On Miyakojima you can manage without a car if you only move between town (Hirara) and your accommodation. To see the main sights in one day, a one-day bus tour or a chartered sightseeing taxi works. To visit Irabu Bridge, Yonaha Maehama beach and Cape Higashi-Hennazaki in your own order and at your own pace, you need a rental car or a taxi chartered by the hour. Local buses are infrequent, and it is hard to link several sights in one day by local bus alone.
“I’m not confident about driving” and “I’d rather not drive abroad” are things we hear often at the store. The answer depends on the kind of trip you want. This article sets out what local buses, tour buses, taxis and rental cars can each do, and what they cost.
The short answer: it depends on your plans
Fine without a car
- Staying in town, mostly eating out and shopping (central Hirara is walkable)
- Staying at a resort hotel and spending your time there (a hotel shuttle or taxi covers the airport run)
- Joining tours with pick-up included, such as snorkelling
Possible with a bus tour or a chartered taxi
- Seeing the main sights in one day
Better with a rental car
- Visiting bridges, beaches and capes in your own order (local bus times will not match)
- Travelling with children or a lot of luggage (changes and waiting are tiring)
What local buses can and cannot do
Four companies run about nine local bus routes on Miyakojima. Fares depend on the section: around ¥170 for a short ride and around ¥800 on routes to the airport.
For sightseeing, though, there are too few buses. Many routes run only a few times a day, and the next bus back can be two or three hours after you arrive. Some services run on weekdays only. Japanese transport IC cards such as Suica cannot be used. Since February 2026, contactless credit and debit cards have been accepted on the four companies’ local buses.
Buses are useful between town and the airport and between town and the larger villages. Places like Yonaha Maehama beach and Cape Higashi-Hennazaki are a long walk from the nearest stop or have no route at all. If you use buses, always check the latest timetable before you set out. Official timetable and stop information may be mainly in Japanese.
Seeing the island on a one-day bus tour
If you want to see the main sights in a single day, there are one-day bus tours that must be booked in advance. Someone else drives and plans the route, so they suit visitors who want to loop the island without a car.
| Item | Details (example: Chuo Kotsu one-day bus tours) |
|---|---|
| Price | ¥8,400 or ¥9,400 per adult, depending on the course (October 2026 to March 2027) |
| Days | Fixed days of the week for each course |
| Format | A set course on a set schedule |
A tour is not available on days it does not run, and the time at each stop is fixed. Stops, meals and the language of the guiding differ by course, so check the booking page.
Taxi fares
Taxis work for one or two short trips, or chartered by the hour.
| Use | Approximate fare |
|---|---|
| Miyako Airport to central Hirara (about 15 minutes) | ¥1,500–2,000 |
| Miyako Airport to Cape Higashi-Hennazaki (about 21 km, one way) | About ¥4,900 |
| Chartered sightseeing taxi, small car (per car, up to 4 people) | ¥22,000 for 5 hours / ¥26,400 for 6 hours |
The Higashi-Hennazaki figure is an example published in July 2023 by a national government office (Okinawa General Bureau), comparing fares at the revised maximum rates for a standard car. The charter prices are those published by the Miyako Taxi Cooperative as of February 2024. Actual fares vary with the company and traffic.
With some companies you can discuss where to go within your chartered hours. After being dropped at a sight, it is hard to find a taxi for the way back, so ask the driver to wait or agree a pick-up time. On days when a large cruise ship is in port, taxis can be scarce across the island. English availability varies by driver, so keep your destinations ready in Japanese or on a map.
Comparing the ways to tour the island
The comparison is for two people on a three-day stay, with one day spent touring the island. For the bus tour and the chartered taxi, taxi fares between the airport and town (about ¥3,000 to ¥4,000 return) are added. A rental car includes the airport shuttle.
| Option | Touring the island | Approximate total with airport transfers (2 people) | Priced per |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-day bus tour | ¥16,800–18,800 | ¥19,800–22,800 | Person |
| Chartered taxi (small car, 5–6 hours) | ¥22,000–26,400 | ¥25,000–30,400 | Car (up to 4 people) |
| Rental car (kei car, 3 days) | ¥19,500–28,500 | ¥19,500–28,500 | Car (up to 4 people) |
A bus tour follows a set course in one day. A chartered taxi lets you discuss where to go within the hours. In both, you do not drive. With a rental car you drive yourself and can go where you like, when you like, for three days.
The rental figure is for a kei car (Japan’s smallest class of car) at Luana Rent a Car’s Miyakojima store: ¥6,500 to ¥9,500 a day depending on the season, including insurance, the deductible and NOC waivers, the airport shuttle and no-refuel return. This applies to bookings made on this site or through our booking system; monthly rentals and some plans on other booking sites differ. “Up to 4 people” is the legal seating capacity, and with a lot of luggage you may need a larger class. Rates for other classes are on Cars & Rates.
For two people, the bus-tour and rental-car price ranges overlap, and the chartered-taxi example is generally higher. These are not like-for-like services: the bus and taxi figures cover one touring day, while the rental car covers all three days but requires you to drive. A bus tour is priced per person, so the order changes with the size of your group: for three people the three options overlap in price, and for four the options priced per car tend to be cheaper.
If you are unsure about driving
Many visitors know they need a car but hesitate about driving. Miyakojima’s roads have these features:
- Flat, with many straight roads with one lane in each direction
- Speed limits of 40 to 50 km/h on many roads
- Car parks at sights vary in size and price, so it helps to check before you go
Points to watch:
- Japan drives on the left, and rental cars are right-hand drive. Take extra care when turning right and when pulling out of car parks
- Many junctions have no traffic lights. Sugarcane fields block the view, so always slow down, and do not miss stop signs (a red inverted triangle reading 止まれ)
- Roads are slippery in rain. Brake early and gently
- There are few street lights at night. Plan to be back at your accommodation before dark
- Do not drive onto beaches. Cars get stuck, and the insurance does not apply
A smaller car is easier. For two people with limited luggage, a kei car may be sufficient. GPS navigation helps on unfamiliar roads, and Luana Rent a Car’s short-term rental cars have it as standard.
Foreign visitors must bring their passport and original driving documents. Depending on the issuing country or region, this means either an International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or an eligible home licence (Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan) with an authorised Japanese translation. You may drive for up to one year from the date you entered Japan, or until the licence or permit expires, whichever is earlier. Check this before you travel; see our FAQ.
What Luana Rent a Car can do
Our Miyakojima store is about 8 minutes from Miyako Airport by our shuttle. Airport pick-up and drop-off are free. The last shuttle to Miyako Airport leaves at 17:45, so plan your return time accordingly. Tell us where you want to go and how many days you have, and our staff will suggest an order to visit places and roads that are easy to drive.
For guests unsure about driving we recommend a nimble kei car. You can ask for help planning your trip before you book, through trip planning with our staff.
Read next
Same-day car rental on Miyakojima: how to book, and what to do if nothing is availableReturning a rental car in Japan: do you have to fill the tank?Car rental insurance in Japan: CDW and NOC explained
Frequently asked questions
Can I get from Miyako Airport to town without a car?
Yes. A taxi takes about 15 minutes and costs roughly ¥1,500 to ¥2,000. There are local buses too, but they are infrequent, so check in advance whether one matches your arrival time.
I am nervous about driving. Are Miyakojima's roads easy?
Many roads are flat and straight, but there are many junctions without traffic lights, and sugarcane fields block the view. Roads are slippery in rain and there are few street lights at night. Keep your speed down and always slow before junctions. Remember that Japan drives on the left.
Can I rent a car for one day and go without for the rest?
Yes. You can use a car for only one day of your trip, but Luana Rent a Car applies a two-day minimum charge.
Official sources
- Miyako Taxi Cooperative: sightseeing taxi fares (Japanese)
- Chuo Kotsu: Miyakojima one-day bus tours (Japanese)
- Okinawa General Bureau: taxi fare comparison, July 2023 (Japanese)
- Bank of the Ryukyus: contactless payment on Miyakojima buses (Japanese)
Rates and conditions in this article were checked on October 13, 2026. Each company’s rates and rules can change, so please confirm on its official pages before you travel.
Written by Luana Rent a Car, Miyakojima store. Rates and conditions are confirmed at the store.
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