January at a glance
| Item | January |
|---|---|
| Average temperature | 18.9°C (highs 21.5°C, lows 16.7°C) |
| Rain | 135.0 mm |
| Sunshine | 84.7 hours |
| Wind | 5.3 m/s, mostly north-northeast |
| Sea temperature | 23.7°C (south of Ishigaki) |
| Typhoon approaches | none in the normals (Okinawa region, 1991–2020 normal) |
| Visitors | 94,077 in January 2025 · 118,760 in January 2026 |
| Ferry timetable | Winter (October 1 to March 31): fewer departures; Hateruma 2 boats a day |
| Lifeguards | Sukuji Beach (city-run, Kabira): no lifeguards or jellyfish nets; its season is April 1 to September 30. Fusaki Beach (hotel-run) allows swimming on sunny days and posts a lifeguard on request in winter. Snorkeling tours run all year in 5 mm wetsuits |
Weather
January is the coolest month, but the average is still 18.9°C, with daytime highs around 21.5°C and nights around 16.7°C. It is also the cloudiest month of the year (cloud amount 8.2 on the JMA ten-point scale) with only 84.7 hours of sunshine, a third of July's, and a steady north-northeast wind averaging 5.3 m/s. Rain is moderate at 135 mm. Expect grey, breezy days with bright spells rather than cold ones.
The sea
The sea off southern Ishigaki averages 23.7°C, warmer than the air, so the water feels mild and getting out feels cold. There are no lifeguards or nets at the city beach outside April to September. Snorkeling and manta tours run all year with 5 mm wetsuits, and operators say the fish are as plentiful as in summer; what you lose is the warmth on deck, so bring a windproof layer and a towel.
Ferries and which islands to pick
The winter ferry timetable runs from October 1 to March 31 with fewer departures than summer. Taketomi, Kohama, Kuroshima and Iriomote's Ohara Port are reached through water sheltered by islands and reefs, and both ferry companies say these routes are rarely affected by swell. Uehara Port on Iriomote, Hatoma and Hateruma cross open sea: when the north wind blows, the Uehara and Hatoma boats are often cancelled, and Hateruma, which has only two boats a day in winter (8:00 and 14:30 out, 9:50 and 16:20 back), can be cut off for several days. Put the outer islands early in the trip, keep a spare day, and check both companies' operating-status pages each morning. Every departure is on the ferry timetable page.
Crowds and prices
94,077 visitors in January 2025, the second-quietest month, though January 2026 rose to 118,760. Hotels and flights are at their cheapest, with two exceptions: the first days of the month, when the New Year holiday is still on, and the Ishigaki Island Marathon weekend, when hotels and rental cars around town sell out.
What is on in January
- Ishigaki Island Marathon, third or fourth Sunday: the 24th race is on January 17, 2027 (entries closed October 31, 2026).
- New Year bullfighting tournament (January).
- Kanhizakura, the deep-pink Okinawan cherry, blooms in January and February; the wild grove at Arakawa near Yonehara is a national natural monument.
- Lunar New Year tug-of-war on Kuroshima (lunar January 1, late January or February).
- The Southern Cross is visible low in the south before dawn from December to June.
Festivals on the lunar calendar move every year; the island tourism associations publish the dates a month or two ahead.
What to pack
Long sleeves, a windproof jacket for boats and the seafront, and a warm layer for stargazing. On most days one long-sleeved layer is enough for walking around.
Is January a good time to visit?
Come in January for quiet islands, stargazing, the cherry blossoms and the lowest prices of the year. Do not come for the beach unless you are happy in a wetsuit on a guided tour. Base yourself in Ishigaki town and build the days around Taketomi, Kohama, Kuroshima and Iriomote's Ohara side.
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.
