Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 Highway Bus from AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom to Naha Bus Terminal (Asahibashi)
Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 is an express highway bus from AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom to Naha Bus Terminal and Naha Airport, and is one of just 2 highway buses valid with the Okinawa Bus Pass. This is a much faster way to travel to and from AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom from Naha city. Heading back to Naha Bus Terminal, I made sure to catch Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 to avoid the long and arduous local bus journey with other non-highway buses which I had experienced on the way to AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom.
AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom
Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 departs just 4 times a day from AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom to Naha Bus Terminal and Naha Airport, at 10.50am, 1.130pm, 4.20pm, and 7.15pm.
Timetables for other buses are also posted on the bus stop.
The bus stop at AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom is outside the main driveway on the exit side.
There is an indoor waiting lounge adjacent to the bus stop with air-conditioning to avoid waiting in the cold or warmth, depending on the season.
During my trip, the sun set at about 6pm already, so it was very dark at 7pm.
Passengers were waiting for the Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 already before 7.15pm.
Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152
At 7.12pm, the 7.15pm Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 had arrived at the bus stop.
Boarding the Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152.
If paying by OKICA, Okinawa’s IC card, tap on upon boarding. If paying by cash, take a numbered ticket from the box. Change can be made with 1000 yen notes on the machine at any time during the journey.
Toyo Bus 30 is fully covered by the Okinawa Bus Pass.
The interior of the Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 bus.
Stop information is announced and displayed on board the bus.
My Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 departed from AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom on time at 7.15pm.
Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 uses the Okinawa Expressway when travelling between AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom and Naha, which massively speeds up the journey time.
Asahibashi (opposite Naha Bus Terminal)
My Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 arrived at Asahibashi, opposite Naha Bus Terminal, at 7.57pm – 1 minute early, making this a journey of just 42 minutes.
Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 will continue on to Naha Airport where it terminates.
Asahibashi is located just opposite Naha Bus Terminal. The different bus stop name helps with identifying the location with the different bounds of buses passing through Naha Bus Terminal.
The linkbridges around Asahibashi also connects the Naha Bus Terminal and Asahibashi Yui Rail station with an elevated path above the busy road junction.
Conclusion
Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 took exactly 1 hour faster than my onward local Naha Bus 125 trip, showing the clear effects that a highway bus has for this long distance. If you are travelling to and from AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom from Naha city, you should try to get the 4x daily highway bus 152, or reconsider your journey. I’m quite surprised that even though Okinawa consists mainly of bus-based public transport, the frequency and priority of buses is still quite low. Ryukyu Bus Kotsu 152 should run much more frequently at perhaps 4 times an hour instead of the current 4 times daily for the effects of a rapid bus system using the Okinawa Expressway.