Taxi
Taxi base fare is ¥450 for the first 1.8km (US$3.90 for first 1.1 miles)
Additional fare of ¥60 for each additional quarter mile.
Taxis are ubiquitous. Any major street will have an empty cab available within minutes. If traveling in a small group for short distances, taxis are often cheaper than taking a bus. After hailing the cab, remember that the driver has a lever that opens and closes the passenger door. Allow him to open the door for you. Tipping is not a custom on Okinawa.
You can charter a taxi. Official rates are about ¥3000 an hour. However, it’s not rude to ask the driver for a set price before hand, ¥7000 for 3 or 4 hours is reasonable.
Bus
Buses are surprisingly expensive on Okinawa. Fares depend on distance traveled. Fares start around ¥150 but vary according to the bus company. Take a ticket upon entering a bus, an electronic chart above the driver will indicate the cost of the fare. Pay upon exiting. Bus fare from Naha Bus Terminal to Nago is about ¥1740 for the 70km (44 miles).
Nearly all buses use the Naha Bus Terminal as a base.
Tour buses offer package tours which range from 6 to 10 hours. Prices are about $40 to $50 but may not include entrance fees to all venues.
Ryukyu Bus 098-863-3636
Okinawa Bus 098-861-0083
Naha Bus 098-868-3750
Monorail
The Yui Rail Monorail runs through the heart of Naha from Naha Airport to Shuri station with 13 stations in between. Fares range from ¥200 to ¥290. There is an all day pass available for ¥600 which allows for modest entrance fee discounts at Shurijo Castle and a few other tourist sites.
Bicycle
There are a growing number of cycling enthusiasts on Okinawa. The Tour De Okinawa is held in Nago and northern Okinawa in the fall. The Bridgestone bike store on Hiway 58 (across from Tomari ferry terminal and a block south) and its much larger parent store in Haebaru is a good place to start if you need a new set of Ksyrium wheels. (I’ve been told that the owner of a kid’s bike store by the Tree building on H58 by Naha Port is the best bike mechanic on the island and is sponsor of a race team–ab) However the vast majority of bikes on Okinawa are of the very cheap commuter variety. You can buy a new folding bike for less than $100 in most home improvement stores. The advantage of a folding bike is that you can carry them on ferries and other transport without paying extra. Bicycle rentals are available for about 1500 Yen a day from the motorcycle shop below the Makishi Monorail station.