What's on in Miyakojima (Miyako), Japan through the year

Busy — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Busy — Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan

• Nature

  Yabiji reef surfaces

  1 Mar – 10 Apr · usuallyHigh water

  Japan's largest reef comes out of the water at the year's lowest spring tides, usually in March. Boats run from Ikema for a couple of hours of walking on it, and then it is gone again.

Peak crowds — Strongman Triathlon, Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan

• Season

  Sea warm enough to swim

  1 Apr – 15 Nov · usually

  The water off Yonaha Maehama is comfortable for most of the year. Wind and swell, not temperature, decide whether the boats to the outer reef go out on any given morning.

• Festival

  Strongman Triathlon

  5–20 Apr · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook earlyClosures

  The island closes its roads for a long-course race each April and every bed on Miyako goes to competitors and their families. Not the week to arrive without a booking. Source ↗

Still on: Yabiji reef surfaces (1 Mar – 10 Apr (usually))

Busy — Golden Week in Japan

• Season

  Okinawa's rainy season

  10 May – 25 Jun · usuallyMonsoon

  The front sits over the Ryukyus for six weeks before the mainland gets it. Warm rain in bursts rather than a washout, and the sea is already swimmable through all of it.

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (1 Apr – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (1 Apr – 15 Nov (usually)), Okinawa's rainy season (10 May – 25 Jun (usually))

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Typhoon season

  1 Jul – 15 Oct · usuallyClosures

  Miyako takes direct hits rather than glancing ones. Shutters go down, flights are cancelled a day either side, and the shops close — the single biggest risk to a summer trip here. Source ↗

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (1 Apr – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (1 Apr – 15 Nov (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (1 Apr – 15 Nov (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (1 Apr – 15 Nov (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (1 Apr – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.