Exploring the island via the Okinawa bus system may be easier than you think. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Terence L. Yancey

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OKINAWA (Dec 15, 2006) -- For service members on Okinawa who do not drive, seeing the island can be difficult. Going from base to base on the Green Line does not offer any variety, and taking a taxi can be very expensive.

A relatively inexpensive, and environmentally friendly, alternative is public transportation; but for someone who doesn't know how to read Japanese, taking the bus can be intimidating. However, the bus is a little less intimidating once you understand how the system works.

The system is worth learning. Taxi fare from Kadena Air Base to the Naha International Airport, for example, can cost up to 5,000 whereas a bus fare for the same route will cost about 800.

The first hurdle to overcome is determining which bus to take. There are no schedules or routes available in English, but this does not make it impossible to figure out where you are going. At every bus stop there is a map of Okinawa with routes included. All you need is a general idea of where you want to go and you can use the map to identify which buses are going to your destination.

There is also a list of the buses that service the stop and their schedules. Find a bus that goes to your destination and its next arrival time.

When your bus arrives, you will need to take a ticket from the dispenser at the bus entrance. The ticket will have a number on it, that number will determine your fair when exiting.

While riding, there is an electronic voice that calls out the stops (in Japanese). When your stop is called press the button next to the window to signal the driver to stop. A good idea of what your destination looks or a landmark that can be seen several stops away can help ensure that you exit the bus as close to your desired destination as possible.

There is an electronic display at the front of the bus that has numbers and a corresponding fare that increases as the bus makes its way along its route. When leaving, match the number on your ticket to the number on the display. The fare next to that number is what you pay.

Drop your ticket and exact fare, yen only, in the fare box. There is a change dispenser at the front of the bus that gives change for 1,000 yen bills, and 100 yen coins.

Children under six who are accompanied by a parent ride for free and children in the sixth grade or lower pay half fare.

Four different bus companies operate routes in Okinawa, and each one offers monthly passes. However, a monthly pass can only be used with the bus company you purchased it from. Also, because more than one bus company operates each route, it is best to signal the bus you want, otherwise it may not stop to pick you up.

Using the maps at the bus stops you can figure out the general area where you want to go. However, the best way to learn the system is by taking some time to ride the bus and explore. Also, always remember the route number of the bus you took, because the same bus, going the opposite direction, will get you back.

For example, bus routes 20 and 120 go from Naha bus terminal to Nago bus terminal, making a stop outside Camp Foster's gate 5 (near the Commissary). The buses depart approximately every 15 minutes, north to Nago and south to Naha.

Get on the bus

Using Okinawa's bus system can be a little tricky until you get the hang of it. Below are the procedures for riding city buses and a few simple steps to help get you started.