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

In mainland Japan, October is when the heat eases and the first signs of autumn arrive, but in Okinawa the temperatures are still high and summer-like days (above 30°C) continue.

Even in October, you can fully enjoy swimming at the beach and marine sports in Okinawa, and because it is the off-season, you can take an Okinawa trip at a reasonable price.

"Should I take a trip to Okinawa in October?"

If you are wondering about this, this article covers "how to ease your worries about an October trip to Okinawa" and "how to enjoy an October trip to Okinawa," so please use it as a reference.

Check out this article and enjoy your October trip to Okinawa.

Cost of a trip to Okinawa in October

"What can I enjoy on an October trip to Okinawa?"

October strongly calls to mind autumn on the mainland, so it may be hard to picture, but in Okinawa there are many days when the temperature rises above 30 degrees Celsius, and you can still enjoy swimming at the beach and marine sports.

October in Okinawa is a season when you can enjoy the activities that make tropical Okinawa so special, and what makes it even more appealing is that you can travel to Okinawa at much lower prices than in July and August, the best season.

Even if you hear that travel costs are lower, if you are planning an Okinawa trip in October, it is hard to make plans without a rough idea of the price, right?

So, to give you a rough budget for an October trip to Okinawa, we researched "travel costs to Okinawa in early October" and "travel costs to Okinawa in late October" separately.

Please check them and use them as a reference for your budget for an October trip to Okinawa.

Cost of a trip to Okinawa in early October

Even within October, there are days from October 1 to October 31, so many people may wonder whether trip costs to Okinawa differ between early and late October.

For that reason, we researched travel costs separately for early October and late October in Okinawa.

First, for the cost of a trip to Okinawa in early October, a search on the travel site Jalan showed 37,100 yen for a budget 3-day, 2-night tour.

A guideline for the cost of an Okinawa trip during the Obon holiday is around 70,000 yen, so considering that this is also a time when you can enjoy swimming at the beach, you can see that it is an excellent value.

Cost of a trip to Okinawa in late October

In late October there are still days above 30 degrees Celsius in Okinawa, but temperatures begin to drop compared with early October.

Some of you may therefore hope that trip costs to Okinawa get cheaper in late October, but what is the reality?

As above, a search on the travel site Jalan showed 37,300 yen for a budget 3-day, 2-night tour.

Some of you may be thinking, "Huh?" The price was only 200 yen cheaper than in early October. It seems there is not much difference in the cost of an October trip to Okinawa between early and late in the month.

Weather, temperatures and what to wear in Okinawa in October

Okinawa and the mainland differ in many ways when it comes to climate, so before your October trip it is important to check the weather, temperatures and clothing for Okinawa in October.

After all, what you wear and bring changes depending on the weather and temperature.

To avoid arriving in Okinawa in October and realizing you dressed wrong because the temperature was not what you expected, let's first check the weather and temperatures in Okinawa in October.

We will also introduce clothing that suits Okinawa in October, so please use it as a reference.

Weather in Okinawa in October

Many activities in Okinawa can only be enjoyed on sunny days, so if you are traveling to Okinawa in October, you probably wonder about the weather there.

Of course, no one can predict the future, so we looked up the weather information for "Okinawa in October 2024" for you to use as a reference.

(Source: tenki.jp)

In October 2024, it rained on 16 of the 31 days.

However, rain in Okinawa is often only brief, so rest assured that it rarely rains all day long.

Temperatures in Okinawa in October

Temperature affects what you wear and which activities you join, so if you are traveling to Okinawa in October, we recommend checking the temperatures in Okinawa in October as well.

To give you a rough idea of temperatures in Okinawa in October, we have listed the temperatures for October 2024 based on information from tenki.jp, so please use it as a reference.

In early October 2024, there were many summer days with highs above 30 degrees Celsius in Okinawa, and although temperatures tended to fall gradually toward late October, there were still days above 30 degrees even in late October.

What to wear in Okinawa in October

Because there are many hot days above 30 degrees Celsius, you can get by in Okinawa in October in short-sleeved shirts and shorts.

However, some days get chilly after sunset, so we recommend also bringing a light outer layer such as a thin cardigan or hoodie.

Also, even in October the midday sun in Okinawa is strong, so be sure to take thorough measures against UV rays.

Activities for October
hand-picked by our Okinawa staff

"Is it warm enough for marine sports in Okinawa in October?"

Many people wonder this, but in Okinawa in October there are many summer days above 30 degrees Celsius, and you can still enjoy marine sports and other activities.

However, there are so many activities available in Okinawa that visitors sometimes ask us, "Which activity do you recommend?"

To answer that question, we would like to introduce five activities recommended for Okinawa in October, chosen by us as local Okinawa staff.

Please use this as a reference when deciding which activities to join in Okinawa in October.

Recommended October activity in Okinawa #1
Diving

Recommended October activity #1 in Okinawa is "diving," which lets you explore the clear, sparkling waters of Okinawa's sea.

The water temperature in Okinawa in October is said to be around 27 degrees Celsius, ideal for diving.

We have put together recommended diving spots in Okinawa for October, so please use them as a reference.

Recommended October activity in Okinawa #2
Snorkeling

Recommended October activity #2 in Okinawa is "snorkeling," which lets you enjoy Okinawa's underwater world with lighter equipment than diving.

Snorkeling is a marine sport in which you explore the sea while breathing through a device called a snorkel, and because no license is required, even beginners can easily join in.

The water temperature in Okinawa in October is around 27 degrees Celsius, which is considered comfortable, so it is also well suited to snorkeling.

The companies offering "snorkeling" tours in Okinawa in October are listed below.

Recommended October activity in Okinawa #3
Parasailing

Recommended October activity #3 in Okinawa is "parasailing," which lets you take in the beautiful Okinawan sea from high above while feeling the sea breeze.

Parasailing is a marine sport in which a boat tows a parachute-equipped harness so you can enjoy views of the Okinawan sea from the sky.

With calm winds in Okinawa in October, it is the best season for parasailing!

Details of the company offering recommended "parasailing" in Okinawa in October are below.

Recommended October activity in Okinawa #4
Banana boat

Recommended October activity #4 in Okinawa is the "banana boat," in which you ride a banana-shaped float and glide exhilaratingly across the Okinawan sea.

A banana boat is a marine sport in which you ride a banana-shaped float that is towed powerfully by a boat. Many of them can carry a large number of people, so they are popular with groups and families traveling together.

Details of the company offering recommended "banana boat" rides in Okinawa in October are below.

Recommended October activity in Okinawa #5
Kayaking

Recommended October activity #5 in Okinawa is "kayaking," which we recommend for anyone who wants to enjoy Okinawa's nature at a relaxed pace.

Kayaking is an activity in which you ride a small boat and use a paddle yourself to travel across "the waters of Okinawa" or through the subtropical "mangrove forests," letting you experience Okinawa's nature at your own pace.

The companies offering "kayaking" tours in Okinawa in October are listed below.

Recommended sightseeing spots
in Okinawa in October, hand-picked by our Okinawa staff

In addition to activities, Okinawa is known for having many sightseeing spots.

Many visitors come to Okinawa for 3 days and 2 nights or 4 days and 3 nights, and with such limited time, many of you probably wonder which sightseeing spots to choose.

To help with that, we would like to introduce eight sightseeing spots in Okinawa for October recommended by our local Okinawa staff.

Please use this as a reference and enjoy sightseeing in Okinawa in October.

Recommended October sightseeing spot in Okinawa #1
Fukugi tree-lined path

Recommended October sightseeing spot #1 in Okinawa is the "Fukugi tree-lined path," a mystical spot you can only encounter in subtropical Okinawa.

The trees were originally planted about 100 years ago as a windbreak, but the light filtering through the fukugi trees is mystical, and a walk through the green tunnel is wonderfully refreshing.

Details of the "Fukugi tree-lined path," recommended for sightseeing in Okinawa in October, are below.

Recommended October sightseeing spot in Okinawa #2
Daiichi Makishi Public Market

Recommended October sightseeing spot #2 in Okinawa is the "Daiichi Makishi Public Market," known as Okinawa's kitchen, where you can enjoy seasonal Okinawan ingredients.

The Daiichi Makishi Public Market sells many Okinawan ingredients, and it is popular with many visitors because the restaurants on the second floor will cook the ingredients you buy.

Details of the "Daiichi Makishi Public Market," a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in October, are below.

Recommended October sightseeing spot in Okinawa #3
Nago Pineapple Park

Recommended October sightseeing spot #3 in Okinawa is "Nago Pineapple Park," where you can tour a jungle-like setting aboard a cute pineapple-shaped train.

At Nago Pineapple Park, in addition to the plants, you can enjoy pineapple sweets and shop for processed pineapple foods.

Details of "Nago Pineapple Park," a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in October, are below.

Recommended October sightseeing spot in Okinawa #4
Ryukyu Glass Village

Recommended October sightseeing spot #4 in Okinawa is "Ryukyu Glass Village," where you can try making "Ryukyu glass," a traditional Okinawan craft, and shop for "Ryukyu glass" pieces.

Ryukyu glass is glassware characterized by its rounded forms and the large and small air bubbles that sparkle inside, and it is also a popular souvenir among visitors.

Details of "Ryukyu Glass Village," a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in October, are below.

Recommended October sightseeing spot in Okinawa #5
Gangala Valley

Recommended October sightseeing spot #5 in Okinawa is "Gangala Valley," a rare valley formed by the collapse of a limestone cave, in an Okinawa known for its many limestone caves.

Tours are held every day, so we hope you will experience the stirring, mystical world of this limestone cave valley.

Details of "Gangala Valley," recommended for sightseeing in Okinawa in October, are below.

Recommended October sightseeing spot in Okinawa #6
Okinawa World

Recommended October sightseeing spot #6 in Okinawa is "Okinawa World," a facility that packs Okinawan culture into one place.

Inside Okinawa World are areas such as a "limestone cave," a "fruit garden" and a "Ryukyu Kingdom castle town," and you can also enjoy "Okinawan craft experiences" and an "Eisa show."

Details of "Okinawa World," a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in October, are below.

Recommended October sightseeing spot in Okinawa #7
Senaga Island Umikaji Terrace

Recommended October sightseeing spot #7 in Okinawa is "Senaga Island Umikaji Terrace," known for its white buildings spread across a piece of land surrounded by the sea.

Senaga Island Umikaji Terrace is a relatively new spot that opened in 2015, where you can shop and dine while gazing out at the sea.

Details of "Senaga Island Umikaji Terrace," a recommended sightseeing spot in Okinawa in October, are below.

Recommended October sightseeing spot in Okinawa #8
American Village

Recommended October sightseeing spot #8 in Okinawa is "American Village," whose charm lies in its stylish setting that recreates an American townscape.

Its vast grounds, said to be as large as five Tokyo Domes, are packed with shops such as "restaurants," "cafes" and "variety stores," where you can enjoy dining and shopping.

Details of "American Village," recommended for sightseeing in Okinawa in October, are below.

October craft experiences
recommended in Okinawa

Besides sightseeing and activities, more and more visitors to Okinawa are enjoying "craft experiences that let you feel Okinawan culture."

Among craft experiences, we would like to introduce two recommended experiences you can join in Okinawa in October, so please use them as a reference.

It is still hot in Okinawa in October, so we also recommend setting aside time for a craft experience inside a cool facility.

Recommended October craft experience in Okinawa #1
Shisa painting experience

Recommended October craft experience #1 in Okinawa is the "shisa painting experience." Shisa are the Okinawan guardian lion-dogs said to ward off evil, spirits and calamities and protect the home.

You can paint a small, cutely designed shisa and make a piece that suits your own taste.

Of course, you can take it home, so it is sure to become a wonderful memento of your Okinawa trip.

The shop where you can enjoy the recommended "shisa painting experience" in Okinawa in October is below.

Recommended October craft experience in Okinawa #2
Ryukyu glass making experience

Recommended October craft experience #2 in Okinawa is the "Ryukyu glass making experience," a chance to try a traditional Okinawan craft.

Ryukyu glass is characterized by air bubbles that sparkle inside the glass, and its beauty is loved by many visitors.

The shop where you can enjoy the "Ryukyu glass making experience," a recommended craft experience in Okinawa in October, is below.

October beaches
recommended in Okinawa

On the mainland you can hardly swim in the sea in October, so many of you probably wonder, "Can you still swim at the beach in Okinawa in October?"

In Okinawa in October, temperatures often climb as high as 30 degrees Celsius and the water temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius, so you can swim without any problem, and many of Okinawa's beaches are still open even in October.

However, October in Okinawa is also the season when jellyfish appear, so for safety we recommend beaches that have jellyfish nets in place.

Among the beaches with jellyfish nets, we would like to introduce three beaches that we especially recommend in Okinawa in October, so please use them as a reference.

Note: To check which beaches have jellyfish nets installed, please use the website of the Okinawa Prefecture Department of Health and Welfare.

Recommended October beach in Okinawa #1
Kanucha Beach

Recommended October beach #1 in Okinawa is "Kanucha Beach," a natural beach untouched by human hands.

At Kanucha Beach, you can enjoy a stylish setting of white parasols spread across a white sandy beach, along with the cobalt blue sea.

Details of "Kanucha Beach," a recommended beach in Okinawa in October, are below.

Recommended October beach in Okinawa #2
Manza Beach

Recommended October beach #2 in Okinawa is "Manza Beach," known for its high water clarity even among the beaches of the main island of Okinawa.

Manza Beach has an athletic course set up on the water, so it is also popular with families.

Details of "Manza Beach," a recommended beach in Okinawa in October, are below.

Recommended October beach in Okinawa #3
Naminoue Beach

Recommended October beach #3 in Okinawa is "Naminoue Beach," conveniently located about 5 minutes by car from Naha Airport.

In addition to swimming, Naminoue Beach is appealing because you can enjoy marine sports such as SUP and diving, as well as barbecues.

Details of "Naminoue Beach," a recommended beach in October, are below.

October events and fireworks festivals
in Okinawa

If you are going to Okinawa in October anyway, some of you may want to fully enjoy the "events in Okinawa in October" that you can only experience at that time of year.

In Okinawa in October, in addition to events that let you feel Okinawan culture, fireworks festivals are also held.

We have put together details on events and fireworks festivals in Okinawa in October below, so please use them as a reference.

Events in Okinawa held in October

Two major events are held in Okinawa in October.

In particular, the "Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival" is said to be one of the three major festivals of Naha City and is a truly spectacular event, so be sure to check it out.

Event in Okinawa held in October #1
Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival

October event #1 in Okinawa is the "Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival," one of the three major festivals of Naha City.

The Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival is a festival of pulling a great rope, a custom from the Ryukyu Kingdom era, and the sight of two teams, east and west, pulling a giant rope against each other is overwhelming.

Details of the "Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival," an event held in Okinawa in October, are below.

Event in Okinawa held in October #2
Okinawa Industrial Festival

October event #2 in Okinawa is the "Okinawa Industrial Festival," where a variety of booths related to Okinawa's industries are set up.

At the Okinawa Industrial Festival, you can get a close-up feel for Okinawa's industries, and you can also enjoy food and drink corners.

Details of the "Okinawa Industrial Festival," held in Okinawa in October, are below.

Fireworks festivals in Okinawa held in October

Fireworks festivals are usually associated with summer, but in Okinawa two fireworks festivals are also held in October.

October in Okinawa is still warm and it rarely gets chilly even at night, so it is also a good season for enjoying fireworks.

Fireworks festival in Okinawa held in October #1
Kitanakagusuku Festival

October fireworks festival #1 in Okinawa is the "Kitanakagusuku Festival," where you can watch plays that let you feel Okinawan culture.

The Kitanakagusuku Festival is held over two days, and fireworks are launched at the finale on both days.

Details of the "Kitanakagusuku Festival," held in Okinawa in October, are below.

Fireworks festival in Okinawa held in October #2
Onna Village Churaumi Fireworks Festival

October fireworks festival #2 in Okinawa is the "Onna Village Churaumi Fireworks Festival," held alongside the Unna Festival, a community-based festival in Onna Village, Okinawa.

At the Onna Village Churaumi Fireworks Festival, in addition to the fireworks, you can also enjoy local events and food unique to the area.

Details of the "Onna Village Churaumi Fireworks Festival," a fireworks festival held in Okinawa in October, are below.

Frequently asked questions about Okinawa in October

If it is your first time traveling to Okinawa in October, many of you may feel uneasy because of differences in culture, temperatures and so on.

Below we have listed frequently asked questions about traveling to Okinawa in October that we often receive from visitors, along with our answers, so please use them as a reference for your October trip to Okinawa.

How much rain does Okinawa get in October?

According to Japan Meteorological Agency data, Okinawa's rainfall in October 2024 was 338.5 mm.

Do typhoons come to Okinawa in October?

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's website, a typhoon approached Okinawa once in October 2023.

What fruits are in season in Okinawa in October?

Fruits in season in Okinawa in October include dragon fruit, island bananas and mangoes.

Summary

In this article, to ease worries about an October trip to Okinawa, we covered information such as travel costs, temperatures, weather and what to wear.

In addition, so that you can fully enjoy your October trip to Okinawa, we introduced recommended activities, sightseeing spots, craft experiences, usable beaches and event information for Okinawa in October.

We hope this article helps you make the most of your October trip to Okinawa.