August at a glance
| Item | August |
|---|---|
| Average temperature | 29.4°C (highs 32.0°C, lows 27.3°C) |
| Rain | 249.8 mm |
| Sunshine | 232.9 hours |
| Wind | 5.6 m/s, mostly south |
| Sea temperature | 29.4°C (south of Ishigaki) |
| Typhoon approaches | 2.2 (Okinawa region, 1991–2020 normal) |
| Visitors | 163,665 in August 2025 |
| Ferry timetable | Summer (April 1 to September 30): more departures on every route |
| Lifeguards | Sukuji Beach: lifeguards 9:00–19:00 and jellyfish nets (July to September). Fusaki Beach: lifeguards to October 31. Box-jellyfish advisory June 1 to September 30 |
Weather
Average 29.4°C (highs 32.0°C, lows 27.3°C), 250 mm of rain, much of it from typhoons and afternoon storms (4.3 thunder days, the most of any month), 232.9 hours of sunshine and a south wind of 5.6 m/s. The typhoon normals peak here at 2.2 approaches to the Okinawa region.
The sea
29.4°C, the warmest of the year. Sukuji Beach lifeguards work 9:00–19:00 and the nets are up; the box-jellyfish advisory is in force. When a typhoon is within a few days, the sea closes well before the rain arrives.
Ferries and which islands to pick
The summer ferry timetable runs from April 1 to September 30 with more departures on every route, and the north wind that cancels the Uehara, Hatoma and Hateruma boats in winter has eased. The risk in this season is typhoons: when one approaches, every boat and flight stops, usually for one to three days, and routes with one to three flights a day have no same-day alternative. Keep a spare day at the end of the trip and book fares that can be changed. Every departure is on the ferry timetable page.
Crowds and prices
163,665 visitors in August 2025, the busiest month by far and about 1.9 times February. Flights and hotels are at their highest prices. ANA opens sales 355 days ahead: book flights first, then hotels, then boats and tours, and buy fares that can be changed.
What is on in August
- Obon (lunar July 13–15, mid August to early September): Angama masked ancestor dances visit homes in Ishigaki on the three nights, Itashikibara lion dances follow the day after, and the three northern festivals (Nosoko, Hoshino and Akaishi) are held over the same days.
- Mushaama on Hateruma (lunar July 14), the island's biggest festival.
- Sand Beach Performing Arts Festival at Hoshitate on Iriomote, last Sunday of August.
- Harvest festivals continue into early August; the Southern Island Star Festival falls in August in some years.
Festivals on the lunar calendar move every year; the island tourism associations publish the dates a month or two ahead.
What to pack
Summer clothes, sun protection, and a typhoon plan: changeable tickets, a hotel you can extend, and a spare day.
Is August a good time to visit?
Come in August if school holidays leave no choice; the festivals are the reward. Otherwise July or the first half of October gives the same sea with fewer people and fewer storms.
For the whole year on one page, see Best time to visit; for the number of nights, How many nights do you need.
Other months
Sources
- Japan Meteorological Agency: climate normals for Ishigakijima, 1991–2020 (temperature, precipitation, sunshine, wind, cloud amount)
- Japan Meteorological Agency: sea-surface temperature for the sea area south of Ishigaki (monthly means of the daily normals)
- Japan Meteorological Agency: typhoon normals 1991–2020, approaches to the Okinawa region
- Ishigaki City: monthly visitor estimates, 2025 and January–July 2026
- Ishigaki City Tourism Association: Sukuji Beach (lifeguard and net dates); Fusaki Beach Resort FAQ; Okinawa Prefecture: box-jellyfish advisory
- Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry: winter timetables (October 2026 to March 2027) and notices on the Uehara, Hatoma and Hateruma routes
- Ishigaki City official tourism site (annual events), Taketomi Town Tourism Association (event list), Yonaguni Tourism Association, Ishigaki Island Marathon, Ishigaki Triathlon and Ishigaki Hula Festival official sites, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (Southern Cross)
Climate figures are 1991–2020 normals, so any given year differs. Visitor numbers are city estimates. Festival dates on the lunar calendar change every year; confirm with the organisers. Checked in October 2026.
