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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	Weather	Crowds	Prices	Highlights
January	-1-9°C, crisp and clear with occasional snow flurries	low	low	• Plum blossoms start to appear in late January • Fewer crowds for temple visits ⚠ Some smaller shops and restaurants may close for New Year holidays.
February	2-10°C, cold and dry with clear skies	low	low	• Plum blossom festivals begin • Snow monkeys at Arashiyama
March	6-14°C, cool and pleasant with increasing sunshine	moderate	moderate	• Early cherry blossoms (late March) • Ume Matsuri (Plum Blossom Festivals)
April	11-20°C, mild and sunny with occasional spring showers	peak	peak	• Peak cherry blossom season (Sakura) • Miyako Odori (Geisha dances) ⚠ 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	• Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival) • Wisteria in bloom ⚠ Golden Week (early May) sees peak crowds and prices.
June	20-26°C, hot and humid with frequent rain (tsuyu season)	moderate	moderate	• Hydrangeas bloom in gardens • Gion Matsuri preparations begin ⚠ The rainy season (tsuyu) can make sightseeing challenging.
July	24-30°C, hot and humid with scattered thunderstorms	high	high	• Gion Matsuri (one of Japan's most famous festivals) • Vibrant nightlife ⚠ Gion Matsuri runs all month, with main events mid-July.
August	26-32°C, very hot and humid with occasional typhoons	high	high	• Daimonji Gozan Okuribi (Bonfire Festival) ⚠ Typhoon season can disrupt travel plans.
September	22-28°C, still warm and humid, with typhoon risk decreasing	moderate	moderate	• Autumn foliage begins to appear in some areas • Fewer crowds after summer holidays ⚠ Typhoon risk persists in early September.
October	16-23°C, crisp and clear with pleasant temperatures	high	high	• Vibrant autumn foliage (Koyo) • Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) ⚠ Autumn foliage season attracts many visitors.
November	10-18°C, cool and dry with beautiful autumn colors	peak	peak	• Peak autumn foliage (Koyo) • Illuminations at temples and gardens ⚠ Book accommodations well in advance for peak autumn viewing.
December	4-12°C, cold and clear with short daylight hours	low	low	• Winter illuminations • Fewer tourists ⚠ New Year's Eve celebrations are popular, leading to a slight price increase.

Annual events worth timing your trip around

February

Plum Blossom Festivals (Ume Matsuri)

Celebrates the blooming of plum trees with special events at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine and other locations.

April

Miyako Odori

Spring geisha dances performed by geiko and maiko of the Gion district.

May

Aoi Matsuri

One of Kyoto's three great festivals, featuring a procession in Heian period costumes.

July

Gion Matsuri

A month-long festival featuring massive, ornate floats (yamaboko) and street processions.

August

Daimonji Gozan Okuribi

Giant bonfires are lit on mountainsides to guide ancestral spirits back to the underworld.

October

Jidai Matsuri

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.