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Best time to visit Kyoto
Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.
Best time to visit Kyoto, Japan
Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.
| Month | Score | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1-9°C, crisp and clear with occasional snow flurries | low | low |
⚠ Some smaller shops and restaurants may close for New Year holidays. | |
| February | 2-10°C, cold and dry with clear skies | low | low |
| |
| March | 6-14°C, cool and pleasant with increasing sunshine | moderate | moderate |
| |
| April | 11-20°C, mild and sunny with occasional spring showers | peak | peak |
⚠ Book accommodations and flights months in advance due to Sakura. | |
| May | 16-23°C, warm and humid with a good amount of sunshine | high | high |
⚠ Golden Week (early May) sees peak crowds and prices. | |
| June | 20-26°C, hot and humid with frequent rain (tsuyu season) | moderate | moderate |
⚠ The rainy season (tsuyu) can make sightseeing challenging. | |
| July | 24-30°C, hot and humid with scattered thunderstorms | high | high |
⚠ Gion Matsuri runs all month, with main events mid-July. | |
| August | 26-32°C, very hot and humid with occasional typhoons | high | high |
⚠ Typhoon season can disrupt travel plans. | |
| September | 22-28°C, still warm and humid, with typhoon risk decreasing | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Typhoon risk persists in early September. | |
| October | 16-23°C, crisp and clear with pleasant temperatures | high | high |
⚠ Autumn foliage season attracts many visitors. | |
| November | 10-18°C, cool and dry with beautiful autumn colors | peak | peak |
⚠ Book accommodations well in advance for peak autumn viewing. | |
| December | 4-12°C, cold and clear with short daylight hours | low | low |
⚠ New Year's Eve celebrations are popular, leading to a slight price increase. |
Annual events worth timing your trip around
Celebrates the blooming of plum trees with special events at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine and other locations.
Spring geisha dances performed by geiko and maiko of the Gion district.
One of Kyoto's three great festivals, featuring a procession in Heian period costumes.
A month-long festival featuring massive, ornate floats (yamaboko) and street processions.
Giant bonfires are lit on mountainsides to guide ancestral spirits back to the underworld.
Festival of the Ages, a historical pageant with participants dressed in costumes from different eras.
Insider timing tips
- •The shoulder seasons of April-May and October-November offer the best balance of pleasant weather and manageable crowds, though prices can be high.
- •While summer is hot and humid, July's Gion Matsuri is a major draw that can justify braving the heat.
- •The rainy season in June (tsuyu) can lead to lower prices and fewer crowds, but be prepared for frequent rain.
- •Autumn foliage (Koyo) in November is spectacular but draws peak crowds and requires booking far in advance.
- •The period around New Year's (late December to early January) can see some closures for local businesses and shrines.
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