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Okinawa in May: weather, what to wear and what's on

Naha is the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, on Okinawa's main island. In May, Naha averages a high of 27.0°C (81°F) and a low of 22.1°C (72°F), with 245.3 mm of rain on about 11.4 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

Updated

27.0°Caverage high
22.1°Caverage low
11.4 dayswet days

Warm

Okinawa weather in May

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Naha station (28 m above sea level).

High
27.0°C (81°F)
Low
22.1°C (72°F)
Precipitation
245.3 mm
Wet days
11.4 days
Sunshine
138 hours

Highs rise 2.7°C from April and climb another 2.8°C into June.

That is 1.0°C above Naha's yearly average high of 26.0°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Naha is the warmest in May, 1.9°C warmer than Kyoto.

May is Naha's 3rd wettest month (245.3 mm).

Of our 15 places, Naha has the 2nd highest precipitation in May: 81.5 mm less than Hakone and 75.5 mm more than Hiroshima.

Rain of 1 mm or more falls on 11.4 days, and 10 mm or more on 6.0 days.

Rain of 30 mm or more in one day falls on 2.6 days, and 50 mm or more on 1.3 days.

2.4 days reach 30°C or more.

On 2.6 nights the low stays at 25°C or above.

The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 12.3 days, and 4.7 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

By the JMA's cloud records, 0.8 days are clear and 17.2 are overcast.

On 15 May 2027 the sun rises at 5:43 and sets at 19:08 in Naha, giving 13 hours 25 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).

Average temperature
24.2°C (76°F)
Humidity
78%
Days of 25°C or more
25.8 days

Early, mid and late May

Naha in May by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
DaysHighLowPrecipitation
1–10 May26.4°C21.2°C57.5 mm
11–20 May27.1°C22.2°C90.2 mm
21–31 May27.5°C22.8°C97.6 mm

By the last ten days of May the average high in Naha is 1.1°C higher than in the first ten.

By ten-day totals, 21–31 May is the wettest (97.6 mm) and 1–10 May the driest (57.5 mm).

Yellow dragon boat with a dragon-head prow and rows of paddlers in orange life vests racing near a harbor in Naha, Okinawa
Photo: Naha Hari, Dragon Boat race held during Golden Week.jpg by Banzai Hiroaki (CC BY 2.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.

What to wear in Okinawa in May

Warm: highs around 27.0°C

This is for Naha (28 m above sea level).

  • Short sleeves or thin long sleeves, with a light layer for air-conditioning and evenings.
  • Humidity averages 78%: quick-dry fabrics are more comfortable.
  • An umbrella: rain falls on 11.4 days.

Pack

  • Umbrella
  • Quick-dry clothes
  • A light layer for air-conditioning

Rainy season and typhoons

In an average year (1991–2020) the JMA says the rainy season in Okinawa starts around 10 May and ends around 21 June. In 2026 it started around 4 May and ended around 29 June.

In an average May, 0.4 typhoons come within 300 km of the Okinawa region; across Japan, 0.7 come within 300 km (JMA, 1991–2020).

May records in Okinawa

The extremes the JMA has measured in May at its Naha station.

Hottest May day
32.3°C (90°F) on 20 May 2025 (records since 1891)
Coldest May night
11.0°C (52°F) on 4 May 1919 (records since 1891)
Wettest May day
206.1 mm on 20 May 1916 (records since 1891)

Holidays and crowds in May

National holidays in May 2027:

  • Mon 3 May — Constitution Memorial Day
  • Tue 4 May — Greenery Day
  • Wed 5 May — Children's Day
  • Sat 1 May to Wed 5 May: 5 days off in a row

In May 2025, hotels and inns across Okinawa Prefecture were 56.2% full on average (10th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 797,130 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 60.5% in April and 58.8% in June.

What's on in Okinawa in May

Events in Okinawa in May: dates from each organizer's official page
EventWhenWhere and what
Naha Hari (Naha Dragon Boat Races)那覇ハーリーEarly May, during Golden Week (3 to 5 May in 2026)Shinko Pier, Naha Port. Dragon boat (hari) races. On the first day junior high school, PTA and workplace teams race. On the second day the public can ride the boats and a patrol vessel is open to visitors. On the last day the general A and B class races are held, followed by the Ugan Bari and Hon Bari rites. The Naha Hari Hall near the venue displays panels and costumes about the history of hari. Official page

Okinawa before and after May

Naha: April, May and June (JMA, 1991–2020)
MonthHighLowPrecipitationWet days
April24.3°C (−2.7°C)19.1°C (−3.0°C)161.0 mm (−84.3 mm)10.3 days (−1.1 days)
May27.0°C22.1°C245.3 mm11.4 days
June29.8°C (+2.8°C)25.2°C (+3.1°C)284.4 mm (+39.1 mm)11.3 days (−0.1 days)

Other places in May

May: Naha against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
PlaceHighAgainst NahaWet daysAgainst Naha
Tokyo23.6°C−3.4°C10.1 days−1.3 days
Kyoto25.1°C−1.9°C9.7 days−1.7 days
Osaka24.9°C−2.1°C9.5 days−1.9 days
Sapporo17.9°C−9.1°C8.5 days−2.9 days
Fukuoka24.4°C−2.6°C8.6 days−2.8 days

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Okinawa in May?

The average high is 27.0°C (81°F) and the average low 22.1°C (72°F). 245.3 mm of rain falls on about 11.4 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Okinawa in May?

Short sleeves or thin long sleeves, with a light layer for air-conditioning and evenings. Humidity averages 78%: quick-dry fabrics are more comfortable. An umbrella: rain falls on 11.4 days.

Is Okinawa busy in May?

In May 2025, hotels and inns across Okinawa Prefecture were 56.2% full on average (10th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 797,130 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for May in Okinawa?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Naha in May is 32.3°C (90°F), on 20 May 2025. The lowest is 11.0°C (52°F), on 4 May 1919.

What events are on in Okinawa in May?

Naha Hari (Naha Dragon Boat Races): Early May, during Golden Week (3 to 5 May in 2026).

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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026