· By Shinpei Tsubogami
Ishigaki Night Sky by Month: What You Can See, January to December
Which month, what time, and what will you see? Sunset, full darkness, Milky Way and Southern Cross hours, and how often the sky is clear, month by month.
You can enjoy the stars on Ishigaki all year, but what you see — and when — changes with the month. In summer the Milky Way rises high early in the night; from winter to early summer, the Southern Cross appears late at night or before dawn.
The table shows typical times around the 15th of each month. Every month we close on the full moon and the days around it. Once you have dates in mind, check the booking calendar for days close to the new moon.
| Month | Sunset | Full darkness | Milky Way core | Southern Cross | Avg. temp | Sunshine | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18:15 | 19:35 | Not visible | 4:05–6:10 | 18.9°C | 85 h | 8.2 |
| Feb | 18:40 | 19:55 | 5:05–6:00 | 2:05–4:50 | 19.4°C | 91 h | 8.0 |
| Mar | 18:55 | 20:10 | 3:15–5:35 | 0:15–3:00 | 20.9°C | 118 h | 7.8 |
| Apr | 19:05 | 20:25 | 1:15–5:05 | 22:10–1:00 | 23.4°C | 130 h | 7.8 |
| May | 19:20 | 20:45 | 23:15–4:35 | 20:45–23:00 | 25.9°C | 164 h | 7.6 |
| Jun | 19:35 | 21:00 | 21:15–4:25 | Not visible | 28.4°C | 213 h | 7.4 |
| Jul | 19:35 | 21:00 | 21:00–2:35 | Not visible | 29.6°C | 261 h | 6.4 |
| Aug | 19:20 | 20:40 | 20:40–0:30 | Not visible | 29.4°C | 233 h | 6.4 |
| Sep | 18:50 | 20:05 | 20:05–22:30 | Not visible | 28.2°C | 190 h | 6.5 |
| Oct | 18:20 | 19:35 | 19:35–20:30 | Not visible | 26.0°C | 158 h | 6.7 |
| Nov | 17:55 | 19:15 | Not visible | Not visible | 23.6°C | 115 h | 7.5 |
| Dec | 18:00 | 19:20 | Not visible | Not visible | 20.5°C | 89 h | 7.9 |
"Full darkness" is when the sun is 18° below the horizon and the last evening glow is gone. From then until dawn is the best time for stars.
"Milky Way core" is when the brightest part, toward Sagittarius, is more than 15° above the horizon.
"Southern Cross" is when all four stars of the cross are above the horizon. You need an open view of the southern sea.
"Cloud cover" is the monthly average on a 0–10 scale. Lower means clearer skies.
January night sky
The cloudiest month of the year, with steady northeast winds. On clear nights you see the bright winter stars — Orion, Sirius — and Canopus low in the south. The Southern Cross is visible before dawn. Bring a jacket.
Sunset 18:15 · Full darkness 19:35 · Milky Way core Not visible · Southern Cross 4:05–6:10 · Avg. temp 18.9°C
February night sky
Still a cloudy season, but clear nights show the winter constellations beautifully. The Southern Cross is up from late night to dawn, and the Milky Way core starts to rise in the east just before sunrise.
Sunset 18:40 · Full darkness 19:55 · Milky Way core 5:05–6:00 · Southern Cross 2:05–4:50 · Avg. temp 19.4°C
March night sky
Clear nights become more common. The Southern Cross is highest around midnight and the Milky Way appears before dawn. Nights are long, so late-night sessions work well.
Sunset 18:55 · Full darkness 20:10 · Milky Way core 3:15–5:35 · Southern Cross 0:15–3:00 · Avg. temp 20.9°C
April night sky
The best season for the Southern Cross, which appears near the southern horizon from around 10 pm. The Milky Way is up from late night to dawn. Firefly season (April–May) begins.
Sunset 19:05 · Full darkness 20:25 · Milky Way core 1:15–5:05 · Southern Cross 22:10–1:00 · Avg. temp 23.4°C
May night sky
You can see the Southern Cross early in the evening and the Milky Way later the same night — the most rewarding month for stars. The rainy season usually starts mid-May, so leave some flexibility in your dates.
Sunset 19:20 · Full darkness 20:45 · Milky Way core 23:15–4:35 · Southern Cross 20:45–23:00 · Avg. temp 25.9°C
June night sky
Rainy season, which usually ends in late June. After that, clear days increase quickly and the Milky Way is in the sky from early evening until dawn.
Sunset 19:35 · Full darkness 21:00 · Milky Way core 21:15–4:25 · Southern Cross Not visible · Avg. temp 28.4°C
July night sky
The clearest month of the year. The Milky Way stands high in the south as soon as it gets dark — the best season for star photos. Tours may be cancelled when a typhoon approaches.
Sunset 19:35 · Full darkness 21:00 · Milky Way core 21:00–2:35 · Southern Cross Not visible · Avg. temp 29.6°C
August night sky
The Milky Way core is high in the south right after dark. Skies are often clear, but this is also typhoon season, so keep an eye on the forecast during your trip.
Sunset 19:20 · Full darkness 20:40 · Milky Way core 20:40–0:30 · Southern Cross Not visible · Avg. temp 29.4°C
September night sky
Days get shorter, so the stars come out earlier. The Milky Way is visible from dark until about 10:30 pm, tilting toward the southwest. Typhoon season continues.
Sunset 18:50 · Full darkness 20:05 · Milky Way core 20:05–22:30 · Southern Cross Not visible · Avg. temp 28.2°C
October night sky
The Milky Way core is visible for only about an hour after dark. Northeast winds bring cooler, comfortable nights. Autumn constellations and the Summer Triangle linger in the west.
Sunset 18:20 · Full darkness 19:35 · Milky Way core 19:35–20:30 · Southern Cross Not visible · Avg. temp 26.0°C
November night sky
The Milky Way core is gone, but a faint winter Milky Way runs through Cassiopeia. Later at night the Pleiades and Orion rise. Cloudy days start to increase.
Sunset 17:55 · Full darkness 19:15 · Milky Way core Not visible · Southern Cross Not visible · Avg. temp 23.6°C
December night sky
The longest nights of the year. Winter constellations appear early, and by about 9 pm Orion and Sirius line up in the east. The north wind makes it feel colder, so bring a jacket.
Sunset 18:00 · Full darkness 19:20 · Milky Way core Not visible · Southern Cross Not visible · Avg. temp 20.5°C
In any month, a clear night brings plenty of stars. If you want the Milky Way or the Southern Cross in your photo, write it in the request box on the booking form. We will suggest a shot that works with that night's sky.
Temperature, sunshine and cloud cover: Japan Meteorological Agency, Ishigaki normals (1991–2020). Times are calculated for Ishigaki on the 15th of each month, rounded to 5 minutes, and vary with terrain and weather. JMA