are short but budget real time.
- Rental cars sell out in Okinawa; book weeks ahead for summer.
- Kouri Bridge (near Nago) is the classic photo detour off this route — 2 km of turquoise water.
- North of Kyoda, watch for the Okinawa rail on jungle roads at dawn and dusk — drive slowly in Yanbaru.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?