What is Okinawa like in February?

In February Okinawa's late winter stays mild, and the wind blows steadily from the north under a lot of cloud. JMA's 1991–2020 normals give daily highs from 18.1 °C on the hill station at Tokashiki to 22.0 °C on Ishigaki, with nights of 13.8–17.2 °C. The mean wind runs 3.8–7.6 m/s and comes from the north or north-north-east at most stations. By our averages of JMA's daily sea surface normals the water runs 21.4–23.7 °C, so most swimmers will want a wetsuit, and the beaches hold their opening ceremonies from late March. Humpback whales are in the Keramas, and the kanhizakura cherry works its way south down the main island. On Sunday 21 February 2027 the Okinawa Marathon returns to Okinawa City.

Every weather figure here comes from the Japan Meteorological Agency's published normals for the station named, read in October 2026. The sea temperatures are our monthly averages of JMA's daily normals for the nearest coastal sea area, and the event dates come from the organisers. Where a 2027 date was not out yet, we give 2026's and say so.

How warm, wet and windy is February on each island?

Station	High / low (°C)	Rain (mm), days with 1 mm or more	Sunshine (hours)	Mean wind (m/s), most frequent direction	Sea (°C)
Naha	20.2 / 15.1	114.5, 9.9	93.1	5.2, N	22.2
Nago	19.8 / 13.9	109.9, 10.7	91.4	3.8, NNE	21.5
Tokashiki, 220 m up	18.1 / 13.8	129.2, 11.3	97.6	4.9, N	22.1
Kumejima	20.0 / 14.8	141.2, 11.7	80.1	4.2, N	22.1
Miyakojima	21.1 / 16.6	119.8, 10.8	90.3	4.8, NNE	23.0
Ishigakijima	22.0 / 17.2	124.0, 9.8	91.3	5.4, NNE	23.4
Iriomotejima	21.6 / 16.7	146.6, 12.0	82.9	4.6, NE	23.2
Yonagunijima	21.3 / 17.0	163.6, 13.6	60.3	7.6, NNE	23.7
Yoron, 2000–2020	19.8 / 14.9	98.9, 10.1	Not measured	5.6, NNW	21.4

The Tokashiki station stands on a hill, and by our comparison it runs 1.6 to 1.9 °C cooler than Naha through the winter, so the Kerama villages at sea level sit closer to Naha's figures. Yoron's temperature and wind normals start in 2000. Our riding climate page has every month, and the winter riding guide goes island by island from December to March.

What is the wind like in February?

Okinawa's north-east monsoon sets in around early October, and locals call its first cool push miinishi (the new north wind). At Naha the day's strongest wind reaches 10 m/s or more on 7.6 to 8.8 days a month from December to March, and on Yonaguni it gets there on 18.8 days in February alone. Nago gets about two such days a month and Kumejima about one. The south- and west-facing shores sit in the lee of a northerly, so save the exposed crossings and the cape rides for the calmer days.

Early spring brings one more pattern. A low from the East China Sea sometimes deepens fast as it crosses Okinawa, and once its cold front passes, a southerly swings round to a strong north or north-east wind and the temperature drops. Okinawans have long called this ningwachi kajimaai (the wind turn of the second lunar month) (JMA). JMA recorded no typhoon approach to the Okinawa region from January to March in the 30 years from 1991 to 2020.

The sun comes up late this far west in a single time zone. The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan gives Naha a sunrise of 7:14 and a sunset of 18:12 on 1 February 2027 (NAOJ). Pack for 14 to 22 °C with wind on top. A light layer and a windproof shell cover most days, and the sun still has heat in it at noon on a clear one.

Can you swim in Okinawa in February?

Yes, with a wetsuit for most people. February brings the year's coolest sea in every coastal area we track, from 21.4 °C in the coastal area nearest Yoron and 21.5 °C off north-west Okinawa Island to 23.7 °C south of Yonaguni. OCVB says the beaches across the prefecture hold their umibiraki opening ceremonies between late March and late April, and the Yaeyama Islands hold theirs in March (OCVB). Until then most beaches have no lifeguards or jellyfish nets, so a swim is unsupervised.

Many beach facilities run winter hours or close. At Zanpa Beach in Yomitan the beach house opens 9:00–17:00 from November to March and the food stand shuts. On Taketomi the bus and rentals for Kondoi Beach stop from November to late March. Many dive shops keep going through the winter, and Piranha Divers in Onna gives the water as about 22 °C in February and March and lends long wetsuits, hoods and vests. On Miyako, Marea Miyakojima recommends at least a 5 mm wetsuit with a hooded vest for March diving.

Where can you see whales in February?

The humpbacks are in the Kerama Islands from about late December to early April, and Okinawa Churashima Foundation research puts the mating peak between late January and late February (Churashima Foundation). The Zamami Whale Watching Association ran its 2026 boats from 8 January to 25 March, and boats from Naha and Chatan sail through February. Our Kerama whale guide covers the boats, the fares and the rule that keeps everyone out of the water.

Where are the cherry blossoms in February?

Okinawa's cherry is the kanhizakura. Its deep pink flowers hang in clusters and fall whole when they finish. OCVB puts the north of Okinawa Island at its best from early January to early February, and Nago's tourism association gives late January to mid-February for Nago Castle Park (Nago tourism association). By February the bloom has reached the centre and the south.

In 2026 the Motobu Yaedake festival ran from 17 January to 8 February, and Motobu's tourism association counts more than 7,000 trees along the road of about 4 km toward the 453.4 m summit of Yaedake. The Nakijin Gusuku festival lit up the castle walls from 31 January to 8 February 2026. The Nago Cherry Blossom Festival is planned for 30–31 January 2027. Later in the month OCVB listed Naha's Chura Sakura festival in Manko Park on 21–22 February 2026. On Miyako the 400 m avenue of deigo trees at the Tropical Botanical Garden flowers in February and March, and on Tokashiki the Kerama azalea opens from about February.

What else is on in February 2027?

The Okinawa Marathon comes back on Sunday 21 February 2027 after the organisers paused the 2026 race. The full marathon starts at 9:00 and the 10 km at 9:40 from the Okinawa Prefectural Sports Park in Hiyagon, Okinawa City, and the race runs rain or shine (Okinawa Marathon). It takes 13,500 runners in the full and 3,000 in the 10 km. From 8:00 the road from the park's central gate toward Awase is closed, so keep any ride in central Okinawa away from the course that Sunday.

Pro baseball fills the month on the main island. In 2026 OCVB listed nine Japanese teams and Korea's Samsung Lions in spring camps, and six of the Japanese teams started on 1 February. On Iriomote, the Yamaneko Marathon starts and finishes at Uehara Elementary School on Saturday 13 February 2027.

Do ferries get cancelled in February?

Yes, on the exposed routes. Zamami Village stops its high-speed Queen Zamami 3 when 15 m/s of wind or 3.0 m waves are forecast on the crossing (Zamami Village), and Tokashiki Village cancels the Marine Liner Tokashiki when waves exceed 3 m and posts its decision at 8:00. In the Yaeyamas, Anei Kanko says the Uehara route on Iriomote's north coast cancels more often than Ohara in a strong northerly, often for days at a time in the winter monsoon. When Uehara stops, the boats carry its passengers to Ohara and on by free bus. The Hateruma route crosses open ocean, and high seas can cancel it for several days running. Ishigaki TripAssist, an independent travel site, puts the chance of cancellation on the Uehara and Hateruma routes from December to February at about 50% without citing a source (TripAssist). Tonaki has one boat route in and out, so it is easy to get stuck there.

Build a spare day into any plan that depends on Zamami, Tokashiki, Hateruma or Uehara, and check the operator's status page on the morning you sail.

What is closed or quiet in February?

Some tours stop for the season. The Yabiji reef trips from Ikema on Miyako don't run in the north wind of winter. Anei Kanko's trips to Barasu, Panari and Funauki stop from late October to March, and the Kume-jima sea-kayak trip to the hidden islets is suspended from October to March. Marine House Seasir closes its Naha diving from 4 January to 28 February 2027 and its Aka base from 12 January to 9 February 2027 (Seasir). The Hateruma Star Observatory has been shut since July 2022. Ishigaki Hoshizora Farm skips December and January because the monsoon brings cloud, and it reopened its star tours in February in 2026. On Yoron, Shima no Eki Kurumado closes in January and February.

The best-known heritage sites stay open. Sefa-utaki in Nanjo reopens its inner prayer sites after conservation work ends on 5 January 2027, and its rest days fall in the fifth and tenth lunar months (Nanjo City). Shuri Castle runs winter hours from December to March, with the paid area open 8:30–18:00, and the rebuilt Seiden takes timed tickets since it reopened on 23 November 2026.

Quick answers

Is February a good time to visit Okinawa?

Yes, for whale watching and the end of the cherry blossom. JMA's normals give Naha a February high of 20.2 °C and a low of 15.1 °C, and the north wind there averages 5.2 m/s. The sea runs about 21–24 °C, and the beaches open for the season from late March.

Can you swim in Okinawa in February?

Yes, though most people will want a wetsuit. The sea runs from 21.4 °C near Yoron to 23.7 °C south of Yonaguni in February, by our averages of JMA's sea surface normals. Most beaches have no lifeguards or jellyfish nets until they open between late March and late April.

When is the Okinawa Marathon in 2027?

The 31st Okinawa Marathon is on Sunday 21 February 2027, starting at 9:00 from the Okinawa Prefectural Sports Park in Okinawa City. A 10 km race starts at 9:40. Roads near the course close from 8:00.

Are there cherry blossoms in Okinawa in February?

Yes. Okinawa's kanhizakura cherry blooms from January to mid-February, starting in the north of Okinawa Island and moving south. In 2026 the festivals at Yaedake in Motobu and at Nakijin Castle ran until 8 February, and Naha's Chura Sakura festival ran on 21–22 February.

Do Okinawa's ferries run in February?

Yes, though the north wind cancels the exposed routes on some days. The Zamami, Tokashiki, Hateruma and Uehara boats are the ones most likely to stop, and the Uehara route on Iriomote can stay cancelled for days in the winter monsoon. Keep a spare day in any island plan.