Okinawa in winter is a 20 °C sightseeing port, not a beach port: the museums, the castle, the islands and the whales all work from December to February, the sea is about 23 °C but the beaches’ swimming seasons start in spring, and over New Year the museums and markets keep short lists of closed days.
Your port day in December, January and February
| Port and month | High / low | Sea | Sunrise – sunset (15th) | What is running |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naha, Dec | 21.5 / 16.8 °C (71 / 62 °F) | 24 °C (76 °F) | 07:09–17:40 (10 h 31) | Shuri Castle 8:30–18:00; Makishi market daily in December; whale season from late December |
| Naha, Jan | 19.8 / 14.9 °C (68 / 59 °F) | 23 °C (73 °F) | 07:18–17:59 (10 h 41) | Whale season; Makishi market closed 1–3 Jan and on the 4th Sunday |
| Naha, Feb | 20.2 / 15.1 °C (68 / 59 °F) | 22 °C (72 °F) | 07:05–18:22 (11 h 17) | Whale season; Makishi market closed on the 4th Sunday; some market shops close for the Lunar New Year (7 Feb 2027) |
| Miyakojima, Dec | 22.2 / 18.2 °C (72 / 65 °F) | 25 °C (76 °F) | 07:15–17:52 (10 h 37) | Bridges and capes by car; Hennazaki lighthouse 9:30–12:00 and 13:00–16:30 |
| Miyakojima, Jan | 20.6 / 16.3 °C (69 / 61 °F) | 23 °C (74 °F) | 07:25–18:11 (10 h 46) | The same; City Museum closed to 3 Jan, on Mondays and holidays |
| Miyakojima, Feb | 21.1 / 16.6 °C (70 / 62 °F) | 23 °C (73 °F) | 07:13–18:33 (11 h 20) | The same; no patrolled beach until April |
| Ishigaki, Dec | 23.0 / 18.4 °C (73 / 65 °F) | 25 °C (76 °F) | 07:19–17:58 (10 h 39) | Taketomi ferries, last boat back 17:50; Kabira glass-bottom boats |
| Ishigaki, Jan | 21.5 / 16.7 °C (71 / 62 °F) | 24 °C (75 °F) | 07:29–18:16 (10 h 47) | The same; Yaeyama Museum closed to 3 Jan, market closed 1–3 Jan |
| Ishigaki, Feb | 22.0 / 17.2 °C (72 / 63 °F) | 23 °C (74 °F) | 07:17–18:38 (11 h 21) | The same; the Yaeyama beach season opens 14 March 2027 |
Air: JMA 1991–2020 normals, mean daily high and low, for the stations Naha, Miyakojima and Ishigakijima. Sea: JMA coastal sea-surface normals 1991–2020 (areas 704, 706 and 708), averaged by month for the offshore areas around each island, not readings at a beach. Sun: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan: its Naha table, and its calculator for Ishigaki and for Miyakojima at 24°48′N 125°17′E (Hirara). Opening hours: the places' own pages, checked 13 November 2026.
Two things the table does not show. The winter wind is from the north, and the sky is often grey: Naha averages about 93 hours of sunshine in January (JMA normal). And the public beaches’ swimming seasons start in spring: Naha’s Naminoue Beach swims April to October, and Miyakojima’s season opens on the first Sunday of April. On Ishigaki, Fusaki Beach, a hotel beach, keeps a netted swimming area open all year and lends wetsuits from November to February.
What is closed, 29 December to 3 January
| Port | Place | Tue 29 | Wed 30 | Thu 31 | Fri 1 | Sat 2 | Sun 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naha and Itoman | Prefectural Museum & Art Museum | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed |
| Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed | |
| Makishi Public Market | open | open | open | closed | closed | closed | |
| Himeyuri Peace Museum | open | open | open | open | open | open | |
| Ishigaki | Yaeyama Museum | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed |
| Public market | open | open | open | closed | closed | closed | |
| Miyakojima | City Museum | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed |
| Hennazaki lighthouse | open 9:30–12:00 and 13:00–16:30 every day | ||||||
From each place's own page or its city's page, checked 13 November 2026. The Prefectural Museum published its 2026–27 dates; the others are standing rules on their hours pages. A dash means the place has published nothing for that day; the port guides add it when it does.
Yui Rail runs its late-night train on the night of Thursday 31 December (not on Friday 1 January). For Nagasaki and Tokyo over the same week, see A winter cruise in Japan, port by port.
Best in winter
Where next
- The three port guides carry every closed day and opening time by date: Naha, Miyakojima, Ishigaki.
- Each ship’s own page for a port cuts the plans to its arrival and departure times: for example MSC Bellissima in Naha or Star Navigator in Naha. Find yours from the Naha schedule.
- For first-port immigration on a winter cruise from Taiwan or Hong Kong, see Port of entry into Japan by cruise ship.
Guided days at the ports in this article
Shared cars with a guide first; each page says who should skip it. Booked through Viator; there is no tour desk at the pier.
NahaPrivate car · per group5.0★ · 12Okinawa Flexible Tour—Driver and Guide Included 1–8 Guests（4-8H）
A private car with driver and English-speaking guide for four to eight hours
US$285 per person for 2 · US$570 per carWhy it is here
MiyakojimaShared car · per person4.8★ · 108Okinawa Miyako Sea turtle Snorkeling Free Pick up and Drop off
A two-hour sea-turtle snorkel from a small operator that offers free pickup by car on request
from US$45 per person · max 8Why it is here
IshigakiShared car · per person5.0★ · 23All-Inclusive Ishigaki Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers
A small-group island loop built for cruise guests
from US$123 per person · max 8Why it is hereIf you book, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never decides what we recommend.
