Car Hire Naha

Charming Naha is the cultural and economic center of Okinawa as well as the capital, and getting there is easy. Naha Airport serves more than 150 flights a day, and you can fly in from Tokyo, or from airports in China, Korea or Taiwan.

Once you get there, you'll want to have a look at Naha's wonderful sights. You can do that via the new monorail system, the Yui Rail, or you can hire a car from a number of either Japanese or international car hire agencies, which will enable you to more easily explore the scenic areas of rural Okinawa, if you don't want to limit yourself to the city.

The downtown area is where you may want to start your exploration. Although the area is primarily office buildings, you'll also find a nine story shopping mall there. Within walking distance of the downtown area is Kokusai-Dori, a 1.6 kilometer strip of gift shops, restaurants and bars. Connected to that is another shopping area, Heiwa-Dori, a large, covered marketplace with stalls and booths selling everything from produce to t-shirts.

After you've had your fill of shopping, you can head to Shuri Castle, the more than 450 year old palace of the Ryukyu Dynasty. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most culturally important castles in Okinawa. While you're there you can enjoy the two magnificent gates, Sonohyan-utaki and Kankaimon,as well as the beautiful Royal Gardens and the fascinating Royal Tombs.

Also in the area is Manko Park, the center of which is a wetland of international importance. It is planted with Mangrove trees and has become a stopping point for many different species of birds. Many threatened species call Manko, or Lake Man, their home, including the Macoma nobilis shellfish which exists nowhere else in Japan.

Whether you obtain a car hire and explore the island of Okinawa with Naha as your base or restrict your tour to the city itself, you'll find plenty of fun and interesting things to do in Naha.