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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.
Photo by Don Ricardo on Unsplash
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, occasional snow flurries | low | low |
⚠ Some smaller shops may close for New Year's. | |
| February | 2-10°C, cold and dry, occasional light snow | low | low |
⚠ Still cold, pack layers. | |
| March | 6-14°C, cool and increasingly sunny | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Crowds pick up significantly by month's end. | |
| April | 11-20°C, mild and pleasant, occasional spring showers | peak | peak |
⚠ Book accommodations and flights months in advance. | |
| May | 16-23°C, warm and humid, increasing chance of rain | high | high |
⚠ Golden Week (early May) sees peak domestic travel. | |
| June | 20-25°C, hot and very humid, frequent rain (tsuyu season) | moderate | moderate |
⚠ This is the start of the rainy season, expect damp conditions. | |
| July | 25-30°C, hot and humid, intermittent rain | high | high |
⚠ Intense heat and humidity make sightseeing strenuous. | |
| August | 27-32°C, very hot and humid, occasional typhoons | high | high |
⚠ Typhoon season can disrupt travel; extreme heat is common. | |
| September | 23-28°C, still warm and humid, risk of typhoons early, clearing later | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Typhoon risk persists through mid-September. | |
| October | 17-23°C, crisp and pleasant, mostly sunny | high | high |
⚠ Autumn foliage season is extremely popular. | |
| November | 11-19°C, cool and clear, ideal for walking | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Excellent weather for exploring Kyoto's gardens and temples. | |
| December | 4-12°C, cold and dry, short daylight hours | low | low |
⚠ Daylight hours are limited, plan accordingly. |
Annual events worth timing your trip around
February
Setsubun
Bean-throwing ceremonies to ward off evil spirits.
April
Miyako Odori
Geiko and Maiko perform traditional dances in Gion.
May
Aoi Matsuri
One of Kyoto's three great festivals, with a grand procession.
July
Gion Matsuri
A month-long festival featuring massive floats and street processions.
August
Daimonji Gozan Okuribi
Giant bonfires lit on mountainsides to guide ancestral spirits.
October
Jidai Matsuri
A historical pageant parade showcasing costumes from different eras.
Insider timing tips
- •While cherry blossom season (April) is iconic, the crowds and prices are at their absolute peak, making late October/November for autumn foliage a more relaxed, though still busy, alternative.
- •June and July are the rainy season ('tsuyu') and immediately followed by intense heat and humidity in August, making these months the least comfortable for outdoor exploration.
- •Kyoto's temple and shrine closures are rare, but smaller, family-run shops and restaurants may take short breaks around New Year's (early January).
- •The shoulder months of March and May offer good weather but can be surprisingly crowded due to school holidays and the Golden Week national holiday period in early May.
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