Okinawa

• Prioritize renting a car for your time on the main island, as the lack of a comprehensive train network makes it the only efficient way to reach diverse sites; remember that traffic moves on the left side of the road.

• When visiting Kumejima, time your arrival at Uegusuku Castle for a clear day to fully utilize the highest vantage point on the island for viewing the surrounding sandbars and neighboring islands.

• Avoid relying solely on public bus networks for tight itineraries, as schedules are sparse and transit costs across the main island add up quickly compared to other regions in Japan.

• For a mix of international flavors, visit the Spiral Reggae Bar, a small hole-in-the-wall establishment known for serving Indonesian and Thai cuisine alongside local specialties.

• Focus your island-hopping plans on the dense web of ferry connections between nearby islands, as long-distance routes rely on infrequent cargo boats that are not suitable for primary travel.

Best window: January–February

May, June and August are the months to avoid — very heavy rain. The window below is when it is genuinely pleasant.

Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.