SeasonMapYakushima (Yakushima National Park) weather in May
Japan
May in Yakushima: nice, soaked, with muggy air — fine if you can take 16 rainy days.
#4 of 12 months in Yakushima · #1048 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 68/100 (tier C)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Yakushima in May
Other months in Yakushima
Yakushima's forum flags October as still within typhoon season, which can run through late in the month, and warns that heavy rain — not unusual on this famously wet island — can shut the trails and turn the rivers dangerous. Regulars still rate it among the best hiking months when the weather cooperates, so it's worth building a flexible day or two into the plan.
Add your own note from Yakushima's card on the map.
Yakushima climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 18°C / 64°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 15°C / 59°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 16°C / 61°F | |
| Sea temperature | 24°C / 75°F | 🙂 pleasant |
| Rainfall | 291 mm / 11.5 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 16 days | |
| Humidity | 76% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 12°C / 54°F | |
| Sunshine | 8.1 h/day | |
| Daylight | 13.7 h | |
| Wind | 34 km/h / 21 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 68 | 🙂 moderate |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Yakushima in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyGolden Week in Japan(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Yakushima's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherYakushima's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Yakushima in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Loggerhead nesting
10 May – 10 Jul · usuallyTurtle nestingBook earlyInakahama at Nagata is the largest loggerhead nesting beach in the North Pacific. The beach is closed at night from May to August and the only way on is a registered tour with no lights. Source ↗
- Nature
Yakushima rhododendron
15 May – 20 Jun · usuallyWildflowers & bloomsThe island's own dwarf rhododendron flowers along the high ridges as the low ground goes into the rainy season. It is a full day's walk above the cloud to see it.
- Season
The wettest weeks
25 May – 10 Jul · usuallyMonsoonRiskYakushima is the wettest inhabited place in Japan and June is the wettest month of its year. The Jomon Sugi trail runs whatever the weather; the river crossings are what close it.
Where is Yakushima?
Yakushima in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Yakushima?
- May in Yakushima: nice, soaked, with muggy air — fine if you can take 16 rainy days. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Yakushima on SeasonMap's comfort score (68/100).
- What is the weather like in Yakushima in May?
- In May, Yakushima averages a daily high of 17.7°C and a low of 15.2°C, with about 291.2 mm of rain over roughly 15.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Yakushima in May?
- Yakushima has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 68 in May.