Spotter

Naha International Airport (OKA / ROAH) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor

Naha, Japan

Naha

OKA/ROAH

Updated Wed 28 Oct, 08:47 local

Active runway
36R / 36L

Wind vector · +19 kt headwind

METAR wind
10° @ 19 kt

VFR

Best spot
Short final 36R - sunny side

Sweet spot

Sun
121° / 26°

Golden hour in 8h 33m

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Best Naha (OKA) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle

Live weather

VFR

10° @ 19 kt

25°C · 10+ km · 1020 hPa

FEW039

Wed 28 Oct, 08:47 localAz 121° · El 26°Sweet spot

Golden hour in 8h 33m

+0h

Runway alerts for Naha International Airport

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Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies

Lighting schedule

Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at OKA, scored from each spot's view bearing.

Spotting LocationMorning (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 LIGHTCLEAN FRONT LIGHTSIDE LIGHTRecommended 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 LIGHTCLEAN FRONT LIGHTSIDE LIGHTRecommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 07:00-12:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00.
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Frequently asked questions about plane spotting at Naha (OKA/ROAH)

Which runway is active at Naha (OKA/ROAH) right now?

As of Wed 28 Oct, 08:30 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 36R+36L. The METAR wind is 10° at 19 kt. 36R shows +18.5 kt headwind and 4.3 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.

Where is the best place to plane spot at Naha (OKA) in the morning vs. afternoon?

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 22°. 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.

What is the best time to plane spot at Naha International Airport?

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.

What is the sun direction at ROAH spotting locations?

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.

What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Naha (OKA)?

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.

What ATC radio frequencies should I monitor while spotting at Naha (ROAH)?

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.

How do I know when Naha (OKA) switches active runways?

No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 10° at 19 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