July at a glance
| Item | July |
|---|---|
| Average temperature | 29.6°C (highs 32.2°C, lows 27.7°C) |
| Rain | 142.3 mm |
| Sunshine | 261.0 hours |
| Wind | 5.9 m/s, mostly south-southwest |
| Sea temperature | 29.3°C (south of Ishigaki) |
| Typhoon approaches | 1.5 (Okinawa region, 1991–2020 normal) |
| Visitors | 130,880 in July 2025 · 143,963 in July 2026 |
| 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
The hottest and sunniest month: average 29.6°C, highs 32.2°C, lows 27.7°C, 261 hours of sunshine and only 142 mm of rain, less than June. The wind is south-southwest at 5.9 m/s. The sun is strong enough that heat and sunburn, not rain, are the things to plan around.
The sea
29.3°C and usually calm. Sukuji Beach extends lifeguard hours to 9:00–19:00 in July and August, and the jellyfish nets are in place from July to September. The box-jellyfish advisory is in force.
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
130,880 visitors in July 2025 and 143,963 in July 2026, the busiest month of that year to July. Prices rise from the third week when Japanese schools break up, and August is higher still. Cruise ships add to it: in July 2026, 23,704 cruise passengers landed in town, most of them in the ferry-terminal area at once.
What is on in July
- Orion Beer Fest, early to mid July.
- Ishigaki Port Minato Festival on Marine Day, the third Monday of July.
- Yonaguni Marlin Fishing Tournament, first Friday to Sunday.
- Harvest festivals (Hōnensai, lunar June) on Taketomi, Kohama, Iriomote, Kuroshima and Hatoma, July to August.
- Southern Island Star Festival, the Saturday around lunar July 7 (late July or August).
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, a sun hat, sunscreen, a rash guard for the sea, and water. Plan the hottest hours indoors or in the water.
Is July a good time to visit?
The best sea of the year, but hot, busy and expensive. Early July, before the school holidays, is the best part of it.
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.
