Best time to visit Kyoto
The best time to visit Kyoto is during spring and autumn, from mid-April to mid-May and from late-October to mid-November. when the weather is generally mild and pleasant.
However, for hot weather activities visit during July and August.
Note: Cherry blossom season in Japan officially begins in March and ends in May. In Kyoto, the season falls between late-March to early-April, while the actual blooming dates vary from year to year.
Or, visit from mid-November to early-December: Kyoto is one of the best areas to view momijigari, when trees take on beautiful autumn colours.
Kyoto – Weather summary |
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| Hottest month | August – 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January – 9°C (48°F) |
| Sunniest month | January – 6 hrs daily |
| Wettest month | October – 225mm (9in) rainfall |
| Windiest month | February – 16kph (10mph) |
Climate data: Average highs. Source: Japan Meteorological Agency. Weather stations: Osaka Itami Airport, also known as Osaka International Airport (ITM), located 45km (28mi) southwest of central Kyoto. |
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Kyoto climate
Kyoto has a temperate humid climate, with hot, humid and wet summers and cold, sunny and relatively dry winters. You can expect rainfall thoughout the year in Kyoto.
Frequently asked questions
We answer the most commonly asked questions (FAQs) about the weather in Kyoto.
Wht is the best month to visit Kyoto?
The best months to visit Kyoto are anytime from May to October, despite the possibility of rainfall. July and August are the warmest months with an average mean temperature around 29°C (84°F)
Which is the hottest month in Kyoto?
The hottest month in Kyoto is normally August, when maximum daytime temperatures usually reach 33°C (91°F), with high heat and humidity, and a low of 24°C (75°F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature may reach 37°C (98°F).
The hot season lasts from late-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 27°C (80°F).
Which is the coldest month in Kyoto?
The coldest month of the year in Kyoto is January, with an average high of 9°C (48°F) and a low of 1°C (34°F).
The cold season lasts from early-December through to mid-March, with an average daily high temperature below 12°C (53°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Kyoto?
The sunniest time of year in Kyoto is usually April with an average of six hours of sunshine per day; that's on average 45% of daylight hours.
What is the humidity in Kyoto?
Kyoto experiences notable seasonal variation in perceived relative humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 59% – 70% over the course of the year.
What do the humidity conditions feel like in Kyoto?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.
Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature.
The average annual dew point in Kyoto is 10°C (50°F), and varies over the course of the year from dry at -1°C (30°F) to muggy at 22°C (71°F).
The more humid time of year in Kyoto lasts from June through September, when you can expect the comfort level to be muggy at least 24% of the time.
The month with the highest humidity in Kyoto is August, with at least 28 days that are muggy or worse.
November through April is more comfortable, with little or no humidity.
Which month has the most rain in Kyoto?
July is usually the wettest month in Kyoto with 225mm (9in) of rainfall on average distributed across 13 days. Typically, June and July receive the most rainfall in the year.
Rain falls throughout the year in Kyoto. The wet season lasts from mid-June to late-September, with a greater than 40% chance of a day being wet.
The drier season lasts from late-September to mid-June, with January and December receiving the least amount of rainfall.
Which month has the most snow in Kyoto?
February receives the most snowfall in Kyoto with 24mm (1in) of snow on average. Typically, January and February receive the most snowfall in the year.
Which is the windiest month in Kyoto?
The windiest month of the year in Kyoto is February, with an average hourly wind speed of 16 kilometres per hour (10 mph; 8.6 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from late-November through to early-May, with average wind speeds of more than 13 kilometres per hour (8 mph; 7 knots).
The less-windy time of year lasts from early-May through to late-November. The calmest month of the year in Kyoto is August, with an average hourly wind speed of 11 kilometres per hour (7 mph; 6 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Kyoto.
From June to October (but especially from August to early-October), Kyoto may be affected by typhoons.
Kyoto – Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 10 | 14 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 23 | 17 | 11 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 3 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Comfort level – humidity (#muggy days) | |||||||||||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 27 | 28 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Average dew point temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| -1 | -1 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 61 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 61 | 68 | 70 | 66 | 67 | 65 | 64 | 62 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 55 | 65 | 105 | 115 | 150 | 200 | 225 | 155 | 180 | 145 | 75 | 55 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
| Kyoto, Japan | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High season: New Year's Oshogatsu (late-December to early-January); Golden Week (late-April to early-May); and Oban Buddhist Holiday (mid-August).
Shoulder season: Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).
Low season: December to February (except New Year's holidays).
Climate source: Meteorological data for Kyoto is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by Japan Meteorological Agency from the closest weather station: Osaka Itami Airport, also called Osaka International Airport (ITM), located 45km (28mi) southwest of central Kyoto, so the actual climate in Kyoto can vary a bit.
Advice on the best time to visit Kyoto, Japan is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Kyoto: 15 August, 2025
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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