OKA-SPOT1-1
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May 25, 2020Okinawa Naha Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on February 23, 2024
Naha Airport, (IATA: OKA / ICAO: ROAH) is the main airport of Okinawa Island located 4 km west of the city of Naha, the capital and main city of Okinawa in Japan. With over 20 Mio passengers it is the seventh busiest airport in Japan and its main terminal handles regular international traffic with Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and the People’s Republic of China. The airport also serves as the air base for the Japanese Self-Defence Air Force, under the name of Naha Air Base.
JASDF operates with almost the whole range of aircraft from the fighters to the cargo as well as helicopters.
Regarding the airlines, you will be able to get a large number of Asian airlines but you won’t see any US or EU airlines.
Written by Jérôme Bonniel, Martin Yu and Steven Fan. Last change: February 2024 (Spot 2 updated)
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety | |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather | |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 18L/36R | 3,000m (9,843ft) – Asphalt |
| 18R/18L | 2,700m (8,858ft) – Asphalt |
| Terminals | One terminal building splitted in between a domestic and international part. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | No need. |
| Car/Public Transport | Car can be rented however public transport works very well. |
| Restrooms | Available inside the terminal or at the Belvédère. |
| Drinks/Food | Cheaper inside the terminal than the Belvédère. |
| Hotels | The Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel next to number 2 is a great hotel with rooms overviewing the airport and the final approach. |
| Season | Better to avoid the typhoons season usually between June until September. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | After the completion of the West runway, the West runway (18R/36L) is generally used for Commercial aircraft arrival, and the East runway (18L/36R) is generally used for Commercial aircraft departure. For military aircraft, they use both runways for arrival and departure. For helicopters, they will directly line up to the ramp (commercial and military) and land on the ramp directly. General aviation like Cessna primarily uses the East runway for departure and arrival. |
| 18L/36R | Used in all directions. |
| 18R/36L |
Used in all directions. |
 |
Spot #1 – The Bridge/The Beach |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Located south of the airport next to a small Harbor. From the airport drive down on 332 south until you reached the crossroad 331. Take on the right on 331 direction south until you reached another crossroad turn right on “Senagajima Kaichu Rd” direction the Senagajima Sunset Park. Cross the bridge and stop on the parking which is on your left hand side as indicated on the map. |
| WHAT | Arrivals/Departures rwy 18L-36R |
| TIME | From sunrise until 1200. |
| MISC. | Nothing except a drink dispenser therefore we recommend you to bring with you what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 300-500mm |
The Bridge:
The Beach:
 |
Spot #2 – The Senagajima Sunset Park |
|---|---|
| WHERE | In general you can use the whole northern area at the waterfront of the Senagajima sunset park for spotting. You can either stay along the boardwalk or stay within one of the cafes (Spot 2A). Another good outlook is a hill in the middle of the park (Spot 2B). Use the stairs from the parking as you wish towards the highest point named “Senega Castle site”. From spot 1 whether you keep your car on the parking spot1 or drive towards east to reached the park very easy to find it, see map. |
| WHAT | Arrivals & departures 18L/R and 36L/R. |
| TIME | From sunrise until noon for 18R/36L. From afternoon until sunset for 18L/36R. |
| MISC. | There are plenty of cafes in which one can order some drink and food, then sit at their store and spot for an entire day. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | JASDF T-4=150mm C-2=250mm C-130=275mm F-15 = 500mm JMSDF P-3C departing = 275mm arriving = 500mm JCG Falcon = 500mm JAL A350 = 260mm ANA 738 = 450mm |
Spot 2A:
Spot 2B:
 |
Spot #3 – Observation Deck International |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Located landside inside the International Terminal level 4. |
| WHAT | Arrivals & departures rwy 18L-36R as well as mostly all the action on the tarmac. |
| TIME | Open from 0800-1900 but keep in mind that the sun turns at 1300. |
| MISC. | Free entrance, no need to take a plane to access it, everything you need is available and you DON’T shot through the window/glass. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-300mm |
 |
Spot #4 – Observation Deck Domestic |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Located landside inside the Domestic Terminal level 4. One has a terrace and you are outside the other one is inside but you shot through glass. |
| WHAT | Arrivals & departures rwy 18L-36R as well as mostly all the action on the tarmac. |
| TIME | Open from 0800-1900 but keep in mind that the sun turns at 1300. |
| MISC. | Free entrance, no need to take a plane to access it, everything you need is available and you DON’T shot through the window/glass. Restaurants, shops and toilet available in the terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 200m for a B777 on runway & 18-300mm for parking bay/taxiway. |
RWY 18R/36L already entered service in Mar 2020
Hello Steven,
Thank you for your heads up, it has been amended.
Wish you a nice day.
Regards,
Jeremy
You are welcome.
I have many photos taken in OKA airport.
Please contact me if you need further information
Si il y a des zones de spotting que je n’ai pas cité, n’hésitez pas à le dire!
Hi Jeremy.
Please if you can help. I would just like to ask if it’s fully ok to plane spot on the island. Military etc. my friend and I are making a visit to Japan next year for 16 days so we want to get round as much as possible. If I did 3 days would that give me a good selection of military aircraft? Thank you
Regards Dale