{"id":1269,"date":"2024-09-28T10:29:26","date_gmt":"2024-09-28T01:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gogo-tour.com\/contents\/?p=1269"},"modified":"2026-06-15T15:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T06:08:15","slug":"sunshine-hours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.gogo-tour.com\/info\/sunshine-hours\/","title":{"rendered":"Okinawa Climate Guide (Sunshine Hours, UV Levels & Sun Protection) with Graphs | Explore Okinawa with GO!GO!TOUR Rent a Car"},"content":{"rendered":"

Okinawa Climate<\/h2>\r\n\"\u6c96\u7e04\u306e\u6c17\u5019\"\r\n

Compared to mainland Japan, Okinawa has a warm climate throughout the year.<\/p>\r\n

During the daytime, strong sunlight shines down and UV exposure is quite high.<\/p>\r\n

However, surprisingly, Okinawa\u2019s annual sunshine duration is actually relatively short compared to other regions in Japan, meaning it is not always blue skies and sunshine year-round.<\/p>\r\n

In this article, we take a closer look at Okinawa\u2019s sunshine hours.<\/p>\r\n

We also introduce recommended items for UV protection and sun care in Okinawa, so we hope this helps you plan your trip!<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Sunshine Duration in Okinawa<\/h2>\r\n\"\u9752\u3044\u7a7a\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nFrom early June, when the rainy season<\/a> ends, through around October, Okinawa experiences relatively long sunshine hours, with July being the sunniest month of the year.\r\n\r\nFrom around December to March, however, cloudy and rainy days are more common, and January to February in particular have the shortest sunshine duration.\r\n\r\nWhile Okinawa is often imagined as a place of constant sunshine, its actual daylight and sunshine hours vary significantly by season.\r\n\r\nOkinawa is also classified as a subtropical oceanic climate, characterized by high temperatures and high humidity.\r\n\r\nSurrounded by warm ocean waters, weather systems and rain clouds form easily, so it\u2019s not unusual for the weather to suddenly change\u2014even from clear skies to rain within just a few minutes.\r\n

Annual Sunshine Hours in Okinawa<\/h2>\r\n\"\u82b1\"<\/a>\r\n

According to data from the Japan Meteorological Agency (reference period: 1991\u20132020), Okinawa\u2019s annual sunshine duration is 1,727 hours, ranking 36th in Japan.<\/p>\r\n

For reference, the top three prefectures with the highest sunshine hours are:<\/p>\r\n

1st: Yamanashi Prefecture \u2013 2,226 hours
2nd: Kochi Prefecture \u2013 2,159 hours
3rd: Gunma Prefecture \u2013 2,153 hours<\/p>\r\n

The national average is 1,916 hours, meaning Okinawa actually has fewer sunshine hours than the national average\u2014an unexpected result for many.<\/p>\r\n

However, this does not mean Okinawa is consistently cloudy throughout the year. Rather, there is a large seasonal variation between summer and winter, which leads to this overall ranking.<\/p>\r\n

Next, let\u2019s take a closer look at Okinawa\u2019s monthly sunshine hours.<\/p>\r\n

For easier comparison, we have also compared Okinawa\u2019s annual sunshine hours with Yamanashi Prefecture, which ranks first in Japan.<\/p>\r\n\u25bcAnnual Sunshine Hours: Yamanashi vs. Okinawa<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nSource: Japan Meteorological Agency (Reference period: 1991\u20132020)<\/a><\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/th>\r\nAnnual Sunshine Duration<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Okinawa<\/th>\r\n1,727hours<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Yamanashi<\/th>\r\n2,226hours<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

Compared to Yamanashi Prefecture, which ranks first in Japan, Okinawa has about 500 fewer sunshine hours per year\u2014roughly equivalent to 8.3 days.<\/p>\r\n

However, looking at the graph, Okinawa actually exceeds Yamanashi in sunshine hours from around July to September, showing that summer in Okinawa has many clear, sunny days.<\/p>\r\n

In contrast, winter sunshine hours drop to less than half of summer levels, with January and February being the shortest and cloudiest months.<\/p>\r\n

Overall, while Okinawa has fewer annual sunshine hours than many regions in Japan, this is largely due to the significantly low sunshine in winter.<\/p>\r\n

In summer, Okinawa often features beautiful blue skies and sea views, but sudden squalls can still occur, so it\u2019s important to stay prepared for quick weather changes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Annual Number of Sunny Days in Okinawa<\/h2>\r\n\"\u6c96\u7e04\u306e\u6674\u308c\u65e5\u6570\"<\/a>\r\n

Okinawa records 211 sunny or clear days out of 365, ranking 35th in Japan.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

For comparison, Kagawa Prefecture ranks 1st with 249 sunny days, while the national average is 217 days.<\/p>\r\n

Even though Okinawa often has sunny periods in summer, frequent typhoons and sudden thunderstorms lower the overall ranking. This reflects Okinawa\u2019s unique climate, surrounded by warm ocean waters and without high mountains to block weather systems.<\/p>\r\n

After the rainy season ends in June, Okinawa is often covered by the Pacific High-pressure system, bringing many sunny days.<\/p>\r\n

From September into autumn, sunny weather continues to be common, and warm conditions last until around late October.<\/p>\r\n

From late November through winter, however, cloudy and rainy days become more frequent, making it harder to feel the typical \u201ctropical island\u201d atmosphere during this season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Okinawa\u2019s UV Levels<\/h2>\r\n\"\u65e5\u5dee\u3057\"<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u25bcUV Index Comparison: Naha, Sapporo, and Tsukuba<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/th>\r\nAnnual Average (kJ\/\u33a1)<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Naha<\/th>\r\n21.01<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Sapporo<\/th>\r\n11.02<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Tsukuba<\/th>\r\n13.89<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nSource: Japan Meteorological Agency, UV Observation Results (1994\u20132008 average)<\/a><\/span>\r\n

Okinawa\u2019s UV levels remain high throughout the year, and in summer they can be about twice as high as those in Sapporo or Tsukuba.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

The summer sunlight in Okinawa can feel intense enough to be painful on the skin.<\/p>\r\n

Interestingly, the UV levels in Sapporo and Tsukuba during summer are similar to those in Okinawa during spring and autumn.<\/p>\r\n

While many people are careful about sun protection in summer due to the strong sunlight, it\u2019s important to note that other seasons also require caution.<\/p>\r\n

When visiting Okinawa, it\u2019s best to remember that UV protection is necessary not only in summer but throughout the entire year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n