Season guide · Okinawa · Japan
Okinawa in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Warm sea and festivals, with typhoons in September giving way to settled, pleasant days in October and November. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 27 rainy days across September–November. October is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 21°C (70°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 27
- Sea
- 25°C (77°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 31°C (88°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
| October | 28°C (82°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 8 | 11.5 h | 3/5 |
| November | 25°C (77°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 8 | 10.8 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 28°C (82°F) against a yearly 26°C (79°F), and 27 of the year's roughly 122 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival in Okinawa City (usually late summer, after the lunar Obon)
- October: Naha Great Tug-of-War — one of the world's largest rice-straw ropes (usually October)
- October: Ryukyu Kingdom Festival / Shuri Castle Festival (usually autumn)
Good choices for autumn
Aquarium · Motobu Peninsula
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
The aquarium's centrepiece is the Kuroshio Sea tank, holding about 7,500 cubic metres of water, in which whale sharks and manta rays swim behind one of the world's largest acrylic panels.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the park
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Rainy day
Market · Naha (Kokusai-dori)
Daiichi Makishi Public Market
Ask the fishmonger to recommend a cooking style and which upstairs restaurant to use before you buy.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Museum · Nanjo and the south
Himeyuri Peace Museum
This museum tells the story of the Himeyuri students, schoolgirls mobilised as nurses during the Battle of Okinawa, many of whom died in the caves of the south.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Theme park · Nanjo and the south
Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave
Do the cave first while you are fresh; it is cool and humid inside, a good choice on a rainy day.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Day trips in autumn
- Kudaka Island (About 1 hour by car and ferry) — A small, flat island regarded as sacred in Ryukyu religion, explored by bicycle along quiet lanes.
- Iejima (About 2.5 hours by car and ferry) — An island off the Motobu Peninsula dominated by the steep peak of Gusukuyama, with lily fields in spring and quiet beaches.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Okinawa?
Yes: October is among the best months. Warm sea and festivals, with typhoons in September giving way to settled, pleasant days in October and November.
+What is the weather like in Okinawa in autumn?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 27 rainy days over the season.