We were here in late october, a vacation nomansland, hoping to get lucky. Among the many marine activities you can experience in okinawa, whale watching is probably one of the easiest and most rewarding. The main reason for going there would be diving, but being winter im a bit concerned about the conditions. The earliest sunflowers in japan sunflowers are in season in okinawa from late january until midfebruary. If you have never seen a whale in real life before, you are missing out on something big.
The bones of a dead humpback whale that washed ashore at torii station on okinawa were cleaned friday and will be cured for one year before becoming specimens at the local aquariums research center. The kerama islands have been beckoning me for years, but at last, in early march this year, a brief personal window of opportunity, a few days between projects, and a very special invitation, coincided with a very crucial period, the winter months during which one can watch for. While it is possible to dive okinawa year round, the peak diving season in okinawa spans from midjuly to early september. According to your preference, youll be able to choose between a morning or afternoon tour departing from naha or chatan, with a hotel pick up even included from naha area hotels. If you want to go whale watching in okinawa, the season starts in late january. Please like, share and comment on the video as it will help others find it and allow us to keep on making videos. Thanks to marine house seasir for the great experience. I much prefer whale watching from motobu rather than naha as the whales are located much closer to the port. Cruise out into the sea to spot the huge humpback whales coming to the warmer waters in the sea of okinawa.
Get ready for the inside scoop because this guide has everything you need to know about traveling. Kerama islands okinawa prefecture kerama islands, a group of over 20 islands located about 40km west of naha city, okinawa. It welcomed its 20 millionth visitor on 30 march 2010 and is a member of the. World record jinta, okinawa churaumi aquariums whale shark.
For travelers with more time, a trip to zamami island is an opportunity to tour one of okinawas most beautiful outlying islands while checking out the whales. An introduction to the structure of humpback whale, megaptera. Jul 14, 2014 the kerama islands are a group of 22 islands in okinawa. The okinawa churaumi aquarium is located within the ocean expo park in okinawa, japan. Tokashiki island, zamami island, aka island, and geruma island. For travelers with more time, a trip to zamami island is an opportunity to tour one of okinawa s most beautiful outlying islands while checking out the whales. The kerama islands are a group of 22 islands in okinawa. From january to march, whales visit okinawa to raise their babies. Massive though not self conscious about their weight, they swim through the ocean as the giants of the sea. At long last i have made my pilgrimage to the tiny cluster of islands scattered in the sea to the west of okinawa.
These whales come to the warm waters off of okinawa. The fact is, i lived on okinawa for three years, i speak japanese, i immersed myself deep into the culture by taking karate and sanshin okinawa snake skin three stringed banjo lessons, and i definitely have a locals perspective on what can make your visit to okinawa incredible. Dead whale washes ashore at army recreational area on okinawa. Okinawa winter whale watching tour nahachatan departure.
I have 3 weeks off in march and am planning to fly to tokyo, do some sight seeing then travel down to okinawa for some diving and beach time. Download scientific diagram humpback whale song units, okinawa, japan from publication. I take to the waters off the coast of motobu, okinawa to try and photograph humpback whales. Kerama islands are wellknown as the best place for whale watching in japan, and it is also popular for scuba divers.
Weather forecast in march want to organise your holiday inokinawa take a look at the weather forecast without delay. Aboard the blue line for our whale watching tour in okinawa, japan. In this activity in okinawa you will have the unique chance to swim among whale sharks, the worlds biggest species of fish. Most people come to okinawa between january and march for whale watching, or from april to early october for the beaches. You get three glorious hours out in the water to see pods of whales swimming, with a full refund if you dont get to come by any.
Okinawa divers against whale shark tours may 23, 2016 this page is dedicated to educating the public about the cruelty that is happening to the whale sharks kept in nets in okinawa japan. Join the okinawa whale watching tour to get a close look at the incredible humpback whales off the coast of okinawa with this winter whale watching tour that. From january to march, the ocean around okinawa is full of action. The whale shark tours in okinawa, japan are helping to promote cruelty to animals. We help you experience something new and create memories that will last a lifetime. Okinawa is one of the best locations in the world for whale watching, and winter is the ideal season for this exciting activity. Get a close look at the incredible humpback whales off the coast of okinawa with this winter whale watching tour that departs from either naha or chatan. The provided schedule is an estimate only, and actual time on the whale watching tour is subject to change. Okinawa winter whale watching catamaran cruise from motobu. I am planning a trip to japan around decemberjanuary, and i was thinking of adding on a trip to okinawa for a few weeks. The water temperatures vary between 20c and 30c year round. Call the zamami village office for the daily ferry schedule. This is the season when humpback whales are confirmed to be off the coast of zamami island, and the best season for whale watching is finally here. In my post, i share a few reasons why i think okinawa is a place worth visiting.
Whale watching tour in okinawa with a highspeed boat. Get ready for the inside scoop because this guide has everything you need to know about traveling on okinawa. From naha, the capital of okinawa, there is a fast ferry, queen. Dec 30, 2003 whale watching season around okinawa begins in january and runs through april, with february and march being peak months, according to the okinawa convention and visitors bureau web site. One of the most popular whale watching tours in okinawa. Okinawa has one of the most fabulous aquariums in the world, one of the few which display multiple whale sharks in captivity. Okinawa is around 640km south from japan main island, more close to taiwan actually. The ocean expo park churaumi aquarium welcomed its 20 millionth visitor already in march of 2010, and was for a time the largest aquarium in the world until the georgia aquarium opened in 2005. The beautiful sea around this area is widely known for its incredibly high transparency and named as the kerama blue, attracting many divers and tourists every year. Local staff will help you to enjoy okinawa for all purposes. Okinawa karate kaikan is a new facility where karateka karate practitioners can practice in dojo, and learn karates forms and history. The orca underwater sightseeing cruise offers the opportunity to observe colorful tropical fish swimming right in front of you, in a comfortable and dry environment. Contributed by sarah forte whale sharks and okinawa.
For bones are all you can see of the bakekujiraa massive, skeletal baleen whale that. However, in march 2014 the uns international court of justice ruled that the japanese whaling program, called jarpa ii, in the southern ocean, including inside the australian whale sanctuary, was not in accordance with the international convention for the regulation of whaling, and was not for scientific purposes, as it had claimed. Over the course of march in okinawa, the length of the day is increasing. This is the season when humpback whales are confirmed to be off the coast of zamami. Watch them breach and splash right before your eyes. We have all kind of tours to enjoy on your trip to okinawa. Okinawashi, okinawa, japan monthly weather accuweather. Winter whale watching cruise from naha or chatan, okinawa. Discover a group of humpback whales from alaska on your journey and enjoy a stroll. Want to organise your holiday inokinawa take a look at the weather forecast without delay.
From the start to the end of the month, the length of the day increases by 47 minutes, implying an average daily increase of 1 minute, 33 seconds, and weekly increase of 10 minutes, 52 seconds. Torii scuba locker offers divers a chance to interact with these gentle giants. Yoron is close enough that you can see it from the mian island of okinawa but it is uniquely different with plenty to love about the little island. In search for some nature and the wonderful view id heard others mention, i took to mt. In march the skies in naha, okinawa are a little dull with on balance a mere 4. Ferry queen zamami is a highspeed boat that operates to akajima and zamami two to three times a day from the port of tomari in naha. The orca is the perfect option for people looking for the easiest and safest way to enjoy okinawa s fascinating underwater world without even changing into a swimsuit. Apr 20, 2018 heres my latest collaboration video with skylum software. Whale watching january to march is the season for watching humpback whales migrating through the warm waters of the kerama islands. Average weather in march in okinawa, japan weather spark. Translated and sourced from mizuki shigerus mujyara, kaii yokai densho database, japanese wikipedia, and other sources legends of a great white whale usually bring to mind moby dick, but the white of this whale is the color of its bones. The orca is the perfect option for people looking for the easiest and safest way to enjoy okinawas fascinating underwater world without even changing into a swimsuit. You get three glorious hours out in the water to see pods of whales swimming, with a.
Mar 14, 20 humpback whale spotted breathing out of the water in okinawa, japan. Feb 20, 2017 thanks to marine house seasir for the great experience. Zamami also offers landbased conservatories for whale watching, a great venue for those that may suffer from seasickness. Some humpback whales sticking their flippers out of the water in okinawa, japan. Next is the enormous, dynamic kuroshio sea tank, where you can observe the worlds biggest fish as well as whale sharks and manta rays, which, in a world first.
Whale lovers attention whale watching season okinawa japan. We moved to okinawa, japan for a year and a half together, explored as much as possible, vacationed asia, and then we moved to las vegas, nevada. One of the lighthouses in naha city, okinawa, japan. Okinawa divers against whale shark tours home facebook. Whale watching tour okinawa, japan i am uniquely and. Through january to march, the water around kerama islands becomes a mating ground for the humpback whales. December to march is the offseason, given the prevalence of typhoons and cooler temperatures.
On the morning of 5 march, my wife mayumi and i gathered with other whale fans, whale. The mother whale nurses the calf without feeding herself and loses a lot of weight during this time. The kerama islands have been beckoning me for years, but at last, in early march this year, a brief personal window of opportunity, a few days between projects, and. The weather in march is slightly wettish with rain occasionally. A big thank you to okinawa island crew for letting me shoot photos and video on the boat. In the previous year, over 22,000 guests hopped on board to see majestic 15 meter long whales swim in their natural habitat. The facility also includes a seminar room, a conference room, and an exhibit room. May 30, 2016 the ocean is both terrifying and fascinating to me, a home to some of my absolute favourite creatures. Orca underwater sightseeing cruiseokinawa island guide. The start of the new year heralds the return of humpback whales to okinawa, the philippines, and hawaii when these great mammals migrate south from the arctic to mate. See humpback whales leap out of the water, known as breaching, and watch them as they swim around the islands in early spring. Whale watching andor parasailing are subject to cancellation should weather conditions suddenly change during the tour. Mar 23, 2016 at long last i have made my pilgrimage to the tiny cluster of islands scattered in the sea to the west of okinawa.
Get the monthly weather forecast for okinawashi, okinawa, japan, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. The orca underwater sightseeing cruise offers the opportunity to observe colorful tropical fish swimming right in front of you, in a. Okinawa churaumi is trying to breed whale sharks in captivity, which has never been achieved. Whale watching in oki nawa is one of the popular tourism in okinawa in winter. Feel the magic of whale watching in okinawa on this three hour cruise and come face to face with natures most majestic creatures. Whale watching in okinawa, japan is a popular activity as they swim in the area for breeding around the months of january and april. Hello all, i am looking for some advice on travelling to okinawa island. Whale watching season around okinawa begins in january and runs through april, with february and march being peak months, according to the okinawa convention and visitors bureau web site. Beaches may be on the top of the list of your getaway destinations in okinawa.
So the mother comes here to warmer seas to rear the calf. Okinawa divers against whale shark tours posts facebook. Okinawa churaumi aquarium for the next generation to inherit. You can enjoy snorkeling or diving with the goodnatured 4meter long whale sharks and have a truly memorable experience. The variation range of daily average temperatures in march is 5.
From january to march in every year, whales was travelling over 10,000 kilometers from the siberian to the warm okinawan sea. Okinawas whale watching industry is focused on the okinawa main island and on nearby zamami island. Complete your adventure by including an optional parasailing adventure. This innovative weather prediction service combines a range of indicators extrapolating the weather conditions. Humpback whale song units, okinawa, japan download scientific. If, like me, you prefer to see them in their rightful place the ocean, then youre in luck if you happen to be in okinawa between january to april. Spatial distribution and habitat use patterns of humpback whales. The color of the ocean there is called kerama blue. If you want to go whale watching in okinawa, the season starts in late january and ends in late march. The cerulean blue, surely should you find okinawa how to spend looking for. Jinta, the male whale shark, will have been cared for and exhibited at okinawa churaumi aquarium for 24 years this march.
If the churaumi aquariums aweinspiring tank of whale sharks left you wanting an even closer encounter with the worlds largest fish, you are in luck. Whale watching in okinawa mustlovejapan video travel guide. Okinawa main island inhabits around 1,3 million people and has lots of smaller islands nearby. Departing from both naha and chatan near the onna area, enjoy a morning or afternoon cruise near the zamami islands. The kind of whale is humpback whale that travel from alaska. Winter whale watching cruise in okinawa klook travel. Whale watching in okinawa is one of the popular tourism in okinawa in winter. The ocean is both terrifying and fascinating to me, a home to some of my absolute favourite creatures. Get the monthly weather forecast for okinawa shi, okinawa, japan, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. Witness majestic whales on this popular whale watching tour from naha, okinawa. Please take antinausea medicine 30 minutes prior to departure, if needed. The korean government has released the following procedures at incheon international airport will be implemented for all travelers arriving from other countries regardless of their nationality from midnight on march 19, 2020.
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