When to go · Kyoto, Japan
Best time to visit Kyoto
The sweet spot is May, June and September — averages 19°C, 11 rainy days, moderate crowds.
March – April (cherry blossoms), October – November (autumn foliage)
Humid subtropical climate, basin geography making it hotter and muggier than coastal Japan in summer (38°C+) and colder in winter (-2°C with occasional snow that makes the temples extraordinary). Cherry blossom season (late March – mid April) and autumn foliage (mid-November) are the most beautiful but also the most crowded and expensive times. May–June and September–October are excellent alternatives: quieter, still beautiful, and with better accommodation availability.
The short answer
19°C · 11 rainy days · mid season
23°C · 13 rainy days · low season
24°C · 12 rainy days · mid season
Hardest months: February and March. averages a raw 5°C, 7 rainy days, few other visitors.
Month by month
| Month | Avg temp | Rain days | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5°C | 6d | low | Cold |
| February | 5°C | 7d | low | Cold |
| March | 9°C | 10d | high | Chilly |
| April | 14°C | 10d | high | Mild |
| May | 19°C | 11d | mid | Comfortable but damp |
| June | 23°C | 13d | low | Wet |
| July | 27°C | 13d | mid | Wet |
| August | 28°C | 10d | mid | Hot |
| September | 24°C | 12d | mid | Wet |
| October | 18°C | 9d | high | Comfortable but damp |
| November | 12°C | 8d | high | Chilly |
| December | 7°C | 6d | mid | Cold |
Verdicts are read off the three columns to their left — temperature distance from 21°C first, then rainfall, with crowds breaking ties. Averages, so any given week can differ.
If you'd rather go cheap than perfect
January, February and June are low season in Kyoto — thinner crowds, and the months where accommodation is easiest to book late. Budget travellers already work to about $55–85 a day here; low season is where the accommodation share of that goes furthest.
Book the month you picked
Fares move with the same seasons as the crowds — the quiet months above are usually the cheap ones to fly.