Month guide · Okinawa · Japan
Okinawa in December
What December is really like in Okinawa: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 17°C (63°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 10.5 hours of daylight. Mild and breezy, good for castles, walks and day trips; busy again over New Year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 17°C (63°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 10.5 hours
- Sea temperature
- 23°C (73°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Okinawa: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 17°C (63°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with November (25°C (77°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:10
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:40
- Daylight
- About 10.5 hours
- Sea
- 23°C (73°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild days around 20°C, cherry blossom in the north, whale watching and the lowest prices; windy and too cool for most swimmers.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- NAHA Marathon (usually early December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Historic site · Nanjo and the south
Okinawa Peace Memorial Park
On the cliffs at Mabuni, where the Battle of Okinawa ended in 1945, the Cornerstone of Peace lists the names of more than 240,000 people of all nationalities who died in the battle.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Views
Castle · Okinawa City (Koza)
Nakagusuku Castle
Visit in the late afternoon for soft light on the walls and fewer visitors.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Castle · Motobu Peninsula
Nakijin Castle
The seat of the northern Hokuzan kings before the island was unified, Nakijin has winding stone walls about 1.5 km long on a hilltop above the sea.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
Castle · Yomitan
Zakimi Castle
Walk the top of the walls at sunset, then visit the Yachimun no Sato pottery village a short drive away.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
The sea averages 23°C (73°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Okinawa.
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 17°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Okinawa?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April, June–July and October are better overall. Compare every month.
Okinawa in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Okinawa?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild and breezy, good for castles, walks and day trips; busy again over New Year.
+How warm is Okinawa in December?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 17°C (63°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Okinawa in December?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.