Chart by month
Best time to visit Kyoto, season by season
Kyoto, month after month
Twelve months in Kyoto
Choose a month for sunset, daylight, the usual warmth and what the city is known for then.
Sunset
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sunset is worked out for the 15th of each month on Japan time. Day length and temperatures: NOAA averages for its Kyoto station, 3.3 km from the city centre, 1971 to 2020.
Kyoto changes with the calendar more than most cities: blossoms in spring, rain in early summer, heat in August, red leaves in November and a quiet, cold winter. This is what each season brings.
Editorial team, kyotoactivities.com · Updated November 2, 2026 · About 6 minutes of reading
Essentials first
- SpringCherry blossoms run from late March to early April at Kiyomizu-dera.1
- AutumnAutumn leaves run from mid-November to early December there.1
- Wet spellBetween early June and mid-July Kyoto sees a lot of rainfall.2
- SummerJuly through September are the hottest months, around 35 degrees at the peak.3
- WinterColder than 5 degrees at times, with little snow, and quiet temples.3,4
The short version of when to go
The Kyoto City Tourism Association is direct about it: the most comfortable times for tourism in Kyoto are all throughout spring and autumn.5 Those are the seasons of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, and they are also the seasons when the weather lets you spend a full day outdoors.
The city sits in a basin surrounded by mountains, which gives hot, humid summers and chilly winters.6 The association lists the hottest months as July through September, with highs reaching around 35 degrees, and notes that winter temperatures can drop below 5 degrees.3
Which season is best for you depends on what you came to see, and on how much crowding and heat you are willing to trade for it. A garden in autumn leaves and a tea room in winter snow are different trips, and neither is a poor choice, as long as you plan the days around the hours of light and the heat.
Spring: plum, then cherry, then azaleas
From March the city colors with plum blossoms, then cherry blossoms, azaleas, wisteria and irises in succession, and the April cherry blossoms are the most beloved by visitors and locals alike.10 Kiyomizu-dera gives late March to early April for its cherry blossoms, and the temple has approximately 1,500 cherry trees.1,11
April averages a daily high of 19.9 degrees and a low of 8.7 degrees at the NOAA station, with 9 days of at least 2.5 mm of rain and 141 mm in the month.9 March is cooler, with a high of 13.6 degrees and a low of 3.3 degrees.9 Pack a layer for mornings and evenings, and a compact umbrella, because the rain days add up even when the sun is out most of the week. A spring trip also pays off if you start at dawn: Kiyomizu-dera opens at 6:00 a.m., which gives you the hillside before the day tours arrive.12
May brings the Aoi Matsuri, whose procession is held on May 15 and is postponed to the 16th in rain.7 The month averages a high of 24.8 degrees and a low of 13.5 degrees.9
The rainy season and the heat
Between early June and mid-July, Kyoto sees a lot of rainfall, in a season the Japanese call tsuyu.2 June averages 217 mm over 10 rainy days, and July is the wettest month at 233 mm.9,9 The rain can bring out the bright green of the city's plants, and indoor stops such as the aquarium and the manga museum suit wet days.16,17
Midsummer is hot. Temperatures often rise above 35 degrees, and the mountains on three sides block cooling winds, so the air stays hot and humid, often into September.18 August averages a high of 33.3 degrees and a low of 23.7 degrees.9 Sunrise is around 5:00 AM and sunset around 7:00 PM in summer, so use the early hours for outdoor stops.19
The Gion Matsuri runs July 1 to 31, with highlights on the 17th and 24th.8 If you come for it, plan to spend afternoons in air-conditioned spaces and evenings out in the streets. Book a table or a tour slot well ahead, and keep one flexible afternoon in case a thunderstorm interrupts the plan; heavy rain can arrive suddenly in summer.
Pick by priority
Which month should you pick?
Match your priority to a window
Autumn: leaves, lights and the Fushimi Inari autumn walk
Autumn temperatures stay warm through October and cool down in November, which deepens the maple colors.20 Kiyomizu-dera gives mid-November to early December for autumn leaves, and the temple has about 1,000 trees with turning leaves.1,11
Many temples open at night for colorful illuminations of the foliage, and the Takao area is particularly well known for autumn leaves.13 October averages a high of 22.9 degrees and November 17.1 degrees, with November the drier month at 73 mm.9,9
Fushimi Inari in Kyoto in autumn is a good stop because the mountain forest around its torii changes color, and the shrine is 10 minutes from Kyoto Station.21 The Jidai Matsuri procession is held on October 22 and has around 20 groups, about 2,000 participants and 70 horses and oxen.14,22
Group price check
Price a season-proof day
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4 options side by side
Price a season-proof day
Enter your group size and compare four listings
- Coach loopFour temple tickets · each, tickets from $97
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View - Tea session45 min · each, tickets from $49
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View - Kimono rentalOne day's hire · each, tickets from $21
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View - Gion walkTwo hours, start to end · each, tickets from $19
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View
Lowest GetYourGuide prices at the ECB reference rate; the exact amount appears when you book.
The Kyoto year
The Kyoto calendar
End of March
Cherry blossoms begin
Kiyomizu-dera gives late March to early April.1
May
Aoi Matsuri
The procession is held on May 15.7
The weeks before midsummer
Wet spell
Early June to mid-July brings a lot of rain.2
July
Gion Matsuri
The festival runs July 1 to 31.8
November
Red-leaf season
Mid-November to early December at Kiyomizu-dera.1
January
Cold and quiet
A high of 8.9 degrees and a low of 0.7 degrees.9
Winter: quiet temples and things to do in Kyoto in winter
Winter is cold, with the association noting temperatures that can fall below 5 degrees, but Kyoto does not receive much snow.3,4 January averages a high of 8.9 degrees and a low of 0.7 degrees, with 47 mm of precipitation.9 When snow does fall, a city covered with white snow is unforgettably beautiful.4
Days are short: winter sunrise is around 7:00 AM and sunset around 5:00 PM.19 Opening hours shrink too. Ginkaku-ji is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from December 1 to February 28, against 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from March 1 to November 30.23
Winter suits indoor activities. The association suggests a traditional ryokan with cozy baths, and daytime-use onsen are available.15 A 45-minute tea ceremony in a garden tea house starts from $49, and a 1-day kimono rental with hairstyling from $21.
Video
The best month to visit Kyoto: locals' recommended months and times to avoid
Yuki's Kyoto on YouTube · The player connects to YouTube only after you tap.
The most comfortable times for tourism in Kyoto are all throughout spring and autumn.
Checklist
What to pack by season
Colder months3
- A warm coat from November to February
- Check early closing hours in winter
- Gloves and a hat in January
Hotter months3
- A brolly for the wet months
- Water and sun protection for midsummer
- Shoes that dry quickly
Matching a day tour to the season
A day that visits many outdoor sights is a different proposition in July than in November. Our coach day lists 8.5 to 9 hours, departs at 8:00 AM and returns around 4:30 to 5:00 PM, which fits the short winter light only just.19
In summer the same schedule means long walks in the hottest hours. The tour involves stairs and hills, so carry water and sun protection and use the free time at stops to rest in shade.
In spring and autumn the coach loop suits the comfortable temperatures, and it starts from $97. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before, which helps if forecasts change. Whichever season you pick, put the tour on a day with a decent forecast and keep a second day free for a temple you skipped.
FAQ
Things people ask us.
What is the best month to visit Kyoto?
The tourism association calls spring and autumn the most comfortable times for tourism.5
When are the cherry blossoms in Kyoto?
When are the autumn leaves in Kyoto?
What month is the rainy season in Kyoto?
Is Kyoto worth visiting in winter?
What are things to do in Kyoto in winter?
When is the Gion Matsuri?
It runs July 1 to 31, with highlights on the 17th and 24th.8
Sources
- Kiyomizu-dera · Kiyomizu-dera grounds ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Aoi Matsuri Festival ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Gion Matsuri Festival ↩
- NOAA · Global Summary of the Month, Station Kyoto (NOAA GHCN JA000047759), 1971 to 2020 ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information ↩
- Kiyomizu-dera · Kiyomizu-dera FAQ ↩
- Kiyomizu-dera · Kiyomizu-dera FAQ ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Jidai Matsuri Festival ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Families with Kids ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Families with Kids ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Morning & Night ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Getting Around Kyoto ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Jidai Matsuri Festival ↩
- Shokoku-ji (Ginkaku-ji) · Ginkaku-ji access ↩
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Seasonal Information
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Jidai Matsuri Festival
- Kyoto City Tourism Association · Morning & Night