Month guide · Okinawa · Japan
Okinawa in January
What January is really like in Okinawa: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ChiefHira, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 15°C (59°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 10.7 hours of daylight. Mild and often cloudy and windy, too cool for most swimmers; good for sightseeing, whale watching off the Keramas and the first cherry blossom in the north late in the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 15°C (59°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 10.7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 21°C (70°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Okinawa: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 15°C (59°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with December (22°C (72°F)), January is cooler; by February highs stay near 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:18
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:59
- Daylight
- About 10.7 hours
- Sea
- 21°C (70°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, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Motobu Yaedake and Nago cherry blossom festivals (usually late January to early February)
- Whale-watching season in the Kerama Islands (about January–March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Aquarium · Motobu Peninsula
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Watch a whale-shark feeding session at the big tank, then walk to the free dolphin show and Emerald Beach in the same park.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the park
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Rainy day
Market · Naha (Kokusai-dori)
Daiichi Makishi Public Market
Naha's 'kitchen' reopened in a new building in 2023.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Museum · Nanjo and the south
Himeyuri Peace Museum
It is emotionally heavy; combine it with a quiet walk or cliff-top café rather than a theme park afterwards.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Theme park · Nanjo and the south
Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave
This cultural theme park is built around Gyokusendo, a limestone cave about 5 km long, of which roughly 890 m is open on a walkway through stalactite halls and underground pools.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
The sea averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Okinawa.
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 15°C and 11 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Okinawa?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events 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 January a good time to visit Okinawa?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild and often cloudy and windy, too cool for most swimmers; good for sightseeing, whale watching off the Keramas and the first cherry blossom in the north late in the month.
+How warm is Okinawa in January?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Okinawa in January?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.