On Saturday, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako paid their first visit to Okinawa – a prefecture that played an integral role in World War II. The couple paid respects to war dead at local memorial sites before visiting the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum. Find out the time in Naha and other Japanese cities with our convenient time converter!
Time Zone
The Okinawan owl is situated in the southernmost part of Japan and enjoys a warm climate. With an estimated population of over 3.7 million residents, it serves as an attractive tourist destination for international visitors. Perhaps most renowned for its naval base that houses the legendary Okinawa Navy. Okinawa is home to Okinawa airport, a hub for both domestic and international airlines.
Additionally, the island boasts one of the world’s largest sand dunes systems. For optimal sightseeing experiences, visit during summer months from June through September. Okinawa experiences the highest number of visitors and most expensive times to visit due to its remote location and lack of roads, railways, or air traffic control systems.
That is why visitors planning on traveling there or within Okinawa should research local weather patterns and road conditions beforehand; doing so can save both time and money when it comes to avoiding traffic jams.
Daylight Saving Time
Okinawa follows a different time schedule than the rest of Japan, as they do not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST). To keep up with global time changes, they set their clocks one hour forward every summer and backwards in winter to match.
On Okinawa during the summertime, temperatures typically increase by 13degF from 69degF to 82degF, rarely dropping below 61degF or exceeding 86degF. The graph shows an average high temperature (red line) and low temperature (blue line) with 25th to 75th percentile bands from the 10th to 90th percentiles.
As with many islands in Japan, Okinawa’s climate is heavily influenced by its location in the East China Sea. This can be seen in its unique cuisine which draws heavily upon seafood and tropical fruit like goya (a bitter melon), as well as vegetables like umibudou (sea grapes).
Travelers to Naha, Okinawa Prefecture’s main island, can enjoy a traditional meal. The area also features numerous cultural landmarks like Churaumi Aquarium and Emerald Beach as well as several nature parks.
Okinawa’s diverse landscape makes it a prime destination for outdoor recreation, from hiking and snorkeling to diving and surfing. The city’s beaches are pristine and provide glimpses of local wildlife such as otters, sea turtles, dolphins, and whales.
Summer Time
The ideal time to visit Okinawa is during the summer when temperatures reach 82 F (28 C). The water is warm and clear, providing ideal swimming and surfing conditions. Plus, there are plenty of outdoor activities like hiking or camping to enjoy during your visit!
If you plan to visit Okinawa during the summer, it is wise to reserve your accommodation ahead of time. Doing so will prevent being disappointed by a lack of availability or overpaying for a room at a hotel or guesthouse.
Japan’s four seasons are an integral part of its culture and history, often depicted in poetry or artwork as symbols representing Japan’s unique identity.
Japan’s climate is generally temperate, though it can vary significantly at its northern and southern extremities as well as in the central part of the country. In wintertime, cold air masses from Siberia sweep over Japan from Siberia bringing plenty of snowfall to Hokkaido; during summer monsoon winds from the Pacific Ocean bring heavy rainfall to southern parts of Japan.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, temperatures across Japan rose this year with the national average being 0.7 degrees higher than it had been 30 years prior to 2020. They noted that part of this rise can be attributed to global warming.
However, it’s essential to remember that Japan’s rainy season begins in May and lasts through June and July. In some extreme cases, it could rain practically every day of this period.
Winter Time
Okinawa, located southwest of mainland Japan on the eastern fringe of the East China Sea, consists of numerous small islands. It’s one of the world’s most remote tropical destinations.
Between May and July, East Asia experiences a rainy season known as mei-yu in China and Baidu in Japan. This begins in mid-May when an intense precipitation zone forms over East Asia from southern China through Kyushu island and Okinawa region.
The GPCP dataset shows that the Okinawa baiu experiences two peak precipitation periods (Figs. 3a, c). These peaks are separated by a brief break in late May.
During Okinawa baiu, the main precipitation zone is situated along the northern side of the North Pacific subtropical high (NPSH; Figures 4k,l). As this high shifts westward during this period, precipitation moves north-northwest.
The northward expansion of the NPSHL causes an increase in precipitation during baiu season, especially near 27degN near 27degE in early May (Figs. 4k,l).
Temperatures in the Okinawa region tend to be mild during wintertime. Daily average high temperatures range from 73degF to 69degF, rarely falling below 60degF or exceeding 78degF.
Winter brings with it an average increase in day length of 40 seconds, beginning with December 22 with 10 hours, and 28 minutes of daylight to February 29, with 11 hours, and 36 minutes.