The Airports of Okinawa: Naha and New Ishigaki
- Published on : 28/12/2012
- by : Japan Experience
- Youtube
Naha Airport, Okinawa
@Wikimedia/ 663highland
The gateway to the tropical paradise that is Okinawa is via its airports, primarily Naha Airport and New Ishigaki Airport! Take a look at information about these two airports and plan your next trip accordingly!
Part of the Ryukyu Island chain, a good distance south from Japan’s mainland, is Okinawa, a tropical archipelago with a distinct culture, history, and atmosphere. The locals will often cite themselves as Okinawan before anything, and visitors to the island can take in gorgeous scenery while enjoying the beauty of island life.
Located far off from the main archipelago of Japan, Okinawa is unfortunately not accessible via train. That means that getting to this tropical getaway from other parts of the country as well as from other parts of Asia largely entails flying into one of the two main airports: Naha Airport on Okinawa’s Main Island and New Ishigaki Airport on the nature-rich Ishigaki Island.
Ishigaki, Okinawa
@flickr/ Free Images
Shisa, Okinawa
@pixabay/ Kadoytakumi
The two airports of Okinawa
Though there are ships and ferries that depart for Okinawa from different parts of Japan (mostly from Kyushu, as it is the part of the mainland nearest the Ryukyu Islands), the primary means of getting to Okinawa is via air travel.
Naha Airport is located on the main island of Okinawa. It is 4 kilometers away from the center of Naha, the capital of Okinawa and also its largest city. It is the 6th busiest airport in all of Japan and the busiest one for Okinawa. Naha Airport is primarily a commercial airport; however, it is also host to Naha Air Base for the Japanese Self-Defense Force. Naha Airport services both domestic and international flights, mainly from other parts of Asia.
New Ishigaki Airport, also called Painushima Ishigaki Airport, is located on Ishigaki Island, and though it is part of the greater collection of islands that makes up Okinawa, it is over 400 kilometers away from the Okinawa Main Island. A flight from Naha Airport to New Ishigaki Airport takes around 1 hour. The airport itself is located on the east coast of Ishigaki Island and connects Ishigaki to other parts of Okinawa, as well as the Japanese mainland, and a number of international flights, largely from other parts of Asia.
What to know about Naha Airport
Naha Airport, Okinawa
@Wikimedia/ 663highland
Terminals and Airlines
Naha Airport takes in both international and domestic flights. It is the main airport of Okinawa as a whole. There are a few terminals to note at Naha Airport that service different types of flights. These include the new international terminal, the new integrated terminal (serves both international and domestic), the domestic terminal, the LCC Terminal (for domestic, low-cost carrier flights), and the cargo terminal.
Direct domestic flights will go out to most major Japanese airports, such as the following:
- Haneda International Airport in Tokyo (~2h40m)
- Narita International Airport in Tokyo (~3h)
- Kansai International Airport in Osaka (~2h10m)
- Fukuoka International Airport in Fukuoka (~1h45m)
- New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido (~3h30m)
- and more
Most to all flights coming from overseas are coming from other parts of Asia, like China, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand. Airlines and their most prominent destinations serviced at Naha are as follows:
Japanese Airlines:
- All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- Japan Airlines (JAL)
- JetStar
- Peach
- Ryukyu Air Commuter
- and more!
Foreign Airlines:
- Air China (to and from Beijing)
- Asiana Airlines (to and from Seoul)
- Batik Air Malaysia (to and from Kuala Lumpur/Taipei)
- China Airlines (to and from Koahsiung)
- Hong Kong Airlines (to and from Hong Kong)
- Thai AirAsia (to and from Bangkok)
- and more!
Naha, Okinawa
@Japan Experience
Naha, Okinawa
@Japan Experience
Restaurants and Facilities
At Naha Airport, there are lounges, restaurants, currency exchanges, shopping, and other facilities that are accessible while waiting for flights. Be sure to try Okinawan culinary classics at restaurants like Ryufu Soba Restaurant, Kuko Shokudo, and Ryukyu Mura.
How to get to and from Naha Airport
Naha Airport is an 8-minute car ride from central Naha. Via public transportation, the Okinawa Monorail, also called the Yui Rail, goes to and from the airport through the city center. Naha Airport Station drops passengers off within the immediate vicinity of the airport.
What to know about New Ishigaki Airport
New Ishigaki Airport, Okinawa
@Wikimedia/ 衛兵隊衛士
About a 1-hour flight away from Naha Airport is New Ishigaki Airport, servicing the island of Ishigaki. This island, part of the Yaeyama Islands of the greater Okinawa Prefecture, is home to just under 50,000 residents and is often visited by travelers for water and beach activities like diving, snorkeling, and surfing. In recent years, New Ishigaki Airport has seen over 2,000,000 commuters annually.
Terminals and Airlines
There is only one terminal that services travelers at the airport, combining both domestic and international flights.
Direct domestic flights will go to and from the following airports:
- Haneda International Airport in Tokyo (~3h)
- Chubu Centrair Airport in Nagoya (~2h40m)
- Kansai International Airport in Osaka (~2h30m)
- Fukuoka International Airport in Fukuoka (~2h15m)
- Naha Airport in Naha (~1h direct)
- and more
Ishigaki
@Syced, Wikimedia, CC0 1.0 Universal
Just like Naha Airport, most to all international flights are coming from and going to other parts of Asia. Examples of some serviced airlines at New Ishigaki Airport are as follows:
Japanese Airlines:
- All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- ANA Wings
- Japan Airlines (JAL)
- Japan Transocean Air
- Peach
- Ryukyu Air Commuter
- Solaseed Air
Foreign Airlines:
- China Airlines (to and from Taipei)
- HK Express (to and from Hong Kong)
- Jin Air (to and from Seoul)
- Tigerair Taiwan (to and from Taipei)
Facilities and Restaurants
A seafood specialty shop called “Local Cousin Gen” serves local Ishigaki specialties, such as sushi featuring Ishigaki-sourced ingredients. There is also shopping, with stores selling souvenirs and other items. One shop even sells goods made of pearls from the Ryukyu Islands.
Also available are other airport standards like currency exchanges, e-SIM and pocket Wi-Fi, storage lockers, and more.
How to get to and from New Ishigaki Airport
Going to and from the airport is largely done via public bus or taxi. The Azuma Bus has a number of lines that span from the airport to other parts of the island, like Hirae, Ohama, and Shiraho. There are also a number of hotels that are a stop for the Azuma Bus to get to and from the airport.
In front of New Ishigaki Airport is a taxi stand. The center of Ishigaki City is around 20 to 25 minutes away. There is an average time and fare table available on the airport’s website here.
