Most of the country has a temperate climate, with a rainy season usually between late May and July. There are typhoons from September to November that may be of medium or high intensity. The climate varies according to latitude: cool in the northern island of Hokkaido, subtropical in the far south of Okinawa. The best time to visit Okinawa and Ishigaki islands is during the months of April, May and June. From July to September  the weather is not so warm, instead in October is variable and from November to March the weather is colder. Average temperatures throughout the year are around 24 degrees.