Is Okinawa Safe in February 2026?

Car rental companies at Naha Airport — particularly smaller local operators — add mandatory non-waivable local insurance charges and "Okinawa road tax" supplements not included in online quotes. Pre-existing dents on rental vehicles are sometimes used to claim damage deposits at return.

How to avoid: Photograph every surface of the rental car at pickup with timestamps. Ask for the full all-in price before signing. Confirm that your credit card CDW is accepted or purchase the additional cover explicitly. Use major national chains (Toyota, Nissan) over small local operators for better dispute recourse.

Souvenir shops along Kokusai-dori (International Street) in Naha charge prices two to four times higher than identical products available at the Naha Airport duty-free shops or at Don Quijote on the same street. Items branded as "Okinawan craft" including awamori liquor, shisa figurines, and beniimo sweets are frequently mass-produced imports sold at handmade prices.

How to avoid: Compare prices at Don Quijote on Kokusai-dori and at Naha Airport departures before purchasing on the main shopping street. Genuine local craft items from Tsuboya pottery district carry maker information and are sold by the artisans directly.

Dive shops in Onna village (north of Naha along the Emerald Coast) and near Zamami Island advertise introductory dives at low entry prices that exclude equipment rental, boat fees, and the required insurance, effectively doubling the total cost. Some operators also substitute cheaper dive sites for the advertised locations without notice.

How to avoid: Request a fully itemized total cost in writing before booking, including equipment, insurance, and boat fees. Confirm which specific dive sites are included in the package and get this in the booking confirmation.

Bars and clubs on Gate 2 Street (Chuo Park Avenue) in Okinawa City near Kadena Air Base cater heavily to US military personnel and charge tourist or civilian prices — sometimes including mandatory "hostess fees" or table charges — that are not disclosed before entry. Non-military international tourists are sometimes charged higher rates than American customers.

How to avoid: Ask for a written price list including any cover charges, table minimums, or hostess fees before sitting down. Avoid venues where prices are not posted and entry is controlled by a doorperson.

Near luxury resort areas in Onna and Nago, individuals approach tourists with offers of "free activities" — snorkeling, glass-bottom boat rides — in exchange for attending a "resort presentation" that turns out to be a high-pressure timeshare sales pitch lasting two to three hours. Refusal to purchase can result in the promised free activity being cancelled.

How to avoid: Decline all offers of free activities tied to attending a presentation. Legitimate tour operators do not require attendance at sales events. If you accidentally enter a timeshare presentation, you are legally entitled to leave at any time.