Serving over 17 million passengers a year, Naha Airport is the seventh busiest airport in Japan. It is the primary terminal for visitors to the Okinawa Prefecture and handles both domestic and international routes.
Nearly 30 airlines operate out of Naha Airport. Domestic routes include Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Osaka, Fukuoka and Tokyo. International destinations include Beijing, Seoul, Hong Kong and Bangkok. There are separate terminals for international and domestic flights.
The Okinawa Monorail system connects the Naha Airport to the city centre of Naha and the Shuri Station terminal near Shuri Castle. There is also bus service available on the island. The airport is located four kilometres from the city centre, and the monorail ride takes less than 30 minutes. In addition to its cargo and passenger flights, the airport houses the Naha Air Base, affiliated with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Originally the site of the Oroku Aerodrome, the Naha Airport was named and opened by U.S. occupants in 1945. The American military ceded control of the airport to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in 1982. Today, it is operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.