Best time to visit Kyoto
Go inApril
J9°F10°M14°A20°M25°J28°J32°A34°S29°O23°N17°D11°
Visit big temples at opening time to beat the crowds.
See Kyoto on the globeKyoto month by month
| Month | Rating | Avg high | Rain | Crowds | Flights | What’s on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Mixed | 9°C | Mostly dry | Quiet | Cheapest | – |
| February | Mixed | 10°C | Some rain | Quiet | Cheapest | – |
| March | Mixed | 14°C | Some rain | Moderate | Average | – |
| April | Great | 20°C | Some rain | Peak crowds | Priciest | Sakura |
| May | Mixed | 25°C | Wet | Peak crowds | Priciest | – |
| June | Good | 28°C | Wet | Moderate | Average | – |
| July | Poor | 32°C | Very wet | Moderate | Average | Gion Matsuri |
| August | Poor | 34°C | Wet | Peak crowds | Priciest | – |
| September | Mixed | 29°C | Wet | Peak crowds | Priciest | – |
| October | Mixed | 23°C | Wet | Peak crowds | Priciest | – |
| November | Good | 17°C | Some rain | Peak crowds | Priciest | Autumn leaves |
| December | Good | 11°C | Mostly dry | Quiet | Cheapest | – |
Festivals, events and seasons in Kyoto
- April🌿 SakuraTemples framed by blossom in early April.
- July🎉 Gion MatsuriA month-long festival with float parades on 17 and 24 July.
- November🌿 Autumn leavesMid to late November.
Good to know
- Flights to Kyoto are usually cheapest in December–February.
- Crowds and prices peak in April–May and August–November, so book early.
- The heaviest rain falls in July.
Kyoto has around 1,600 Buddhist temples.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
The best time to visit Kyoto is April. Visit big temples at opening time to beat the crowds.
What is the cheapest time to fly to Kyoto?
Flights are usually cheapest in December–February, when demand is lowest.
When is Kyoto busiest?
Kyoto is busiest in April–May and August–November.
What is the weather like in Kyoto?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 34°C, and January the coolest at 9°C. The wettest period is May–October.
More places in Japan
- Tokyo best in Apr and Nov
- Sapporo best in May–Jul
- Okinawa best in Oct–Apr
- Osaka best in Apr, Jun and Nov
- Hiroshima best in Apr, Jun and Oct–Nov
- Nara best in Apr, Jun and Nov
- Nagoya best in Apr and Oct
- Kanazawa best in Jun
- Hakone best in Jul and Nov
- Fukuoka best in Oct
- Takayama best in May–Jul and Oct
- Nagasaki best in Oct
- Nikko best in May–Jul
Nearby destinations
- Busan, South Korea best in May and Oct–Nov
- Seoul, South Korea best in Apr–May and Oct
- Pyongyang, North Korea best in Apr–May and Oct
- Shanghai, China best in Apr and Oct
- Harbin, China best in May
- Taipei, Taiwan best in Oct–Dec