May at a glance
| Item | May |
|---|---|
| Average temperature | 25.9°C (highs 28.7°C, lows 23.9°C) |
| Rain | 190.7 mm |
| Sunshine | 164.3 hours |
| Wind | 4.5 m/s, mostly south |
| Sea temperature | 26.6°C (south of Ishigaki) |
| Typhoon approaches | 0.4 (Okinawa region, 1991–2020 normal) |
| Visitors | 118,195 in May 2025 · 111,177 in May 2026 |
| Ferry timetable | Summer (April 1 to September 30): more departures on every route |
| Lifeguards | Sukuji Beach: lifeguards 9:00–18:00 (April 1 to September 30); nets from July. Fusaki Beach: lifeguards March 1 to October 31 |
Weather
Average 25.9°C (highs 28.7°C, lows 23.9°C), 191 mm of rain, 164.3 hours of sunshine and the lightest wind of the year, 4.5 m/s, now from the south. Okinawa's rainy season usually begins around the middle of May and ends in the second half of June; it rains in bursts between sunny spells rather than all day, and the humidity climbs to 79 percent.
The sea
26.6°C: swimmable in a rash guard on warm days. Sukuji Beach has lifeguards from 9:00 to 18:00. The Southern Cross is still visible from Hateruma in the evening until early June.
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
118,195 visitors in May 2025 (111,177 in 2026). The first week is Golden Week, through May 5 or 6, at peak prices; after that, flights and hotels drop and the islands are quiet until the summer holidays in late July.
What is on in May
- Hatoma Island Music Festival, May 4.
- Golden Week until May 5 or 6.
- Haarii boat races (lunar May 4) fall in late May or June.
- Southern Cross season on Hateruma until early June.
Festivals on the lunar calendar move every year; the island tourism associations publish the dates a month or two ahead.
What to pack
Short sleeves, rain gear, a sun hat. Quick-drying clothes are more useful than an umbrella.
Is May a good time to visit?
After Golden Week, May is good value with a warm sea and few people. Accept showers and plan one indoor option a day.
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.
