Our Okinawa-based staff introduce what to wear, the weather and the best activities in Okinawa in May

Okinawa's rainy season starts around May, so there are slightly fewer activities available.

But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a trip to Okinawa in May.

There are "marine activities" you can do even in the rain, "craft experiences" you can enjoy indoors, and plenty of "sightseeing spots" that are fun even during Okinawa's rainy May.

Even with a lot of rain, a trip to Okinawa in May can be a great time.

What's more, early May is Golden Week, so travel costs to Okinawa are a little higher, but from mid to late May the rainy season is likely to have started, and prices tend to drop.

If you want to enjoy Okinawa on a budget, May is the perfect time!

This article shares ways to enjoy Okinawa in May during the rainy season.

Be sure to check out the article and enjoy Okinawa in May.

Travel costs for Okinawa in May

Travel costs for Okinawa in May are high during Golden Week, and they tend to drop toward the end of the month, when the rainy season is likely to have begun.

But just hearing "expensive" or "cheap" doesn't tell you how much a trip to Okinawa in May will actually cost, does it?

So we looked into rough travel costs for a May trip to Okinawa, split into "travel costs for early May" and "travel costs for late May."

Travel costs for Okinawa in early May

Early May is Golden Week, which makes travel costs higher not only for Okinawa but everywhere.

Okinawa in May must be no exception...

We checked how much a trip to Okinawa in May actually costs using the travel site Airtrip, and found that a budget tour costs 35,500 yen per adult.

Wait, isn't that cheaper than you expected?

During Golden Week, prices at many tourist spots jump to more than double their usual level, but with a good budget plan, Okinawa in May may turn out to be more affordable than you'd think.

So how much does a trip to Okinawa cost in late May, when Okinawa's rainy season arrives?

Travel costs for Okinawa in late May

In recent years, the rainy season in Okinawa has tended to start between early and mid-May.

By late May, Okinawa is almost always in the rainy season.

Many people may think, "I don't want a rainy trip," but because May is the rainy season in Okinawa, travel costs tend to be lower.

When we actually checked travel costs for Okinawa in May on the travel site Airtrip, we found that a budget tour can be as cheap as 24,200 yen per adult.

Travel costs for Okinawa in May are low, but some of you may worry that you won't be able to enjoy Okinawa in the rain.

In this article we share ways to enjoy Okinawa in May even during the rainy season, such as "recommended activities for May" and "recommended sightseeing spots for May," so please use them as a reference.

Temperatures, weather and what to wear in Okinawa in May

Before you travel to Okinawa in May, it's important to check the temperature and the weather.

The temperature affects the clothes you bring, and the weather can change which spots you visit.

So that your May trip to Okinawa goes smoothly, here we will introduce

for you.

We hope you'll check them and enjoy your trip to Okinawa in May.

Temperatures in Okinawa in May

When you travel to Okinawa in May, you'll want to know the temperature because it affects what you wear.

So we looked up the temperature data for May 2024 on the weather site tenki.jp to check the temperatures in Okinawa in May.

As you can see in the table below, highs in Okinawa in May are often above 25 degrees Celsius, and there are also many days when the low stays above 20 degrees Celsius. Because it's the rainy season, you might imagine that temperatures drop in Okinawa in May, but they are surprisingly high.

The table above lists the temperatures for May 2024. So what was the average temperature in Okinawa in May?

For reference, we also calculated "the average high in Okinawa in May" and "the average low in Okinawa in May."

In Tokyo, these temperatures correspond to early to mid-July.

For the rainy season, Okinawa in May is surprisingly warm.

Weather in Okinawa in May

If May in Okinawa is the rainy season, you may wonder how much of the month is rainy.

Based on information from tenki.jp, the author found that in May 2024 it rained on 17 of the 31 days in Okinawa.

Please see the table below for details on the weather in Okinawa in May 2024.

What to wear in Okinawa in May

It can be hard to decide what to pack for Okinawa in May, when the rainy season begins.

Even though it rains a lot in Okinawa in May, temperatures are on the warm side, so you can get by in short sleeves and shorts.

However, many days in Okinawa in May are humid, so we recommend breathable clothes!

Also, some days in Okinawa in May turn chilly because of the rain, so it's best to bring a light layer to throw on.

Does the rainy season start in Okinawa in May?

On mainland Japan the rainy season usually begins in June, but in Okinawa it often begins in May.

According to Japan Meteorological Agency data, the rainy season in Okinawa started between May 4 and May 21 from 2021 to 2024. It can start in early May or after mid-May, so it is currently hard to predict when it will begin.

Recommended activities in Okinawa in May

Once the rainy season starts in Okinawa in May, the number of activities you can enjoy tends to shrink if you don't want to get wet.

Hearing that, you might worry, "Are there any activities I can still enjoy in Okinawa in the rainy season in May?"

Don't worry. There are plenty of activities you can enjoy in Okinawa in May!

Keeping in mind that May is a rainy month, we'll introduce 4 activities recommended for Okinawa in May by "local Okinawa staff" who know the area well.

We hope you'll use this as a reference and enjoy activities in Okinawa in May.

Recommended activity in Okinawa in May ①
Snorkeling

Recommended activity ① in Okinawa in May is snorkeling.

Snorkeling is a water sport where you explore underwater wearing a snorkel (a tube for breathing), and it lets you enjoy Okinawa's crystal-clear sea.

Okinawa in May is in the rainy season with a lot of rain, so it may not seem like a good fit at first, but because the activity takes place in the sea anyway, a little rain won't cancel it.

Of course, it can be canceled in strong winds or heavy rain, but it is still one of the recommended activities you can enjoy in rainy Okinawa in May.

Here are the details for "snorkeling," a recommended activity in Okinawa in May.

Recommended activity in Okinawa in May ②
Glass-bottom boat

Recommended activity ② in Okinawa in May is the "glass-bottom boat."

A glass-bottom boat is a sightseeing boat that lets you enjoy colorful fish swimming in the sea from inside the boat.

It's recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy Okinawa without getting wet, even in the rainy season in May.

Here are the details for the "glass-bottom boat," a recommended activity in Okinawa in May.

Recommended activity in Okinawa in May ③
Sightseeing bus tour

Recommended activity ③ in Okinawa in May is a "sightseeing bus tour."

Sightseeing buses are a good way to get around Okinawa in May, when there are many rainy days.

Sightseeing bus tours in particular are recommended for first-time visitors to Okinawa, and the appeal is that they take you around Okinawa's popular spots without you having to plan anything yourself.

The company that runs bus tours in Okinawa in May is listed below.

Recommended activity in Okinawa in May ④
Craft experiences

Recommended activity ④ in Okinawa in May is "craft experiences."

Okinawa has many facilities where you can try crafts unique to Okinawa, and most of them are made indoors, so there are plenty of experiences you can enjoy even in rainy Okinawa in May.

We'll introduce the 4 craft experiences above that you can enjoy even in Okinawa during the rainy season in May, so please use them as a reference.

Recommended craft experience in Okinawa in May ①
Ryukyu glass

Recommended craft experience ① in Okinawa in May is making your own Ryukyu glass.

Ryukyu glass is a traditional Okinawan craft known for its sparkling air bubbles.

Its colorful look makes it a popular souvenir from Okinawa, too!

Because it rains a lot in Okinawa in May, making Ryukyu glass, which you can enjoy indoors, is very popular.

The facility where you can make Ryukyu glass in Okinawa in May is listed below.

Recommended craft experience in Okinawa in May ②
Coral dyeing

Recommended craft experience ② in Okinawa in May is "coral dyeing."

In coral dyeing, you use precious fossilized coral to dye items such as "tenugui (traditional hand towels)," "tote bags," "small furoshiki (wrapping cloths)" and "T-shirts" in soft yet vivid colors.

Even in rainy Okinawa in May, coral dyeing is something you can do indoors, so you can enjoy it without worrying about the weather.

Here are the details for a shop where you can try coral dyeing, a recommended craft experience in Okinawa in May.

Recommended craft experience in Okinawa in May ③
Photo frames

Recommended craft experience ③ in Okinawa in May is "photo frames."

At first glance, photo frames may not seem connected to Okinawa, but at "Kanoa" on Kokusai-dori, you can decorate your frame with tropical seashells and shisa ornaments, making an adorable photo frame that is distinctly Okinawan.

This one is also indoors, so you can enjoy it with peace of mind even in rainy Okinawa in May.

Here is the shop where you can make a "photo frame," a recommended craft experience in Okinawa in May.

Recommended craft experience in Okinawa in May ④
Shisa making

Recommended craft experience ④ in Okinawa in May is "shisa making."

Of course, you won't be making a life-size shisa. You make a small one, and you can enjoy creating a shisa with a cute character design.

Shisa are guardians of the home that are said to protect it from evil spirits and bad luck, so one could make a nice good-luck charm, too.

Because it's an indoor experience, it's one you can enjoy even in Okinawa in May, once the rainy season has started.

Here are the shops where you can make shisa, a recommended craft experience in Okinawa in May.

Shop ① where you can make shisa in Okinawa in May

Shop ② where you can make shisa in Okinawa in May

Recommended sightseeing spots in Okinawa in May

Assuming it will rain a lot in Okinawa in May, our local staff picked out sightseeing spots you can enjoy in Okinawa in May.

Be sure to check them out and enjoy sightseeing in Okinawa in May.

Recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May ①
Kokusai-dori Street

Recommended sightseeing spot ① in Okinawa in May is "Kokusai-dori Street."

Kokusai-dori is Okinawa's largest downtown area, in Naha City, lined with about 600 shops, including "souvenir shops" and "izakaya (Japanese pubs)."

It's about 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport, which makes it a perfect spot for buying souvenirs.

With so many shops, Kokusai-dori is a place where you can enjoy shopping even in Okinawa in May.

Kokusai-dori, a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May, has no official website, so we are introducing the website of the "Naha City Kokusai-dori Shopping District."

Recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May ②
American Village

Recommended sightseeing spot ② in Okinawa in May is "American Village."

Its streets look like a colorful re-creation of a town on the American West Coast, which makes it a popular spot for photos.

With plenty of variety shops and American-style restaurants, it's also a great area for dining and shopping.

Even in rainy Okinawa in May, you can stay dry once you step inside the buildings, so it's one of the sightseeing spots we recommend for a trip to Okinawa in May.

The official page for "American Village," a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May, is below.

Recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May ③
Churaumi Aquarium

Recommended sightseeing spot ③ in Okinawa in May is "Churaumi Aquarium."

Churaumi Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Okinawa, and its star attraction is the 8.8 m whale shark, which holds the world record for the longest time in captivity.

The tank, built around the theme of the "deep sea," re-creates Okinawa's clear blue ocean and lets you enjoy a mysterious underwater world.

Of course, it's indoors, so it's a facility you can fully enjoy even in rainy-season Okinawa in May.

Here are the details for "Churaumi Aquarium," a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May.

Recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May ④
Ryukyu Glass Village

Recommended sightseeing spot ④ in Okinawa in May is "Ryukyu Glass Village."

At Ryukyu Glass Village, you can try "making Ryukyu glass," and also enjoy "shopping" and "dining."

Much of what's on offer is indoors, so it's an area you can fully enjoy even in rainy Okinawa in May.

Here are the details for "Ryukyu Glass Village," recommended sightseeing spot ④ in Okinawa in May.

Recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May ⑤
Okinawa Fruits Land

Recommended sightseeing spot ⑤ in Okinawa in May is "Okinawa Fruits Land."

At Okinawa Fruits Land, you can interact with colorful birds and enjoy a tropical orchard with a true southern-island atmosphere.

Many of the facilities are indoors, so you can fully enjoy it even in Okinawa in May during the rainy season.

Here are the details for "Okinawa Fruits Land," a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May.

 Recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May ⑥
Cave Okinawa

Recommended sightseeing spot ⑥ in Okinawa in May is "Cave Okinawa."

Cave Okinawa is a limestone cave that opened to the general public in February 2018, where you can enjoy a "mysterious world of rock lit up and sparkling brilliantly."

Rain can't get into the cave, so it's a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May during the rainy season.

Here are the details for "Cave Okinawa," a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in May.

Can you swim in the ocean in Okinawa in May? What about pools?

Many of you probably think, "Since we're in Okinawa, I want to swim!"

On the other hand, because it rains a lot in Okinawa in May, you may be worried that you won't be able to swim even though you came all the way to Okinawa.

Okinawa in May does have sunny breaks, so if the timing works out, you can swim in the ocean.

Here we'll introduce beaches and pools recommended for Okinawa in May.

Be sure to check them out and enjoy swimming in Okinawa in May.

Beaches where you can swim in Okinawa in May

If it's sunny, of course you can swim in the ocean even in Okinawa during the rainy season in May.

On the other hand, in heavy rain, swimming may be banned!

We'll introduce recommended beaches in Okinawa in May, but on days with heavy rain, we recommend using an indoor pool.

First, here are the recommended beaches in Okinawa in May.

Be sure to aim for the sunny breaks and enjoy swimming in the ocean in Okinawa in May.

Recommended beach in Okinawa in May ①
Kouri Beach

Recommended beach ① in Okinawa in May is "Kouri Beach."

At Kouri Beach, you can swim in clear emerald-green water, and one reason it's so popular is the view of Kouri Bridge, a popular tourist attraction in Okinawa.

Here are the details for "Kouri Beach," a recommended beach in Okinawa in May.

Recommended beach in Okinawa in May ①
Nirai Beach

Recommended beach ① in Okinawa in May is "Nirai Beach."

Nirai Beach is on the grounds of Hotel Nikko Alivila, and it's an area where you can enjoy "clear emerald-green water" and "coral reefs."

Here are the details for "Nirai Beach," a recommended beach in Okinawa in May.

Pools where you can swim in Okinawa in May

It rains a lot in Okinawa in May, and swimming in the ocean can be banned during heavy rain.

Quite a few of you have probably thought, "I came all prepared to swim, so I want to swim!"

For those travelers, we'll introduce facilities with an "indoor pool" you can enjoy even in Okinawa in May, when there are many rainy days.

Even if the ocean is off limits, why not try a pool in Okinawa in May?

Recommended pool in Okinawa in May ①
Renaissance Okinawa Resort

Recommended pool ① in Okinawa in May is the pool at "Renaissance Okinawa Resort."

"Renaissance Okinawa Resort" has a large indoor pool up to 47 m long with a water slide, so you can have plenty of fun even indoors.

It's one of the pools we recommend for rainy-season Okinawa in May.

Recommended pool in Okinawa in May ②
Sheraton Okinawa Sunmarina Resort

Recommended pool ② in Okinawa in May is "Sheraton Okinawa Sunmarina Resort."

Sheraton Okinawa Sunmarina Resort has a large indoor pool with a "jet stream bath" and a "kids' pool", so the whole family can enjoy it.

It's one of the indoor pools we recommend for rainy Okinawa.

Events in Okinawa in May

Since you're going to Okinawa in May anyway, you may want to enjoy the "events in Okinawa in May" too!

Some of you may be thinking just that.

Here are 2 recommended events held in Okinawa in May.

If you're interested, be sure to enjoy the events in Okinawa in May.

Event in Okinawa in May ①
Naha Haari

Event ① in Okinawa in May is "Naha Haari."

At Naha Haari, thrilling boat races are held to pray for abundant catches and safety at sea in Okinawa.

The dates for 2025 have not been announced yet, but in 2024 it was held from May 3 to May 5, so it will likely be held during Golden Week.

Here are the details for "Naha Haari," held in May.

Event in Okinawa in May ②
Okinawa Children's Land Festival

Event ② in Okinawa in May, the Okinawa Children's Land Festival, is held every May at "Okinawa Children's Land."

The Okinawa Children's Land Festival is packed with activities such as "water play," "comedian shows" and "animal encounters," and it's especially fun for families with children.

Here are the details for the Okinawa Children's Land Festival, held in May.

Summary

May in Okinawa is the rainy season and sees a lot of rain, but there are sunny breaks too, so if the timing works out, you can still enjoy swimming in the ocean.

The rainy season in Okinawa often starts between early and mid-May, and from that point on, travel costs to Okinawa tend to drop.

For anyone who wants to enjoy Okinawa on a budget, May is one of the recommended times to go.

Some of you may wonder, "Can you really enjoy Okinawa in May if it's the rainy season?" but there are many sightseeing spots you can enjoy even in rainy Okinawa in May.

This article shares information to help you have a great time in Okinawa in May without any missteps.

Be sure to use this article as a reference and enjoy your trip to Okinawa in May.