A trip to Okinawa. When you want to forget your busy daily life and spend a vacation at your favorite resort, you'll want to enjoy your trip in a rental car that you're particular about.
Wouldn't you prefer a car you wouldn't normally drive?

As anyone who has traveled to Okinawa will know, when you drive around Okinawa, the roads are full of Japanese small cars with "wa" license plates (recently, "re" license plates have also appeared).
While it might be tempting to simply rent a car for transportation and opt for an affordable option, you probably want to make the most of your precious time, even while traveling.

Grace Okinawa opened in March 2015 near Naha Airport.
This rental car company is a little different from others, offering a selection of foreign cars and other unique models, so I decided to check it out!

<Contents>

1. What is Grace Okinawa?
2. Regarding the vehicle type
3. Transportation
4. Other questions

Final thoughts

1. What is Grace Okinawa?

Grace Okinawa is a car rental shop that opened in Naha City in March 2015.
However, it's actually based on "Paradise Rent-a-Car" (Naha and Ishigaki Island), a rental car company that has been operating in Okinawa for 10 years, and this new store opened as a premium brand of that company.

We have ample experience as a rental car company, so you won't feel any anxiety in that regard.

2. Regarding the vehicle type

(Click to enlarge)

As of April 3rd, we own 25 vehicles, more than half of which are British Mini Coopers (16 cars). Please see the table below for details.

Mini Cooper

All vehicles are top-of-the-line S grade models, ranging from the popular Crossover to the Roadster Coupe, which will be discontinued with the current model (*Note) (one of each), making it a lineup worth paying attention to for foreign car fans, especially MINI fans.

Furthermore, with the 3-door, 5-door, and crossover models, you can fully specify your preferred body color from four options.
This is a great feature for those who want to be particular about details!

*Note: Refer to the BMW GROUP Press Release dated February 12, 2015.

国産車

The lineup includes some domestic cars that make you think, "Is this really a rental car?"
A certain British automotive variety show, known for its harsh criticism of Japanese cars, also gave it high praise (video is available).CLICK HERE*This is in English.

The selection includes sports cars like the Toyota 86 (GT grade), the current generation Lancer Evolution with 300 horsepower, the large SUV FJ Cruiser, the Mazda CX-3 which was just released on February 27th and is attracting attention, and the only kei car, the Suzuki Hastler X (top grade), which won the 2015 RJC Car of the Year award. Their attention to detail is truly exceptional.

Upcoming vehicles scheduled to arrive

When asked about future arrivals, they mentioned that the new Mazda Roadster will arrive around June, the new Vellfire (top-of-the-line model), Grace Rent-a-Car's first minivan, will arrive around July or August, the large two-wheeled cruiser Honda Goldwing around June or July, and the full-fledged sports car Mercedes B180 and the Fiat 500, which is popular with women, are also scheduled to be introduced by the end of the year. It seems that more distinctive vehicles will be added in the future.

What are the most popular car models?

MINI COOPER SD CROSSOVER

1st Place: MINI COOPER SD Crossover
2nd Place: MINI COOPER S 5 DOOR
3rd Place: SUZUKI HUSTLER X

As expected, the top spot went to the popular MINI COOPER SD CROSSOVER.
MINI's first SUV equipped with a clean diesel engine.
Environmental friendliness is also an important point when driving on the beautiful island of Okinawa, isn't it?
I'd love to take a leisurely drive sometime...

3. Transportation

Now, let's talk about shuttle services. As anyone who has rented a car in Okinawa knows, even though most rental car companies offer shuttle services from Naha Airport, the shuttle vehicle can take more than 20 minutes to get there.

Especially during the summer season, it's common to spend a significant portion of your precious time before you can even leave, such as waiting 15 minutes to board the shuttle, more than 30 minutes to get to the rental shop, and more than 30 minutes to complete the rental car procedures at the shop.

Therefore, the process from pick-up to departure is a crucial point that cannot be overlooked.

Upon arriving at Naha Airport

Upon exiting the arrival gate at Naha Airport and stepping outside, you'll find the rental car shuttle bus stop right in front of you.
In the case of Grace Okinawa, they provide transportation for each group individually, so the shuttle vehicle arrives after only a short wait.

Ignoring other companies that use minibuses for shuttle services, we set off in an Alphard.
Furthermore, because it's close to the airport, you can reach the office in as little as 3-4 minutes.

How long does the procedure take?

At most stores, you usually have to wait in line to register, but once you arrive at the store, you can complete the procedure immediately.

Normally, the process from completion to departure takes less than 10 minutes, and if you've already paid online in advance, it takes only about 5 minutes.
If it doesn't take up your precious time during your stay in Okinawa, wouldn't it actually be cheaper?

Incidentally, when returning the rental car, after a brief vehicle check, they will drive you to the airport in the same car you were using (about 3 minutes).
It's convenient not having to transfer your luggage to the shuttle vehicle at the shop (however, if the rental car is at full capacity, we will use the shuttle vehicle).

The interior, called the Grace Okinawa Premium Lounge, features a drink bar.
Even in short periods of time, I make sure to relax and maintain a sense of ease.

4. Other questions

Now, let's move on to addressing other questions.

Can anyone rent a luxury car?

They state that they cannot rent to anyone who has held a driver's license for less than three years. However, this applies only to the SUZUKI HUSTLER X.
They said it's possible to rent a car if you've had your license for at least six months.

SUZUKI HUSTLER X

I want to drive the popular MINI, but I get the impression that it doesn't have much cargo space...

To give you an idea of ​​the actual space, let me show you some pictures...

I don't think I'll be driving the MINI ROADSTER very often, but here's the cargo space.

Even with one large carry-on suitcase and one carry-on suitcase, it still looks like this. It's surprisingly spacious, isn't it?
By the way, when traveling at full capacity, it's best to consult with the staff beforehand regarding the amount of luggage and other factors before deciding which vehicle to take.

Can you provide airport transfers other than from Naha Airport?

Free shuttle service is available to all hotels in Naha City and to ports within Naha City.
However, please note that the rental period is from 9:30 AM to 17:30 PM, so you cannot rent it early in the morning. Please check for further details.

Can you arrange for a ride to a hotel in Naha city?

Vehicle dispatch (and return) is possible, but please note that a fee may apply depending on the location.
For hotels along Kokusai Street, the pick-up and return fees are ¥1,080 each (tax included).

Can I listen to music from my smartphone?

All vehicles have an AUX connection (audio input terminal, where you plug in headphones), and some models also have Bluetooth connectivity.

What kind of insurance coverage is available in the event of an accident?

Standard car insurance coverage applies, including unlimited liability for bodily injury and property damage, and personal injury coverage of 3,000 million yen.
Please note that there is a deductible waiver system available that covers the amount of the accident deductible, and it costs 1,620 yen per day to subscribe to it.
Please check our website for more details.

Final thoughts

So, what did you think of Grace Okinawa, a rental car company that's a little different from the rest and has an incredible attention to detail?

By the way, the concept of GRACE OKINAWA is
"Graceful Rent A Car Enmoments" = "Creating a high-quality experience with a rental car." (*Enmoment is a coined word.)

When planning a trip to Okinawa, many people prioritize "a high-quality trip and a high-quality hotel." Perhaps adding "a high-quality rental car and a high-quality travel experience" to your list of travel priorities with Grace Okinawa would be a good idea.
Actually, I'd like to borrow it...

【GRACE OKINAWA】
Address: 3-8-14 Kinjo, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
TEL：098-859-9014
Hours: 9: 00 ~ 19: 00
Closed: Open all year round
URL:http://www.graceokinawa.com/

Please make your hotel reservation here.

• Rakuten Travel
• Jalan net