12 events

What's on in Okinawa.

Events across the Okinawa region, checked against official sources.

Oct232026

Okinawa Nangoku Illumination at Southeast Botanical Gardens

Okinawa, Okinawa · Illuminations · Fri 23 Oct 2026 to Sun 23 May 2027

Southeast Botanical Gardens' tropical illumination, an Illumination Award winner, is expected to run from late October 2026 to late May 2027.

Expected window

Nov72026

Ishigaki Matsuri

Ishigaki, Okinawa · Festivals · Sat 07 to Sun 08 Nov 2026

The 62nd Ishigaki Island Festival, Ishigaki's largest civic festival, held at Shin'ei Park.

Confirmed dates

Dec62026

NAHA Marathon (40th)

Naha, Okinawa · Sport · Sun 06 Dec 2026

Japan's largest full marathon by field (c. 30,000) run through southern Okinawa with island-wide roadside support; 6h15 cut-off makes it a popular first marathon.

Confirmed dates

Jan162027

Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival

Motobu, Okinawa · Seasons and nature · Sat 16 to Sun 31 Jan 2027

One of Japan's earliest cherry blossom festivals, held among about 7,000 Taiwan cherry trees on Mount Yaedake in Motobu.

Expected window

Jan302027

Nago Cherry Blossom Festival

Nago, Okinawa · Seasons and nature · Sat 30 to Sun 31 Jan 2027

Cherry blossom festival held on the last Saturday and Sunday of January around Nago Castle Park, with over 20,000 cherry trees in the area.

Confirmed dates

Feb212027

Okinawa Marathon

Okinawa, Okinawa · Sport · Sun 21 Feb 2027

Central Okinawa's winter marathon with a 10 km option, famous for the section inside Kadena Air Base and for roadside support in Uruma and Okinawa City.

Confirmed dates

Apr102027

Ryukyu Kaiensai Fireworks Festival

Ginowan, Okinawa · Fireworks · Sat 10 Apr 2027

A one-day fireworks illusion of 10,000 fireworks synchronised to music, billed as Japan's earliest summer fireworks.

Expected window

May32027

Naha Haari

Naha, Okinawa · Festivals · Mon 03 to Wed 05 May 2027

Traditional dragon boat races held over three days of Golden Week at Naha New Port Wharf.

Expected window

May32027

Naha Hari (53rd) dragon-boat festival

Naha, Okinawa · Festivals · Mon 03 to Wed 05 May 2027

Okinawa's largest harii dragon-boat festival: 130+ teams race traditional sabani-style boats in Naha harbour over Golden Week, with ceremonial Ugan Bari races on the final day.

Expected window

Sep32027

Okinawa Zento Eisa Matsuri

Okinawa, Okinawa · Festivals · Fri 03 to Sun 05 Sep 2027

Okinawa's largest Eisa festival, bringing selected youth association teams from across the island to Okinawa City.

Expected window

Oct92027

Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival

Naha, Okinawa · Festivals · Sat 09 to Mon 11 Oct 2027

Three-day festival centred on the giant rope tug-of-war on Route 58, preceded by the Hatagashira flag procession on Kokusai-dori.

Expected window

Oct222027

Okinawa Industry Festival (51st) - awamori and local products fair

Naha, Okinawa · Food · Fri 22 to Sun 24 Oct 2027

Okinawa's biggest trade-and-consumer fair, 470+ exhibitors over three days at Onoyama Park, best known for its awamori pavilion with every distillery in the prefecture pouring limited releases.

Expected window