When to go · Kansai, JP

When to visit Kyoto

April through October is the sweet spot for Kyoto. Days run 8-24°C with under 179mm of rain across the window, before the peak-season surge. August is the one to skip, 216mm of rain and 32°C highs.

The year at a glance

Excellent
Good
OK
Avoid

How we score weather

How we score months: each starts at 50 and earns or loses points across three signals. Temperature in the 18 to 26°C comfortable band adds 30; 14 to 17°C adds 15; warm 27 to 30°C adds 10. Past 30°C or below 14°C the page starts taking points back, with a 30-point hit at the extremes (below 5°C or above 33°C). Rainfall under 60mm adds 15, 200mm costs 25, over 300mm costs 40. Sunshine over 240 hours adds 10; under 80 hours costs 20. The result lands in one of four bands: Excellent (80+), Good (60-79), OK (40-59), Avoid (under 40). Crowds and prices come from the events calendar, separately, so weather and busyness stay readable as two different signals.

Jan

8°

64mm

Feb

9°

57mm

Mar

14°

121mm

Apr

18°

156mm

May

24°

156mm

Jun

26°

214mm

Jul

30°

268mm

Aug

32°

216mm

Sep

27°

205mm

Oct

22°

179mm

Nov

16°

80mm

Dec

10°

72mm

Best to worst, by weather.

Excellent: April, May, October
Good: November
OK: January, February, March, June, July, September, December
Avoid: August

Busy: January, February, March, April, May, August, November, December

Peak demand in Kyoto starts in January. Lock flights and the room you actually want by September, or you'll pay for what's left.

What's worth timing

Natural event · Jan-Feb
Snow season
Hokkaido powder is heaviest mid-January to mid-February. Niseko books out a year ahead for Lunar New Year week.
Natural event · Mar-Apr
Cherry blossom (sakura)
Peak first week of April in Kyoto, late March in Tokyo. Book accommodation by early February or pay close to double.
Peak season · Apr-May
Golden Week
Late April to May 5: every Japanese person travels at once. Shinkansen reservations gone weeks ahead, hotels at peak rates.
Peak season · Aug
Obon
Mid-August holiday week. Domestic flights and trains book out; ryokan rates spike in Kyoto and the Alps.
Natural event · Nov-Dec
Autumn leaves (koyo)
Kyoto peaks late November into early December. Less crowded than sakura but Tofukuji and Eikando still queue an hour.

Month by month

January
8°C, 64mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds. Hokkaido powder is heaviest mid-January to mid-February. Niseko books out a year ahead for Lunar New Year week.
February
9°C, 57mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds. Hokkaido powder is heaviest mid-January to mid-February. Niseko books out a year ahead for Lunar New Year week.
March
14°C, 121mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds. Peak first week of April in Kyoto, late March in Tokyo. Book accommodation by early February or pay close to double.
April
18°C and 156mm rain. Peak first week of April in Kyoto, late March in Tokyo. Book accommodation by early February or pay close to double.
May
24°C and 156mm rain. Late April to May 5: every Japanese person travels at once. Shinkansen reservations gone weeks ahead, hotels at peak rates.
June
26°C, 214mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds.
July
30°C, 268mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds.
August
32°C, 216mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
September
27°C, 205mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds.
October
22°C days, 179mm rain. The window.
November
16°C, 80mm rain. A solid pick. Kyoto peaks late November into early December. Less crowded than sakura but Tofukuji and Eikando still queue an hour.
December
10°C, 72mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds. Kyoto peaks late November into early December. Less crowded than sakura but Tofukuji and Eikando still queue an hour.

Pack for the window

Light layers, with one warm piece for evenings. High-SPF, even when it's cool.

Ready to put it on the calendar?