Winter
Dec → Feb8 to 11°
nights -1 to 2°
- 8 rainy days · 64 mm
- 7.3 h of sun
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
- Jan8°not recommended
- Feb9°fair
- Mar14°recommended
- Apr19°recommended
- May23°recommended
- Jun26°fair
- Jul30°not recommended
- Aug32°not recommended
- Sep28°fair
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov16°recommended
- Dec11°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Kyoto, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8° | -1° | 7.2 h | 64 mm | 8 d | |
| February | 9° | 0° | 7.5 h | 64 mm | 8 d | |
| March | 14° | 3° | 8.3 h | 123 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| April | 19° | 8° | 8.4 h | 163 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| May | 23° | 13° | 9.3 h | 173 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| June | 26° | 17° | 8.6 h | 239 mm | 15 d | |
| July | 30° | 23° | 9.1 h | 275 mm | 18 d | |
| August | 32° | 24° | 10.4 h | 192 mm | 13 d | |
| September | 28° | 20° | 8.4 h | 201 mm | 15 d | |
| October | 22° | 13° | 8 h | 180 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| November | 16° | 7° | 7.7 h | 80 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| December | 11° | 2° | 7.3 h | 64 mm | 7 d |
The four seasons in Kyoto, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Fushimi Inari Taisha) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May14 to 23°
nights 3 to 13°
- 11 rainy days · 153 mm
- 8.7 h of sun
Summer
Jun → Aug26 to 32°
nights 17 to 24°
- 15 rainy days · 235 mm
- 9.4 h of sun
Autumn
Sep → Nov16 to 28°
nights 7 to 20°
- 11 rainy days · 154 mm
- 8 h of sun
Book early for March to May and October to November
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Kyoto, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h30 of daylight, in December 9h49, a difference of 4h41.
10h03Jan
10h52Feb
11h52Mar
13h02Apr
13h59May
14h30Jun
14h17Jul
13h28Aug
12h21Sep
11h14Oct
10h16Nov
9h49Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Fushimi Inari Taisha" (34.97°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Kyoto, month by month
EventsCherry blossom seasonMarch to AprilGion MatsuriJulyGozan no OkuribiAugustRed maplesNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December
- Long days: June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Kyoto, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- March to AprilCherry blossom season big crowds
The cherry trees bloom along the Philosopher's Path and the banks of the Kamo River in late March, for around ten days.
- JulyGion Matsuri big crowds
The floats of Yasaka Shrine cross the centre throughout July, with the two big processions falling in the middle of the month.
- AugustGozan no Okuribi big crowds
Five fires in the shape of characters are lit on the hills around the city in mid-August, to close the festival of the dead.
- NovemberRed maples big crowds
Maples turn red at Tofuku-ji, Eikando and in the valleys of Arashiyama, especially in the second half of November.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended8°-1° at night
- 64 mm · 8 d
- 7.2 h
Low season, lower prices
February
Fair9°0° at night
- 64 mm · 8 d
- 7.5 h
Low season, lower prices
March
Recommended14°3° at night
- 123 mm · 11 d
- 8.3 h
High season, book early
April
Recommended19°8° at night
- 163 mm · 11 d
- 8.4 h
High season, book early
May
Recommended23°13° at night
- 173 mm · 11 d
- 9.3 h
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair26°17° at night
- 239 mm · 15 d
- 8.6 h
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended30°23° at night
- 275 mm · 18 d
- 9.1 h
Busy, without the crush
August
Not recommended32°24° at night
- 192 mm · 13 d
- 10.4 h
Busy, without the crush
September
Fair28°20° at night
- 201 mm · 15 d
- 8.4 h
Low season, lower prices
October
Recommended22°13° at night
- 180 mm · 11 d
- 8 h
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended16°7° at night
- 80 mm · 7 d
- 7.7 h
High season, book early
December
Fair11°2° at night
- 64 mm · 7 d
- 7.3 h
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 8 °C at best, -1 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (64 mm). Expect 7.2 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 9 °C at best, 0 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (64 mm). Expect 7.5 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 14 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (123 mm). Expect 8.3 h of sunshine a day. High season: book early.
April. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (163 mm). Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. High season: book early.
May. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (173 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.3 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 26 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Frequent rain: 239 mm over 15 days. Expect 8.6 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 30 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. A very wet month, 275 mm of rain over 18 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
August. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 24 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (192 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 28 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Frequent rain: 201 mm over 15 days. Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (180 mm). Expect 8 h of sunshine a day. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Cool: 16 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Rain stays light: 80 mm over 7 days. Expect 7.7 h of sunshine a day. High season: book early.
December. Cool: 11 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Rain stays light: 64 mm over 7 days. Expect 7.3 h of sunshine a day. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
March to May and October to November: over these months, recorded highs range from 14 to 23 °C, with 10 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Fushimi Inari Taisha).
Which month should you avoid in Kyoto?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 275 mm over 18 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Fushimi Inari Taisha).
What is the hottest month in Kyoto?
August, with 32 °C on average in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Fushimi Inari Taisha).
What is the coldest month in Kyoto?
January, with 8 °C at best during the day and -1 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Fushimi Inari Taisha).
What is the driest month in Kyoto?
January: 64 mm over 8 days of rain, against 275 mm in July, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Kyoto?
August, with 10.4 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Kyoto guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Japan: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
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