The group had sailed from Hong Kong to the islands.
Japanese coastguard vessels had followed them, but the group jumped into the water and swam to one island.
The landing came with Japan embroiled in another row over islands with South Korea, and as two ministers visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
The various rows erupted as Japan marked its surrender at the end of World War II and South Korea its independence from Japanese colonial rule.
Early in the day, a group of South Korean swimmers landed on islands called Dokdo by South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, days after Tokyo recalled its ambassador to Seoul after President Lee Myung-bak visited the islands.
The group of pro-China activists set sail for the Senkaku islands on Sunday.
Japanese coastguard vessels surrounded the boat as it approached the islands, but some of the activists jumped and swam to one of the islands, local media report.
"The Okinawa prefectural police arrested five men for violation of the immigration control law on Uotsurijima island," a spokesman told AFP news agency.
Early on Wednesday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman warned Japan not to "endanger" the activists and said Beijing was ''paying close attention'' to the developments, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Tensions between China and Japan have been rumbling in recent months over the islands in the East China Sea.
The islands, which are also claimed by Taiwan, are controlled by Japan and form part of Okinawa prefecture.
The largely uninhabited crop of islands are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits.
In April a fresh row ensued after Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara said he would use public money to buy the islands from the current private owner.
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