March at a glance
| Item | March |
|---|---|
| Average temperature | 20.9°C (highs 23.7°C, lows 18.6°C) |
| Rain | 134.4 mm |
| Sunshine | 118.1 hours |
| Wind | 5.2 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 | 130,199 in March 2025 · 135,377 in March 2026 |
| Ferry timetable | Winter (October 1 to March 31): fewer departures; Hateruma 2 boats a day |
| Lifeguards | Sukuji Beach: not yet (season starts April 1). Fusaki Beach: lifeguards on duty from March 1 |
Weather
Average 20.9°C (highs 23.7°C, lows 18.6°C), 134 mm of rain and 118.1 hours of sunshine, a clear step up from February. The wind is still north-northeast at 5.2 m/s, so boat decks and capes are breezy, but walking weather is close to ideal.
The sea
The sea is 23.7°C, no warmer than February. The Yaeyama Sea Opening, Japan's southernmost, is held around the spring equinox: in 2026 it was March 14 at Maesato Beach on Ishigaki, and the venue rotates between Ishigaki, Taketomi Town and Yonaguni. Fusaki Beach has lifeguards from March 1, but Sukuji Beach does not open until April 1, so March swimming is still a wetsuit affair for most people.
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
130,199 visitors in March 2025 (135,377 in 2026), a jump of 50 percent from February, because Japanese schools break for spring in the second half of the month. Book flights early for the last two weeks; the first half is still off season.
What is on in March
- Yaeyama Sea Opening, mid to late March (March 14, 2026).
- Sanizu or Hamauri (lunar March 3): a beach day for families, late March or April.
- Spring school holidays in the second half of the month.
Festivals on the lunar calendar move every year; the island tourism associations publish the dates a month or two ahead.
What to pack
Light long sleeves, short sleeves for the afternoons, and a windproof layer for boats and lookouts.
Is March a good time to visit?
Sunny days, no typhoons, lifeguards appearing and the beaches still empty: a good month for sightseeing and island hopping if you can travel before the spring break. The sea is still cool.
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.
