日本 / 沖縄県
Travel Tips
With a row of rain symbols on the weather forecast for your Okinawa trip, you might think, 'What a shame it's raining in Okinawa.' Before you jump to conclusions, why not learn a little about rain in Okinawa? We'll consider how to deal with katabui (intermittent rain) and rain forecasts, and how to
I was looking forward to my trip to Okinawa.
As the departure date approached,
I opened the weather forecast.
And there, lined up, were
rain symbols.
"What a pity, it’s Okinawa..."
I was looking forward to enjoying the blue sky and sea,
with beautiful scenery.
Should I change all my plans?
It’s not surprising to feel that way.
However, living here, I have come to realize something.
Deciding on the day’s plans solely based on
that rain symbol is a bit premature.
Rain falling and
having nonstop rain all day
are not the same thing.
In Okinawa, there is a phenomenon
called "katabui" (片降り).
According to the Okinawa Weather Observatory,
on sunny summer days, rain clouds develop locally,
leading to heavy rainfall at times.
There are moments when you may encounter,
"It’s raining here, but it’s sunny over there."
It might rain briefly,
spitting a little before stopping soon after.
Just moments ago, it was raining,
yet then suddenly, the blue sky comes into view.
Conversely,
you might find yourself in a sunny spot,
but in the distance,
"Oh, it’s raining over there,"
you can see curtains of rain falling.
So during travel,
it isn’t always clear just from the “rain” symbol
in the weather forecast.
In fact, the meteorological agency also explains
that in the Okinawa region,
due to the difficulty of pinpointing where rain will occur,
the accuracy of rainfall forecasts tends to be lower
compared to other regions throughout the year.
Also, Okinawans
surprisingly often don’t use umbrellas.
For a little rain, there are quite a few people who
won’t bother with an umbrella.
Of course,
not everyone behaves that way.
If it’s a downpour, they do use an umbrella.
They normally use them on days when they want to stay dry.
But
if it only drizzles a bit,
they’ll continue walking or even jog a bit…
it’s not uncommon.
"It might stop soon"
is a sentiment that might exist a bit in daily life.
During the hot midday hours,
it can feel easier to walk around
since the rain alleviates the heat a little.
For travelers, rain can disrupt plans.
But from the perspective of those living here,
it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the day.
So, should we not worry about rain forecasts?
This is important.
Not at all.
Katabui can sometimes bring heavy rain.
The Okinawa Weather Observatory also
calls for regular checking of weather information
and the movement of rain clouds,
which can develop suddenly.
In rivers,
even if it isn’t raining where you are,
it may suddenly swell due to rain upstream.
Typhoons, heavy rains, thunderstorms, strong winds,
and high waves are different matters altogether.
Especially if you plan to go to the sea, remote islands, or rivers,
don’t assess safety just by
"Is it raining here now?"
It is critical to check weather warnings, advisories, and
the movement of rain clouds,
which are the current weather reports.
The meteorological agency explains that
even if it isn’t raining at your current location,
based on potential heavy rain to come or localized heavy rain elsewhere,
there may be warnings or advisories issued.
On rainy days,
instead of discarding plans,
it is better to
"change the order."
So, what should you do if rain is forecasted during your trip?
In the Machinau editorial department,
before giving up on the whole day,
you check the time.
If rain is expected in the morning,
it’s best to eat beforehand or go to places where you can have fun indoors,
and wait for the afternoon skies.
If it looks like it might worsen in the afternoon,
you do the outdoor activities first.
Instead of rigidly sticking to the plans made before your trip—
"10 AM here, 12 PM there,"—
you can swap the order based on the weather of the day.
Just doing this can change your feeling of being at the mercy of the rain.
And, there’s something to know about precipitation probability as well.
Precipitation probability is not a number representing the strength of rain.
According to the meteorological agency,
it indicates the probability of more than 1mm of rain or snow falling within a certain period,
but it doesn’t predict the actual amount of rainfall.
In other words,
"A 70% chance of precipitation"
does not mean that
"70% of the day will be rainy."
Instead of focusing on just one number,
it’s better to see when and where
the rain will likely fall.
This way of thinking can help during your travels.
There are views that can only be seen because it rains.
Still,
if the scenery I was looking forward to
was hidden by rain,
it is indeed disappointing.
There’s no need to force yourself to
"think rain in Okinawa is the best!"
However,
losing one plan might lead you to step into a shop you hadn’t intended to enter.
You might end up walking through a town you usually pass by.
You may talk longer with someone than you originally planned.
Such moments often leave a strangely lasting impression
when you return home.
The journey doesn’t only count as correct
if it goes exactly as planned.
Moving to a sunny place.
Waiting a little.
Changing the order.
Deciding while looking at the sky at that moment,
is just fine.
Does rain ruin a trip?
Perhaps the answer is,
"It’s not just rain that decides it."
Instead of making a day’s decisions based only on the weather forecast,
look at the current sky
where you are now
and decide what to do next.
That, too,
is part of the enjoyment of traveling in this land.
Check the weather, transit, and what's happening now to help plan what's next.
See Okinawa right now on Machinau
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