Okinawa Urban Monorail

Okinawa Urban Monorail, Inc.
Company type	Third-sector company
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	1982-09-27
Headquarters	Naha, Japan
Area served	Okinawa Prefecture
Products	Monorail transportation (Yui Rail)
Website	www.yui-rail.co.jp

The Okinawa Urban Monorail, commonly referred to as the Yui Rail, is a monorail system linking Naha and Urasoe, located in Okinawa, Japan. Managed by Okinawa Urban Monorail, Inc., it began operations on 10 August 2003 and continues to be Okinawa's only public railway. This line marks the first rail transport established on the island since the end of World War II. Notably, it includes Akamine Station and Naha Airport Station, which are recognized as Japan’s southernmost and westernmost rail stations.

Following Okinawa’s reversion to Japan, planning for the monorail commenced in 1972. The route was finalized five years later in 1977, with an original opening date anticipated for 1987. However, negotiations with bus companies over route compensation caused delays that extended until 1994. Construction eventually started in 1996, leading to the commencement of service in 2003. The line was later extended to Urasoe on 1 October 2019.

Train operations run daily between 6:00 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., with intervals ranging from every 4 to 15 minutes. Trains make stops at all stations along the route, though some terminate at Shuri Station. Since its inauguration, the line has utilized Okinawa Urban Monorail 1000 series electric multiple units, predominantly produced by Hitachi Rail. Each station is distinguished by unique artwork and is designed to be fully accessible.

Description

Spanning 17.0 km (11 miles), the monorail starts at Naha Airport station, winds through the city of Naha, and reaches Shuri Station, which was originally the terminus. Beyond Ishimine Station, the line continues into Urasoe city, concluding at Tedako-Uranishi Station. As Japan’s southernmost and westernmost rail line, it holds significant regional strategic value.

The name "Yui Rail" and its logo were selected through a public contest. The network consists of 19 stations stretching from Naha Airport to Tedako-Uranishi, with an average distance of approximately 0.93 km between stops. A complete journey across the entire line takes roughly 37 minutes and costs ¥390.

Passengers can pay using traditional paper tickets or the local contactless smart card called OKICA; since March 2020, major Japanese IC cards such as Suica and SUGOCA have also been accepted. Additionally, since 2020, high school students residing in Okinawa are eligible for free rides.

Background and construction

Before the establishment of this monorail line, Okinawa had several passenger railways dating back to 1914, operated by companies including Okinawa Electric, Okinawa Railroad, and Okinawa Prefectural Railways. However, competition from bus services led to Okinawa Electric ceasing operations, while American air raids during World War II destroyed other lines. After the war, reconstruction efforts prioritized road infrastructure rather than railways; remaining tracks were dismantled due to steel shortages. This transition contributed to Okinawa developing a car-dependent society modeled after American urban design, resulting in significant traffic congestion by the time Okinawa reverted to Japanese administration in 1972.

In that year, legislation was enacted to provide funding for urban monorail projects, prompting Naha city officials to explore a monorail transit system. A report issued in 1973 emphasized the necessity for improved transportation within Naha and proposed two potential routes: one following the Kumoji River corridor and another along Kokusai-Dori Street. The Kumoji River alignment was ultimately selected, with a third-sector company structure chosen in 1977 for financial viability. Subsequently, Okinawa Urban Monorail, Inc. was founded on 27 September 1982. Initial plans aimed for an opening in 1987 with an extension reaching Shuri by 1990; however, protracted negotiations with bus operators delayed progress until these were resolved in 1994.

Construction work commenced in 1996. On 30 November 1999, the monorail’s official logo, station names, and its nickname "Yui Rail" were confirmed. Rolling stock arrived in August 2002 followed by trial runs beginning in November of that year. The system officially opened on 10 August 2003 with all services initially running two-car train sets.

Urasoe Extension

In August 2011, the monorail operator submitted an application to extend the line by 4.1 kilometers, adding four stations from Shuri Station to Tedako-Uranishi Station located in Urasoe City. Approval for this project was received on January 26, 2012, with construction commencing in March 2013. The extension began revenue operations on October 1, 2019, accompanied by an adjusted timetable featuring longer intervals during peak hours on the inaugural day. To support this expansion, eight new train sets were introduced on April 27, 2016.

Initial ridership figures indicated a year-over-year increase following the opening of the extension. Starting in April 2019, certain services transitioned from two-car to three-car train configurations due to passenger demand surpassing 120% of capacity. While existing stations were equipped to handle three-car trains, a newly built depot was necessary for additional rolling stock maintenance. Since earlier train models were not compatible with three-car formations, four new train sets specifically designed for this purpose were launched in August 2023.

Infrastructure and Operations

Okinawa Urban Monorail, Inc., a third-sector railway entity, operates the line. The fundamental infrastructure is developed by governmental bodies including Okinawa Prefecture and local municipalities. Operating hours run daily from 6:00 a.m. until 11:30 p.m., with service intervals ranging between four and fifteen minutes. All trains stop at every station along the route, although some trips terminate at Shuri Station.

Ridership

From the line’s inauguration in 2003 up until 2019, passenger numbers steadily increased before experiencing a decline due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2023, ridership levels had returned to those seen prior to the pandemic.

Year	Average Daily Passengers
2003	31,905
2004	32,049
2005	35,940
2006	37,393
2007	37,713
2008	37,545
2009	35,272
2010	35,551
2011	36,689
2012	39,093
2013	40,831
2014	41,477
2015	44,145
2016	47,463
2017	49,716
2018	52,355
2019	55,766
2020	30,044
2021	32,263
2022	46,326
2023	54,803
2024	60,898

Rolling Stock

Since its launch in 2003, the line has utilized Okinawa Urban Monorail 1000 series electric multiple units primarily produced by Hitachi Rail. These trains feature two doors on each side. New train sets were introduced in April 2016 and again in August 2023; earlier models operate as two-car units while the latest sets run exclusively as three-car formations.

Stations

All platforms are equipped with Platform screen doors, enhancing passenger safety. While most stations are staffed regularly, occasional staff shortages may result in temporary unstaffed conditions where one employee oversees two neighboring stations. Accessibility is ensured through elevators and escalators at every station to accommodate wheelchair users. Additionally, each station showcases a distinctive artwork piece.

2 3 4 5 6

Station No.	Image	Station Name		Distance Between Stations (km)	Cumulative Distance from Naha Airport (km)	Location
Station No.	Image	English Name	Japanese Name	Distance Between Stations (km)	Cumulative Distance from Naha Airport (km)	Location
1		Naha Airport	那覇空港		0.00 km (0 mi)	rowspan="16" \| Naha	-
Akamine Station	赤嶺	2 km (1.2 mi)	2 km (1.2 mi)	-
Oroku Station	小禄	0.8 km (0.50 mi)	2.8 km (1.7 mi)	-
Onoyama Park Station	奥武山公園	1 km (0.62 mi)	3.8 km (2.4 mi)	-
Tsubogawa Station	壺川	0.8 km (0.50 mi)	4.6 km (2.9 mi)	-
Asahibashi Station	旭橋	0.8 km (0.50 mi)	5.4 km (3.4 mi)

External links