Recommended Okinawa Travel Tips for May [Spots, Events, Climate, Clothing]

With summer just around the corner, May in Okinawa has a slightly different atmosphere than usual.
This season, when Okinawa enters its rainy season earlier and longer than on the mainland, is a great opportunity to enjoy Okinawa in a more profound way!

This time, we'll introduce tips for making the most of your May trip to Okinawa, categorized by spots, events, climate, and clothing!

<Table of Contents>
5. Okinawa in May
5. Recommended spots in May
5. Events you shouldn't miss in May
5. Things to be careful of when traveling to Okinawa in May
5. Off to Okinawa in early summer!

Lowest price information for Okinawa tours departing in May

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5. Okinawa in May

Okinawa in May.
The rainy season begins a little earlier here than in Honshu, around the end of Golden Week.

On Ie Island, a wide variety of lilies, including the trumpet lily, are in full bloom, and the traditional "Harī" festival, a prayer for a bountiful catch, is held at sea.

On sunny days, the sun shines brightly, and you can enjoy marine sports.

With its high humidity and muggy feel, it's more like summer than spring.

5. Recommended spots in May

Okinawa has countless tourist attractions.
There are plenty of places to enjoy regardless of the season, but we've carefully selected some special spots that we recommend especially in May!

2-1. Eat your fill of tuna at "Makishi Public Market" and "Tomari Iyumachi"

If you're in Okinawa in May, you absolutely can't miss out on tuna.
Surprisingly, it's not widely known, but Okinawa Prefecture is a tuna paradise where all four types of tuna caught throughout Japan are landed!
What's more, you can enjoy seasonal tuna all year round.

And in May, the king of tuna, "bluefin tuna," is in season. It would be a shame to miss out on trying it!

■ Makishi Public Market, the kitchen of Naha

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If you want to enjoy tuna while experiencing the Okinawan atmosphere, we recommend "Makishi Public Market".
Located near Kokusai Street, this is a well-known and representative tourist spot in Okinawa.

At the market, you can have fresh fish prepared as sashimi and eat it on the spot, or have ingredients you purchased cooked at a restaurant. (※Please check with each store for details.)

The market, with its rows and rows of unfamiliar ingredients, has a slightly mysterious atmosphere. Just strolling around will definitely enhance your travel experience!

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[Access]
Approximately 10 minutes on foot from either Makishi Station or Miebashi Station on the Yui Rail.
There is no parking at the facility, so if you are coming by car, please use a nearby paid parking lot.

【Facility information】
<Naha City First Makishi Public Market>
■ Business hours: 8:00 AM - 20:00 PM
■ Regular closing days: The fourth Sunday of every month and other days
■ Address: 2-10-1 Matsuo, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
■ Facility website:http://kousetsu-ichiba.com/index.html

■If you love tuna, head to "Tomari Iyumachi"

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If you're a huge fan of delicious tuna, then come to Tomari Iyumachi.
In the Okinawan dialect, "iyu" means fish and "machi" means market, and as the name suggests, it is one of Okinawa's leading markets, with many fish shops selling fresh fish.

Since the facility is located within the grounds of Tomari Fishing Port, the freshness of the fish is guaranteed. What's even more surprising is that about 70% of the fish landed there each day is tuna!

Among them, "Maguroya Honpo," a specialty tuna shop, has many fans within the prefecture. You can enjoy exquisite tuna bowls at reasonable prices.
Since they open at 6 AM, I recommend starting your day off right with a delicious tuna bowl!

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[Access]
Approximately 10 minutes by car from Naha Airport via the Naminoue Port Road.

【Facility information】
■ Business hours: 6: 00 ~ 18: 00
■ TEL: 098-868-1096
■Address: 1-1-18 Minatomachi, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
■Facility website:http://www.tomariiyumachi.com/

　2-2. Getting to Know Okinawa: The Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum

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Okinawa typically enters its rainy season around the beginning of May. This is precisely the time to spend some time at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum, which is sure to pique your intellectual curiosity.

The museum's permanent exhibition offers a comprehensive look at Okinawa's nature, history, and culture. Understanding the background makes the Okinawan landscapes you might have just vaguely seen feel completely different.
Such an experience will surely be more exciting than you can imagine!

[Access]
Approximately a 10-minute walk from Omoromachi Station on the Yui Rail.
It's about a 20-minute drive from Naha Airport via National Route 58.

【Facility information】
■Opening hours: 09:00 - 18:00 (Last entry at 17:30)
Friday and Saturday: Open until 20:00 PM (last entry at 19:30 PM)
■Closed days: Every Monday (If Monday is a public holiday, the closure will be moved to the following weekday) and year-end (December 29th to December 31st)
■ TEL: 098-941-8200
■Address: 3-1-1 Omoromachi, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
■Facility website:http://www.museums.pref.okinawa.jp/index.jsp

5. Events you shouldn't miss in May

May is a month of exciting events that get Okinawan residents hyped up. Let's enjoy the festive atmosphere and feel like true Okinawans!

Below, we will introduce some of the major festivals that are held every year.

　3-1. Naha Hari

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A festival held to pray for a bountiful catch and safety at sea.
Participants race in traditional Okinawan hand-rowed boats. Among the various Hari events held throughout the prefecture, this is the largest in scale and popularity.

During the event period, the area around the Naha Port New Port Wharf will be transformed into an event venue, with comedy shows, live performances, Eisa dance performances, and more taking place on a specially constructed stage.
With food stalls lining the streets and a fireworks display at night, you can enjoy an early taste of summer festival life!

　3-2. Spring All-Island Bullfighting Tournament

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This is another popular event that many residents of the prefecture watch with bated breath.
Yes, Okinawans love bullfighting.
Back in the day, people were so engrossed in bullfighting that they started skipping work, and the authorities had to intervene to help them.
Uruma City, in particular, is known for its thriving bullfighting scene, and the presence of a large, dome-shaped bullfighting arena makes it easy to watch the matches, which is a great advantage.

Bullfighting, which had seen a decline in popularity for a time, seems to be gaining more young and female fans recently.
Did you know that there are female bullfighting photographers in Okinawa?
You'll find yourself on the edge of your seat watching the intense battle between the bulls.

3-3. List of Recommended Events in May

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Here's a list of other recommended events for May. The dates listed are for 2017.

[Hatoma Island Music Festival]
■Date: May 3rd
■Location: Hatoma Island

This small island located north of Iriomote Island is overflowing with people on this day!
Last year, the stage was renovated and now has a roof.

[Iejima Lily Festival]
■Dates: April 22nd - May 7th
■Location: Ie Village Lily Field Park

Japan's earliest lily festival. 90 varieties of lilies, including the trumpet lily, will be in full bloom.
An event that soothes the soul in the perfect location of the sea, sky, and flowers.

[Nanmin Festival]
■Dates: May 16th, 17th, 20th, and 21st (May 17th is the annual festival)
■Location: Naminoue Shrine and other locations

A festival held at Naminoue Shrine in Naha City.
This is a historic shrine that is well-known to the people of the prefecture for their first shrine visit of the New Year.
In addition to performances such as Eisa dance, a unique feature of the festival is the mainland-style portable shrine procession, which is rare in Okinawa.

[Makishi Ugan Dedication Sumo Tournament]
■Date: Fourth Sunday of May (※Details for 2017 are yet to be determined)
■Location: Makishi Park

This is a traditional Okinawan sumo tournament. Kakuryoku refers to sumo wrestling.
This is a rare opportunity to see Okinawan sumo wrestling on Kokusai Street.

5. Things to be careful of when traveling to Okinawa in May

To help you enjoy your trip comfortably, we've compiled some key points about the climate and clothing you should keep in mind for your Okinawa trip in May! Please use this as a reference when packing for your trip.

3-1. The start of the rainy season and the weather

■ You'll get wet even with an umbrella during a squall.

Okinawa's long rainy season begins every year around the Golden Week holidays in May.
The rainy season will end around mid-to-late June. Rather than a continuous drizzle, there will be more tropical downpours.
It was like a gloomy, overcast sky → a sudden downpour → then back to overcast skies.

The rain is coming down in huge, heavy drops, so using an umbrella isn't very effective during a squall...
Visibility is also reduced, so extra caution is needed while driving.
It usually stops soon after, so if it starts raining heavily, it's best not to move unnecessarily.

By the way, rainbows often appear after it rains!

■Dates when the rainy season began in Okinawa over the past 5 years
Around May 13, 2012
Around May 10, 2013
Around May 5, 2014
Around May 20, 2015
Around May 16, 2016

The exact date varies considerably from year to year, but for the past two years or so, it has been around mid-May.

■With sunshine it instantly feels like summer!May in Okinawa is like that, but on sunny days, it suddenly feels like summer!
If you're not careful, you can get sunburned and suffer from heatstroke even in a short time. UV protection and sun protection are essential. The sunlight is extremely strong, so if you're going to an outdoor event, it's a good idea to bring a hat or parasol!

3-2. Clothing TipsThe average temperature in May is around 24℃. However, daytime temperatures can exceed 30℃! Generally, short sleeves, shorts, and sandals are fine.
However, when exposed to direct sunlight, such as while driving, you might feel a stinging sensation on your skin.
If you're concerned about sunburn or have a long drive planned, it's a good idea to bring long-sleeved summer clothing. 4. Off to Okinawa in early summer!Once the rainy season begins, weather forecasts become less reliable.
But the unpredictable rains of Okinawa can unexpectedly give you a chance to relax. Enjoy your trip to Okinawa in May, feeling the first signs of summer as the sun peeks through the clouds!