Miyako Island is known for its crystal-clear waters, abundant nature, and beautiful beaches, making it a popular resort destination for tourists year-round. But what is the best time of year to visit Miyako Island? Here’s a ranked list of the best seasons to visit Miyako Island.
Ranking of Miyako Island's Sunny Days by Weather Occurrence Rate
As for the best month to visit Miyako Island, I’ll focus primarily on the probability of good weather. That’s because when I receive inquiries via Instagram DM, many people ask, “Which month is best for seeing the beautiful ocean?” If you want to see beautiful ocean waters, winter (December–February) is best because there’s less plankton. However, when I asked them to elaborate, it turned out that what they really wanted to know was, “I want to travel on a sunny day.” In the past, when we conducted a survey on Okibura’s Instagram asking our followers, “Why do you go to Okinawa?” about 90% of the responses were “To see the beautiful ocean.”
To see the beautiful ocean, it has to be sunny. So, when will it be sunny? That’s the key question.
Japan Meteorological Agency “Weather Occurrence Rates”
What we always refer to here is the “weather occurrence rate” published by the Japan Meteorological Agency. For Okinawa Prefecture, data observed from 1991 to 2020 at four locations—Naha, Minamidaito Island, Miyako Island, and Ishigaki Island—has been made public. The data classifies weather conditions for each day—rain, cloudy, or sunny—and quantifies them numerically.
Weather Determination Criteria and Priority Order
| Weather | Evaluation Criteria | Priorities |
| 雨 | When daily precipitation of 1.0 millimeters or more is recorded | １ |
| Cloudy | When daily precipitation is less than 1.0 millimeters and the average daily cloud cover is 8.5 or higher | ２ |
| Sunny | When daily precipitation is less than 1.0 millimeters and the average daily cloud cover is less than 8.5 | ３ |
Quote:Okinawa Meteorological Observatory: “Weather Occurrence Rates by Region (%)”
How much is 1.0 millimeters of daily precipitation?
It’s drizzling. If you walk outside for a bit without an umbrella, you’ll only get slightly wet. It doesn’t last long; it feels like the very beginning of a rain shower or a brief light drizzle. The ground is slightly wet, and you can see water droplets on leaves and car hoods. Generally speaking, this is the kind of rain that makes you think, “I might want to bring an umbrella just in case.”
What does a daily average cloud cover of 8.5 or higher mean?
When I look up at the sky, it’s almost entirely covered by clouds, and there’s hardly any blue sky in sight. It feels like a light rain could start any moment. With the sun hidden from view, it’s a day with a somewhat dark and heavy atmosphere.
Well then,"Weather Occurrence Rates on Miyako Island"Based on this data, we’ve compiled a ranking of the monthly sunny day percentages for Miyakojima City from January through December. Please use this as a reference when planning your trip.
Percentage of Sunny Days from January to December (Miyakojima)
Here's how it looks. I did the calculations step by step...
Monthly Rankings by Highest Percentage of Sunny Days
Miyakojima City (Miyakojima): Annual Probabilities of Sunny, Cloudy, and Rainy Days
Based on a calculation of all observational data from the Miyako Island station (1991–2020), the annual weather occurrence rates are 46.21 TP3T for sunny days and 53.81 TP3T for cloudy and rainy days.
If you're planning a trip to Miyako Island, you'll want to go between June and October, when the annual probability of sunny weather exceeds 46.2%!
Miyakojima City (Miyakojima): The Gap Between First and Last Place
In Miyakojima City (Miyakojima Station), July ranked first with a sunny-day rate of 59.61 TP3T (the proportion of days that are sunny out of every 5 days). January, which ranked last, had a sunny day rate of 34.41 TP3T (the proportion of days that are sunny out of every 3 days). The difference is as much as 251 TP3T, meaning the sunny day rate varies by approximately 1.7 times. Even for the same trip to Okinawa, simply being mindful of the time of year can change your chances of experiencing sunny days!
Statistically speaking, January is 14% lower than June—the rainy season (48.4%)—apparently...! It's actually kind of strange that June ranks higher (lol).
Main Island of Okinawa (Naha) by Swimming Season
The swimming season in Okinawa generally runs from April to October. (Depending on the location, some beaches are open as early as March or as late as November.)
When looking at the beach season, July ranks first and April ranks last. The top four months—July through October—seem like the best choices, as the probability of sunny weather exceeds 50%!
Summary
So, if you're hoping for sunny weather on your trip to Miyako Island, July offers the best chances! If you can't make it in July specifically, I think you'll have a better chance of catching sunny days if you travel between May and October!
Miyako Island has so many stunning beaches—even more breathtaking than those on the main island of Okinawa—so I really hope you get a chance to see them! As long as the weather is sunny, the ocean will be blue, you’ll feel great, and I’m sure you’ll be thoroughly satisfied. Please use this information as a guide when planning your trip to Okinawa!
