The best times to visit Kyoto for ideal weather are

April 16th to June 17th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Kyoto Travel Info

Weather in Kyoto

Temperature

Average temperatures in Kyoto vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice some of the year, but often too hot in the summer and cold in the winter with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 23rd percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Kyoto, the hottest months are August, July, and then September. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid August where highs are regularly around 94.6°F (34.8°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 77°F (25°C) at night.

Kyoto Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Kyoto Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Kyoto Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Kyoto Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Kyoto Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 47.8 40.1 33.1
Feb 50.2 42 34.4
Mar 57.2 47.7 38.4
Apr 67.3 57.2 46.5
May 77.1 66.8 56.3
Jun 82.7 74.2 66.2
Jul 89.9 81.3 74.1
Aug 92.8 83.4 76.1
Sep 85.1 76 68.2
Oct 74.6 65.5 57.2
Nov 62.8 54.3 46.3
Dec 52.3 44.4 36.8

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 8.8 4.5 0.6
Feb 10.1 5.6 1.3
Mar 14 8.7 3.6
Apr 19.6 14 8.1
May 25.1 19.3 13.5
Jun 28.2 23.4 19
Jul 32.2 27.4 23.4
Aug 33.8 28.6 24.5
Sep 29.5 24.4 20.1
Oct 23.7 18.6 14
Nov 17.1 12.4 7.9
Dec 11.3 6.9 2.7

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Kyoto are January, December, and then November. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early January. For example, on the week of January 1st there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid June with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of June 18th.

When can you find snow in Kyoto? Weather stations report moderate or seasonal snow likely to be deepest around January, especially close to early January. The best time to ski (if at all) in Kyoto is often around around January 29th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Kyoto.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Kyoto (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 14% 2.9 1.9
Feb 24% 0.9 3.4
Mar 28% 0 4.5
Apr 27% 0 4.7
May 23% 0 5.6
Jun 30% 0 6.8
Jul 33% 0 9.8
Aug 21% 0 6.4
Sep 25% 0 7.2
Oct 20% 0 5.2
Nov 19% 0 3.4
Dec 19% 0.4 2.7

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 14 7.4 4.8
Feb 24 2.3 8.6
Mar 28 0 11.4
Apr 27 0 11.9
May 23 0 14.2
Jun 30 0 17.3
Jul 33 0 24.9
Aug 21 0 16.3
Sep 25 0 18.3
Oct 20 0 13.2
Nov 19 0 8.6
Dec 19 1 6.9

 

Humidity and Wind

Kyoto has some slightly muggy months, with moderately humid months on the other side of the year. The least humid month is April (46.4% relative humidity), and the most humid month is July (60.7%).

Wind in Kyoto is usually extremely calm. The windiest month is April, followed by May and March. April’s average wind speed of around 4.4 knots (5.1 MPH or 8.2 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early April where average top sustained speeds reach 9.7 knots, which is considered a gentle breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Kyoto.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 3.5 Barely noticeable 7.6 Gentle breeze
Feb 3.7 Barely noticeable 8.1 Gentle breeze
Mar 4.2 Light breeze 9 Gentle breeze
Apr 4.4 Light breeze 9.4 Gentle breeze
May 4.4 Light breeze 9 Gentle breeze
Jun 4.1 Light breeze 8.1 Gentle breeze
Jul 4.1 Light breeze 8.3 Gentle breeze
Aug 4.2 Light breeze 8.2 Gentle breeze
Sep 4 Light breeze 8.2 Gentle breeze
Oct 3.6 Barely noticeable 7.8 Gentle breeze
Nov 3.2 Barely noticeable 7.1 Gentle breeze
Dec 3.6 Barely noticeable 7.8 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 55.8%
Feb 53.8%
Mar 50%
Apr 46.4%
May 47.3%
Jun 56.9%
Jul 60.7%
Aug 57.1%
Sep 57.4%
Oct 56.3%
Nov 58.1%
Dec 56.3%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Kyoto?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for Japan; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 14, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Kyoto, Japan is May, followed by October and March. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Kyoto in July. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is somewhat extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 82.7 in July means 82.7% of the tourists vs. May.

 

 

Overall Kyoto Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 79.5°F (26.4°C) and 53.3°F (11.8°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 7 to 9 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see the most precipitation with 7 to 10 days of precipitation per month. June – August is fairly slow season for tourism in Kyoto, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly less.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 87.8°F (31°C) and 58.8°F (14.9°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 6 to 7 days per month. Tourism is the second busiest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be slightly higher priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is too cold this time of year in Kyoto to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 54.6°F (12.6°C) and 47.5°F (8.6°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 4 to 7 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Japan › Kyoto, Japan