How to Get to the Kerama Islands from Tokyo, Osaka and Naha Airport

The fastest way in short

The main route has three linked stages. First, fly to Naha Airport. Second, get to Tomari Port, often called Tomarin, in Naha city. Third, board a boat to the island you have chosen. Naha Airport is not far from the port, and you can use the Yui Rail monorail or a taxi. The stations usually mentioned for the port are Miebashi or Asahibashi, followed by a walk.

• Fly to Naha, then Yui Rail or taxi into the city
• Go to Tomari Port and buy a boat ticket at the counter or book ahead through the operator
• Take the boat to Tokashiki, Zamami or Aka

A typical day for someone making a day trip or a single overnight goes like this: land in Naha in the morning, go to the port with time to buy tickets and leave bags, board a morning sailing and reach the island before noon. That leaves a full afternoon for the water. Travellers who land in Naha late in the afternoon usually spend a night in the city first, which is no loss, as Naha has plenty of food and markets to wander.

Another slip is confusing Tomari Port with other harbours in Naha. Confirm the port name and terminal from your ticket or confirmation email before leaving, and check which island each boat serves, because timetables and operators differ by island.

From Tokyo

There is no land route from Tokyo to Okinawa, so you fly from Haneda or Narita to Naha. Direct flights take roughly three hours or a little more, depending on winds. Taking the shinkansen west to catch a flight elsewhere rarely makes sense unless you want to sightsee on the way. Do not book a flight that lands in the evening and expect to board a boat the same day: the last sailings tend to leave before dark, and travel into the city takes time.

From Osaka and Kyoto

From Osaka there are flights to Naha from Kansai and Itami airports, taking a little over two hours. Kyoto has no airport of its own, so you first travel to Kansai or Itami, which are separate airports with different rail and bus links. Pick a morning flight so you have time to reach the port and catch a daytime boat.

From the airport or nearby

From Naha Airport the two common choices are the Yui Rail and a taxi. The Yui Rail is Okinawa's only railway, a single-line monorail, and suits travellers without large bags. A taxi is easier for groups and luggage and takes a short time, though the fare depends on traffic and should be checked. If you stay a night in Naha first, the Tomari and Miebashi areas are within walking distance of Tomarin.

Train, bus and rental car

If you plan to drive around the rest of Okinawa, it is common to rent before or after the island trip and return the car before boarding, rather than taking it across.

Passes and tickets

A JR Pass does not help on this trip because JR has no lines in Okinawa. Boat fares are bought separately, with fast and slow services priced differently. The Yui Rail has its own day passes, but count how many rides you will actually take before buying. Prices and conditions come from each operator.

Ver planes eSIM para Japón

At the port you will often need to open the sailing schedule, confirm a booking or message your lodging. A Japan eSIM lets you do this as soon as you land in Naha.

Luggage and bookings

Large bags can go on the boats under each operator's conditions, but most islands have few lifts or luggage carts, so pack light and leave unneeded bags at a Naha hotel. In school holidays or Golden Week, boats often fill, so book ahead by the operator's method and arrive at the port before the stated check-in time. If the sea is rough or a typhoon approaches, sailings can stop, so keep a spare day.

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