Season guide · Okinawa · Japan
Okinawa in winter
December–February: 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
Mild days around 20°C, cherry blossom in the north, whale watching and the lowest prices; windy and too cool for most swimmers. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 30 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 15°C (59°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 30
- Sea
- 21°C (70°F) to 23°C (73°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°C (68°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 11 | 10.7 h | 2/5 |
| February | 20°C (68°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 | 11.2 h | 2/5 |
| December | 22°C (72°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 9 | 10.5 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 26°C (79°F), and 30 of the year's roughly 122 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Motobu Yaedake and Nago cherry blossom festivals (usually late January to early February)
- January: Whale-watching season in the Kerama Islands (about January–March)
- February: Professional baseball spring training camps (February)
- December: NAHA Marathon (usually early December)
Good choices for winter
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
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
Day trips in winter
- 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.
- Kaichu Doro and the Yokatsu islands (About 1 hour by car) — A road of about 5 km runs across shallow sea to Henza, Miyagi, Ikei and Hamahiga islands, with fishing villages, small beaches and the sacred sites of Hamahiga.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Okinawa?
It is a trade-off: Mild days around 20°C, cherry blossom in the north, whale watching and the lowest prices; windy and too cool for most swimmers. The best months overall are April, June–July and October.
+What is the weather like in Okinawa in winter?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 30 rainy days over the season.