The best time to visit Okinawa is April to the first week of May: highs of 24 to 27°C (75 to 81°F), the beaches open, the sea warming past 24°C, and the rainy season not yet started. The other window is October: 28°C, the warmest sea of the year (27°C), sunny days on 60% and the typhoon risk falling away through the month. July is the sunniest month (66% sunny days) and the sea is perfect, but it is the start of typhoon season.
The months to avoid are mid May to late June (rainy season, rain on 38% of days) and August to September (the typhoon peak; a direct hit means two or three days indoors and cancelled flights). Winter is mild (January high 19.8°C) but cloudy and too cool for swimming. All figures are from 58 years of Japan Meteorological Agency records at Naha.
- Best months for weather: November, December and October (our comfort score); avoid: Mid May to late June (rainy season) and August to September (typhoons)
- Hottest: July (high 31.9°C (89°F)); coldest: January (low 14.9°C (59°F))
- Wettest: August (rain on 41% of days); sunniest: July (66% of days)
- Data: Naha (Okinawa) station, 1991 to 2020 normals and 58 years of daily records
Check the odds for your dates in Naha (58 years of records)
Pick the dates of your trip and the tool counts what happened on those days every year since 1968: sunny, rainy, hot, snowy, and the actual weather of the last dozen years.
Okinawa weather month by month
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunny days | 30°C+ days | Snow days | Sunshine | What is happening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 / 15°C 68°F / 59°F | 34% | 35% | 0% | 0% | 93h | Mildest winter in Japan; cloudy; whale watching |
| February | 20 / 15°C 68°F / 59°F | 37% | 33% | 0% | 0% | 93h | Cherry blossoms at Nago; 20°C; whales |
| March | 22 / 17°C 71°F / 62°F | 37% | 36% | 0% | 0% | 115h | Beach openings; 22°C; whales end |
| April | 24 / 19°C 76°F / 66°F | 34% | 39% | 0% | 0% | 121h | Best month; 24°C; dry and warming |
| May | 27 / 22°C 81°F / 72°F | 38% | 36% | 6% | 0% | 138h | Best first week; rainy season from about 10 May |
| June | 30 / 25°C 86°F / 77°F | 38% | 42% | 48% | 0% | 160h | Rainy season; ends around 21 June |
| July | 32 / 27°C 89°F / 81°F | 31% | 66% | 89% | 0% | 227h | Sunniest month; sea at 29°C; typhoons begin |
| August | 32 / 27°C 89°F / 80°F | 41% | 66% | 86% | 0% | 206h | Hot; typhoon peak; Eisa festivals |
| September | 31 / 26°C 87°F / 78°F | 39% | 64% | 67% | 0% | 181h | Hot; peak typhoon risk; sea still warm |
| October | 28 / 24°C 83°F / 74°F | 28% | 60% | 16% | 0% | 163h | Second-best month; 28°C; risk fading |
| November | 25 / 20°C 77°F / 69°F | 28% | 46% | 1% | 0% | 122h | Mild 25°C; calm; some rain |
| December | 22 / 17°C 71°F / 62°F | 29% | 42% | 0% | 0% | 107h | Mild 21°C; cloudy; cheap |
Our comfort score (highs near 22 to 26°C, few rainy days, many sunny days, no extreme heat) ranks the months in this order for Okinawa: November, December, October, April, March, January (then February, May, September, July, June, August). It ignores prices, crowds and events, which the sections below add back in.
Best time to visit Okinawa by what you want to do
For the beach: late April to early May, July, and October
The sea is warm enough for most people from late April (24°C) through November. April to early May avoids both the rainy season and typhoons; July has the most sunshine (227 hours) with the sea at 29°C but the typhoon season opening; October is the reliable autumn choice with sea at 27°C and highs of 28°C. Jellyfish nets are up at major beaches from summer.
For diving and snorkelling: June to November
Visibility and water temperature peak from June to October (28 to 30°C water); the rainy season’s end around 21 June opens a stretch of superb conditions before the typhoon peak. Manta season at Ishigaki is autumn; the Kerama islands are best from May to October. Keep a typhoon buffer day in August and September.
For low prices and mild weather: December to February
Highs of 20 to 21°C feel like a mild spring day in Tokyo, and it is the cheapest time of year outside the New Year week. It is cloudy (sunny days on 33 to 42%) and windy, and swimming needs a wetsuit, but whale watching (January to March) and the earliest cherry blossoms in Japan (late January) are the draw.
For culture and festivals
Naha Hari dragon-boat races (early May), Eisa dances through Obon in August, the Naha Great Tug-of-War (October) and the Shuri Castle Festival (late October to November). The Ryukyu Lantern Festival lights up the winter months.
What to pack for Okinawa, month by month
| Month | Feels like | What to wear | Rain gear | Sun protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cool | a jacket or light coat, a sweater for mornings and evenings | folding umbrella | moderate |
| February | Mild | long sleeves or a T-shirt with a light jacket; evenings need the jacket | umbrella essential | moderate |
| March | Mild | long sleeves or a T-shirt with a light jacket; evenings need the jacket | umbrella essential | moderate |
| April | Mild | long sleeves or a T-shirt with a light jacket; evenings need the jacket | folding umbrella | moderate |
| May | Early summer | short sleeves by day, a light long sleeve for evenings | umbrella essential | moderate |
| June | Early summer | short sleeves by day, a light long sleeve for evenings | umbrella essential | moderate |
| July | Full summer | light, breathable clothes, a hat, sunscreen and a thin layer for over-chilled trains and shops | folding umbrella | high |
| August | Full summer | light, breathable clothes, a hat, sunscreen and a thin layer for over-chilled trains and shops | umbrella essential | high |
| September | Full summer | light, breathable clothes, a hat, sunscreen and a thin layer for over-chilled trains and shops | umbrella essential | high |
| October | Early summer | short sleeves by day, a light long sleeve for evenings | folding umbrella | moderate |
| November | Early summer | short sleeves by day, a light long sleeve for evenings | folding umbrella | moderate |
| December | Mild | long sleeves or a T-shirt with a light jacket; evenings need the jacket | folding umbrella | moderate |
Compare Naha with other Japanese cities
Use the tool to put Naha next to any other city for all twelve months.
Months to avoid in Okinawa, and why
Mid May to late June (rainy season) and August to September (typhoons); the year-end week and Golden Week for prices.
The single most useful habit for an Okinawa trip in summer is to check the five-day typhoon outlook every morning from July onward. Storms are visible days ahead, and moving a flight early is far better than sitting out a two-day closure.
Frequently asked questions about Okinawa weather
When is the rainy season in Okinawa?
From about 10 May to 21 June, a month earlier than the mainland. Rain falls on 38% of days in both May and June, often as heavy showers with sunny breaks rather than all-day rain.
When is typhoon season in Okinawa?
July to October, peaking in August and September, when about two typhoons a month approach the islands. A direct hit closes the airport and ferries for a day or two. See the Japan typhoon season guide for month-by-month numbers.
Can you swim in Okinawa in winter?
The sea is 21 to 22°C in January and February and air highs are 20°C; it is possible in a wetsuit but not beach weather. The swimming season proper is late April to November.
How hot is Okinawa in summer?
Naha averages 31.9°C in July and 31.8°C in August, with nights above 25°C on 90% of nights, but 35°C is almost never reached: the sea breeze keeps the extremes below Tokyo or Kyoto. Humidity is high.
- April to early May and October for beach weather without typhoons
- Avoid: Mid May to late June (rainy season) and August to September (typhoons)
- Hottest July (31.9°C (89°F)), coldest January (14.9°C (59°F)), wettest August (41% of days)
- Check your own dates with the 58-year tool above
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency climatological normals (1991 to 2020) for temperatures, precipitation and sunshine; JMA daily observations 1968 to 2025 (58 years) compiled by this site for the share of sunny, rainy, snowy, hot and cold days. Written by a certified Japanese weather forecaster (気象予報士). Percentages are the share of days in the month; a 30 percent rain-day figure means roughly 9 days a month.