· By Shinpei Tsubogami
What Happens to the Tour on Rainy, Cloudy or Full-Moon Days?
If rain or clouds hide the stars we cancel, with no fee. We close on and around the full moon. On Ishigaki, July and August are the clearest months and January the cloudiest.
If rain or clouds hide the stars, we cancel the tour with no cancellation fee, and you can rebook to a free slot on a later day. We are closed on and around the full moon, when moonlight washes out the stars.
Cancellation and closure rules
| Situation | What happens | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Rain or thick clouds | Cancelled; rebook if a slot is free | No fee |
| Full moon and days around it | Closed (not selectable in the calendar) | — |
| You cancel for your own reasons | — | 2 days before 50%, 1 day before 70%, same day / no-show 100% |
Even when we cancel for weather, we cannot refund travel or other costs.
Clearest and cloudiest months
According to Japan Meteorological Agency normals, cloud cover is lowest in July and August (6.4) and highest in January (8.2). Winter brings more cloudy days with northeast winds, and the rainy season usually runs from mid-May to late June.
| Month | Avg. temp | Sunshine | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18.9°C | 85 h | 8.2 |
| Feb | 19.4°C | 91 h | 8.0 |
| Mar | 20.9°C | 118 h | 7.8 |
| Apr | 23.4°C | 130 h | 7.8 |
| May | 25.9°C | 164 h | 7.6 |
| Jun | 28.4°C | 213 h | 7.4 |
| Jul | 29.6°C | 261 h | 6.4 |
| Aug | 29.4°C | 233 h | 6.4 |
| Sep | 28.2°C | 190 h | 6.5 |
| Oct | 26.0°C | 158 h | 6.7 |
| Nov | 23.6°C | 115 h | 7.5 |
| Dec | 20.5°C | 89 h | 7.9 |
Japan Meteorological Agency, Ishigaki normals (1991–2020). Cloud cover is the average on a 0–10 scale; lower means clearer.
On the day
Ishigaki weather changes quickly. A cloudy afternoon can turn into a clear night. We check the sky and tell you by LINE on the day. If your trip has some flexibility, booking an earlier day makes rebooking easier.