AI-generatedOkinawa at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Oct
- Warmest month
- Jul · 29°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 29.0°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,730 h
- Rain a year
- 1,839 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Elevation
- 112 m
Climate in Okinawa
Okinawa has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 29 °C, while January is the coolest at 18 °C. With around 1,730 hours of sunshine a year, Okinawa is moderately sunny; July is the sunniest month with 7.3 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: June – October
October is the peak of the typhoon season
Good forBeach & swimmingSightseeing & walks
Keep in mindStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 24°
- Midday, 13:00: about 26°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 26°
- Evening, 20:00: about 25°
- Night, 23:00: about 24°
06:2718:02
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:13–06:58 · evening 17:31–18:16
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:04–06:13 · evening 18:16–18:25
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Okinawa in October?
In October, Okinawa is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.2 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 143 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 33 km/h. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Okinawa.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 35 min06:27 – 18:02
- UV index
- 7 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 23 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 33 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 54 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+9Asia/Tokyo
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %38 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %44 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
- Windproof jacket
Sea temperature in Okinawa
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 26.0 – 28.2 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Okinawa ranges from 21.5 °C in February to 29.0 °C in August. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From July to May the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 27.8 and 30.0 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 22.4° | 21.8° | 23.1° | refreshing |
| FebruaryFeb | 21.5° | 20.9° | 22.2° | refreshing |
| MarchMar | 21.6° | 21.2° | 22.2° | refreshing |
| AprilApr | 22.6° | 21.8° | 23.4° | refreshing |
| MayMay | 24.6° | 23.8° | 25.4° | pleasant |
| JuneJun | 26.7° | 26.1° | 27.4° | warm |
| JulyJul | 28.6° | 27.9° | 29.4° | warm |
| AugustAug | 29.0° | 27.8° | 30.0° | very warm |
| SeptemberSep | 28.5° | 27.8° | 29.5° | warm |
| OctoberOct | 27.2° | 26.0° | 28.2° | warm |
| NovemberNov | 25.5° | 24.9° | 26.3° | pleasant |
| DecemberDec | 23.8° | 23.0° | 24.3° | pleasant |
Sunshine hours in Okinawa
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.3 of 11.6 hours of daylight in Okinawa, 46 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 18 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Okinawa
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 7 · highSeek shade around midday; sunscreen SPF 30+, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 12).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 20 min
- Fair skin
- about 20 min
- Light brown skin
- about 30 min
- Olive skin
- about 40 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Okinawa: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Okinawa has about 12 rainy days with 143 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Okinawa
How breezy and how cloudy Okinawa is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Okinawa typically peaks at 33 km/h during the day: Beaufort 5, fresh breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 54 % of the sky over Okinawa: variable cloud, with about 5.3 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Okinawa
How often the day gets hot in Okinawa (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Okinawa has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 26 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Okinawa
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 24°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 23 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (16°), the warmest in July (27°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from May to November; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from December to April. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 204 days a year, mostly from April to November.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 29 | 18° | 16° | 22.4° | 3.0 h | 11 | 97 |
| FebruaryFeb | 27 | 18° | 16° | 21.5° | 3.3 h | 11 | 97 |
| MarchMar | 31 | 20° | 17° | 21.6° | 3.7 h | 12 | 121 |
| AprilApr | 47 | 22° | 19° | 22.6° | 4.0 h | 12 | 151 |
| MayMay | 65 | 24° | 22° | 24.6° | 4.5 h | 15 | 226 |
| JuneJun | 71 | 27° | 25° | 26.7° | 5.3 h | 16 | 228 |
| JulyJul | 82 | 29° | 27° | 28.6° | 7.3 h | 12 | 137 |
| AugustAug | 76 | 29° | 27° | 29.0° | 6.7 h | 15 | 190 |
| SeptemberSep | 74 | 28° | 26° | 28.5° | 6.0 h | 15 | 202 |
| OctoberOct | 77 | 26° | 24° | 27.2° | 5.3 h | 12 | 143 |
| NovemberNov | 61 | 23° | 21° | 25.5° | 4.1 h | 12 | 119 |
| DecemberDec | 39 | 20° | 18° | 23.8° | 3.5 h | 12 | 129 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
26.34° N, 127.80° E · 112 m · Asia/Tokyo
Best time to visit Okinawa
The best time to visit Okinawa is from June to October. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from October to November. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from October to February. Rain is most frequent from March to September; the wettest month is June with 228 mm.
Okinawa through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Okinawa in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 20–24 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Okinawa in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 27–29 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 43 rainy days in all
Okinawa in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 23–28 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Okinawa in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 18–20 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Okinawa for you.
Your best months: July – September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Okinawa
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in Okinawa: score 82 against 77. In July, days are 3 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C warmer in July. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 77 | 82better |
| Day high | 26° | 29° |
| Night low | 24° | 27° |
| Sea | 27.2° | 28.6° |
| Sunshine | 5.3 h | 7.3 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 12 | 12 |
| Rainfall | 143 mm | 137 mm |
| Muggy days | 23better | 31 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Oct – Nov
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Oct – Feb
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Mar – Sep
12 or more rainy days
Okinawa month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
29January18° · Sea 22° · 3 h
In January, Okinawa is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 22.4 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 97 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 35 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in January27February18° · Sea 22° · 3 h
In February, Okinawa is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 21.5 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 97 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 34 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in February31March20° · Sea 22° · 4 h
In March, Okinawa is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 21.6 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 121 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 32 km/h. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in March47April22° · Sea 23° · 4 h
In April, Okinawa is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 22.6 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 151 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in April65May24° · Sea 25° · 5 h
In May, Okinawa is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 24.6 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 226 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 28 km/h. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in May71June27° · Sea 27° · 5 h
In June, Okinawa is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 26.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 228 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in June82July29° · Sea 29° · 7 h
In July, Okinawa is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 28.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 137 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in July76August29° · Sea 29° · 7 h
In August, Okinawa is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 190 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in August74September28° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In September, Okinawa is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 202 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in September77October26° · Sea 27° · 5 h
In October, Okinawa is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.2 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 143 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 33 km/h. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in October61November23° · Sea 26° · 4 h
In November, Okinawa is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 25.5 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 119 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 35 km/h. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in November39December20° · Sea 24° · 4 h
In December, Okinawa is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 23.8 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 129 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 36 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Okinawa.
Okinawa in DecemberOkinawa compared
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Okinawa vs. Naha
In October the holiday weather in Okinawa and Naha is about equally good (score 77 vs. 77). During the day Naha is 1 °C warmer than Okinawa. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Okinawa | Naha |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 77 | 77 |
| Daytime high | 26° | 27° |
| Sea | 27° | 27° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 12 |
| Best time | Jun – Oct | May – Oct |
Through the year
Japan in October: the best places
In October, Okinawa ranks 7 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Nagasaki23°24°81
- 2Fukuoka22°23°81
- 3Hiroshima22°23°81
- 4Kumamoto23°23°80
- 5Kitakyūshū22°23°79
- 6Okayama22°24°78
- 7OkinawaThis page26°27°77
- 8Naha27°27°77
Planning a trip to Okinawa
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Okinawa in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Okinawa has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 78) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 34).
- 42
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 22 °C
- 3.9 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 66
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 25 °C by day
- Sea 25 °C
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 78
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 77
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 26 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 34
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 19 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 3.3 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 12 h 35 min
- Distance
- 10,000 km
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Jet lag
- About 8 days (8 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Okinawa lies in an area that Pacific typhoons can reach. The typhoon season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Okinawa
When is the best time to visit Okinawa?
The best time to visit Okinawa is from June to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Okinawa?
The sea temperature in Okinawa ranges from 21.5 °C in February to 29.0 °C in August. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Okinawa in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 27.2 °C – lovely and warm for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Okinawa?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 27 °C. January is the coolest month at 18 °C.
When does it rain most in Okinawa?
Rain is most frequent from March to September; the wettest month is June with 228 mm. The driest month is February with 97 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Okinawa get?
Okinawa gets around 1,730 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 7.3 hours a day; in January there are 3.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Okinawa in?
Okinawa uses the time zone Asia/Tokyo, at UTC+9 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Okinawa?
A nonstop flight from London to Okinawa takes about 12 h 35 min, for a straight-line distance of about 10,000 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
When is typhoon season in Okinawa?
Okinawa lies in an area that Pacific typhoons can reach. The typhoon season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Okinawa?
Okinawa has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 78) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 34). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 42, May half-term 66, Summer holidays 78, October half-term 77, Christmas holidays 34.
Near Okinawa
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Okinawa
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Okinawa's – good alternatives.