Yui Rail Naha Okinawa 沖縄都市モノレール

Unlike the Japanese main islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku, Okinawa has no rail network. Naha, the prefectural capital of Okinawa does have the Yui Rail (ゆいレール) a monorail system, which runs 17 km through 19 stations from Naha Airport via Shuri, near Shuri Castle to Tedako-Uranishi.

The Yui Rail opened in 2003 and the whole network can be ridden in 37 minutes. A single ticket costs 370 yen.

The elevated track is raised from 8 to 20 meters above the ground. Trains travel at a top speed of 65 km per hour. The route was expanded from Shuri Station to Uranishi in 2019.

Stations

Stations on the Yui rail route are Naha-kuko (Naha Airport), Akamine, Oroku, Onoyama-koen, Tsubogawa, Asahibashi, Kencho-mae (Prefectural Office), Miebashi, Makishi, Asato, Omoromachi, Furujima, Shiritsu-byoin-mae (Naha City Hospital), Gibo, Shuri, Ishimine, Kyozuka, Urasoe-Maeda and Tedako-Uranishi.

Asahibashi Station and Makishi Station are the nearest stops to Kokusai Dori, Naha’s main drag. Shuri is a 20-minute walk from Shuri Castle. Makishi Station is also convenient for Yatai Mura.

One-day (800 yen) and two-day passes (1400 yen) are available. There allow discounts on admission to various attractions in Naha, including Shikinaen Garden, the Prefectural Museum, the Former Navy Underground Headquarters, Shuri Castle, and also the Tamaudun Mausoleum.

Major Japanese IC cards such as SUICA, MANACA and PASMO can also be used on the line.

In addition, Naha is also served by an extensive bus network radiating out from Naha bus station at Asahibashi Station on Kokusai Dori. The flat fare is 240 yen. There are frequent buses from Kokusai Dori out to Shuri Castle, for example.

This is also the place to catch a highway bus to Nago and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

Naha Airport Station
Tel: 098 859 6601
www: yui-rail.co.jp

Hotels in Naha Okinawa

The Ryukyu Sun Royal Hotel (琉球サンロイヤルホテル) in downtown Naha on Okinawa is a moderately-priced business hotel close to Asahibashi Station on the Yui Line and the main shopping street of Kokusai Dori.

The area around Naminoue Shrine and Fukushuen Garden has several cheap places to stay scattered around what is Naha’s main red light district. These include several weekly and monthly rental properties. Some recommendations here include New Normal Hotel in Naminoue and also Guesthouse Base.

See here for a full listing of hotels in Naha.