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Japan
Okinawa in October
🌦️ Shoulder (showers)Pleasant, humid and some showers. Watch for tropical cyclone risk.
🎒 Pack: compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics
Why October scores 8.5What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.9
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (27.4°C highs / 26.1°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 22.4°C)
- !Wet: ~110 mm rain, ~3 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.7
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~7 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards8.5
- !Tropical cyclone: Peak of the Western Pacific typhoon season
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Oct | Mar | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.5 Excellent | 9.2 Excellent |
| Season | 🌦️ Shoulder (showers) | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 27° / 26° | 21° / 19° |
| Rain | 110 mm | 72 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 22° | dew pt 16° |
| PM2.5 | 7 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsOctober 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Sports Day 9–11 Oct · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Okinawa
- Cherry blossom 2026 (what actually happened)2026 actualFirst blooms 18 Jan 2026, full bloom 3 Feb 2026
Observed by JMA at the city's official sample tree. The 2027 forecast isn't out yet: Japanese weather companies such as the Japan Weather Association usually publish the first one in January, and we add it then.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Cherry blossom (hikan-zakura)Typical datesFirst blooms ~16 Jan, full bloom ~4 Feb
Typical dates (1991–2020 normal). In 2021–2026 first blooms came between 4 Jan and 18 Jan (18 Jan in 2026). Blossoms last about a week after full bloom. Okinawa's deep-pink Taiwan cherry flowers in winter.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
Explore OkinawaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyJapan's southernmost prefecture, a chain of subtropical islands with coral reefs, beaches, a distinct Ryukyu culture and important Second World War sites.
Naha Great Tug-of-WarDate variesUsually a Sunday in October
A tug-of-war with a giant rice-straw rope in which spectators can join.
Why go: Roads in central Naha close for the event.
Where: Kumoji, Naha
Coming up later
Cherry blossom seasonDate variesUsually late January to mid-February
Japan's earliest cherry blossoms, with deep pink Kanhizakura trees.
Why go: Blossoms come weeks before mainland Japan.
Where: Nago Castle Park and Yaedake
Humpback whale seasonDate variesUsually January to March
Humpback whales come to Okinawan waters to breed.
Why go: Whale-watching tours run from Naha.
Where: Kerama Islands and waters off Naha
Naha HaariiDate variesUsually early May, during Golden Week
Traditional dragon boat races praying for safety and good catches.
Why go: Coincides with Japanese holidays, so flights are busy.
Where: Naha Port
Shuri Castle
The former royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Naha, being rebuilt after a 2019 fire.
💡 Restoration work is ongoing; parts of the grounds remain open.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
A large aquarium in the north whose main tank holds whale sharks and manta rays.
Kokusai-dōri and Makishi Public Market
Naha's main shopping street and a market where fish bought downstairs is cooked upstairs.
Kerama Islands
Islands west of Naha with clear water, coral reefs and sea turtles, reached by ferry.
💡 Humpback whales can be seen around the islands in winter.
Okinawa Peace Memorial Park
A memorial and museum at the site of the final fighting of the Battle of Okinawa.
Nakijin Castle ruins
Curving stone castle walls on a hilltop, part of the Ryukyu World Heritage sites.
Gōyā champurū
A stir-fry of bitter melon, tofu, egg and pork.
Okinawa soba
Thick wheat noodles in broth topped with simmered pork.
Rafute
Pork belly braised in awamori, soy sauce and brown sugar.
Umibudō
Sea grapes, a seaweed with small bubble-like pods.
Taco rice
Taco fillings served over rice, created near US bases.
Awamori
Okinawa's distilled rice spirit.
Beni-imo tarts
Tarts made with purple sweet potato.
Ryukyu glass
Colourful hand-blown glass, originally made from recycled bottles.
Shīsā figures
Lion-dog guardian figures placed in pairs on roofs and gates.
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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