Naha, Japan
Live METAR wind (20° at 9 kt), predicted landing/departure runways (landing and departure 36R+36L), hourly sun-angle backlight map, and top photo spots for Naha International Airport.
As of Tue 27 Oct, 03:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 36R+36L. The METAR wind is 20° at 9 kt. 36R shows +8.3 kt headwind and 3.5 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed. Updated Tue 27 Oct, 03:13.
| End | True hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18L | 177° | 9,840 ft | -8.3 kt | 3.5 kt | Standby |
| 36R | 357° | 9,840 ft | +8.3 kt | 3.5 kt | Landing + departure |
| 18R | 177° | 8,858 ft | -8.3 kt | 3.5 kt | Standby |
| 36L | 357° | 8,858 ft | +8.3 kt | 3.5 kt | Landing + departure |
METAR ROAH 261800Z AUTO 02009KT 9999 SCT041 SCT043 BKN044 25/21 Q1015
Live weather
VFR20° @ 9 kt
25°C · 10+ km (9999) · 1015 hPa
SCT041 SCT043 BKN044
Front-lit sector
Backlight / glare cone
Sun ray · amber pins are landmarks
Green pins are calculated. Blue pins are OpenStreetMap parks and viewpoints.
Every pin below carries original geometry: meters to the nearest runway centerline, the compass bearing toward the aircraft, the morning or afternoon that puts the sun behind that view, and a lens picked only from that distance.
Short final 36R - sunny side
Calculated perimeter
Score 66/100
Short final 36R - sunny side sits 1234 m from the 36R centerline. Looking toward the aircraft the bearing is 327.8°. That view is front-lit in the morning (best 10:00–11:00 local) with a 150-600mm lens.
Calculated public-side point about 1.2 km from the landing threshold and 280 m off the centerline, on the sunny side. Confirm the fence is between you and the runway before you stop.
Now: Night / Low light
Google Maps navigationShort final 36L - sunny side
Calculated perimeter
Score 66/100
Short final 36L - sunny side sits 1234 m from the 36L centerline. Looking toward the aircraft the bearing is 327.8°. That view is front-lit in the morning (best 10:00–11:00 local) with a 150-600mm lens.
Calculated public-side point about 1.2 km from the landing threshold and 280 m off the centerline, on the sunny side. Confirm the fence is between you and the runway before you stop.
Now: Night / Low light
Google Maps navigationKnow a public fence, mound, or lens that works for a specific threshold? Send it in. Tips are reviewed before they show on the map.
Best time to plane spot at Naha International Airport (OKA / ROAH): sun direction for every spotting location, scored from latitude 26.192, longitude 127.640, and the Asia/Tokyo clock plus each spot's view bearing. Morning is 07:00-11:00, midday is 11:00-14:00, and afternoon / golden hour is 14:00-18:00. CLEAN FRONT LIGHT means the sun sits behind the camera. BACKLIT / GLARE means the sun is in the lens. HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT is overhead midday light.
| Spotting Location | Morning (07:00-11:00) | Midday (11:00-14:00) | Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00) | JetPhotos / Camera Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Short final 36R - sunny side Runway 36R | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Short final 36L - sunny side Runway 36L | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Zero-Delay Fence Audio
Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more, which is enough to miss the runway change and be on the wrong side of the field. Tower is 118.1 MHz. D-ATIS is 127.8 MHz. A handheld VHF airband scanner (Uniden Bearcat BC125AT) at the fence hears the call as it is made. At 1234 m from 36R, bring a 150-600mm lens.
Sony FE 200-600mm
Beyond 450 m you want 150-600mm. A 200-600mm zoom still frames a heavy jet on a long final.
Search this gearUniden Bearcat BC125AT
Handheld VHF airband scanner for tower and ATIS at the fence. Online streams run 30 seconds or more behind.
Search this gearFlightAware Pro Stick
USB ADS-B receiver if you want tail numbers on a laptop beside the photos.
Search this gearAs of Tue 27 Oct, 03:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 36R+36L. The METAR wind is 20° at 9 kt. 36R shows +8.3 kt headwind and 3.5 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
At 08:00 local the sun is at 114° azimuth and 17° elevation. Short final 36R - sunny side scores 89/100, 1234 m from runway 36R, view bearing 327.8°, best as a morning spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 242° and 23°. Short final 36R - sunny side scores 89/100 on a 26.2° view. Morning and afternoon picks follow that bearing: a view that wants the sun in the east is a morning spot, and a view that wants it in the west is an afternoon spot.
The best time to plane spot at Naha International Airport (OKA/ROAH) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: Short final 36R - sunny side, Short final 36L - sunny side. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 0 of 2 spotting locations. Read the Best Time of Day & Lighting Schedule by Spot table for the lens and the hours to avoid harsh backlit contrast.
ROAH spotting locations sun direction: Short final 36R - sunny side (runway 36R) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 36L - sunny side (runway 36L) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
Short final 36R - sunny side is 1234 m from the 36R centerline, so the lens is 150-600mm. The bands are fixed from that distance: 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m. The aircraft itself is about 573 m from this pin on a 700 m final.
Monitor Tower 118.1 MHz, Ground 121.8 MHz, ATIS 127.8 MHz. Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more. A handheld VHF airband scanner at the fence is the zero-delay way to hear a runway change on Tower 118.1 MHz.
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 20° at 9 kt, so 36R remains the favored arrival. The $3/mo Telegram Runway-Shift Alert pings you when D-ATIS or the METAR wind vector changes the active runway: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/ROAH#runway-alerts
Get a Telegram ping when Naha International Airport changes landing or departure runway. One airport or a short list.