Kyoto features a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons, marked by hot, humid summers and cold, mostly dry winters. The city is renowned for its beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and vibrant autumn foliage. Seasonal contrasts, abundant rainfall, and comfortable spring and autumn weather make Kyoto a prime travel destination year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Kyoto experiences a humid subtropical climate (Cfa), with significant seasonal variation. Summers (June–August) are hot and humid, with average highs reaching 31–34°C and lows around 21–25°C. July and August are the hottest months, and the rainy season (tsuyu) occurs from early June to mid-July, bringing persistent moderate rain and high humidity. Typhoons may impact the city in September, leading to occasional heavy downpours and strong winds. Despite the heat, summer is lively with festivals like Gion Matsuri.
Winters (December–February) are cold and mostly dry, with average highs of 9–12°C and lows near 1–4°C. Snowfall is rare but possible, and clear skies are common. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are considered the most pleasant seasons, offering mild temperatures (10–24°C), moderate rainfall, and stunning displays of cherry blossoms or autumn leaves. Kyoto receives about 1,500–1,600 mm of precipitation annually, with 119 rainy days per year. The city enjoys 1,900–2,000 hours of sunshine annually, with the sunniest months from April to August. Winds are generally light to moderate, though can be brisk during typhoons or cold winter fronts.
| Average climate data for Kyoto, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°F) | 43 | 45 | 52 | 62 | 72 | 78 | 85 | 89 | 79 | 69 | 58 | 47 | 89 |
| Average minimum temperature (°F) | 32 | 33 | 36 | 44 | 53 | 62 | 71 | 72 | 65 | 55 | 45 | 36 | 32 |
| Average precipitation (inch) | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 183 |
| Average snowfall (inch) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 25 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82 | 79 | 78 | 76 | 73 | 79 | 82 | 77 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 81 | 79 |
| Average wind speed (mph) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 56 | 54 | 49 | 45 | 44 | 50 | 53 | 45 | 50 | 47 | 43 | 51 | 49 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
The best time to visit Kyoto is in spring (late March to May) and autumn (late September to November). These seasons offer mild, comfortable temperatures, lower humidity, and the city’s most spectacular scenery – cherry blossoms or colorful autumn leaves. Outdoor activities, sightseeing, and festivals are especially enjoyable during these periods.
The least favorable time to visit Kyoto is from mid-June to early September, when the city experiences its rainy season, peak summer heat, and high humidity. Typhoons may also occur in September, bringing heavy rain and possible travel disruptions. Outdoor activities can be uncomfortable during this period.
Kyoto has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cold, mostly dry winters. Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant, making them ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
The rainy season in Kyoto typically occurs from early June to mid-July, bringing persistent moderate rain and high humidity. September can also be wet due to typhoons.
Snowfall in Kyoto is rare but possible, especially in January and February. When it does snow, it usually melts quickly, and heavy accumulations are uncommon in the city.
Summer temperatures in Kyoto range from 21°C at night to 34°C during the day. The season is hot and humid, with July and August being the warmest months.
Cherry blossoms in Kyoto usually bloom from late March to early April. This period offers mild weather and is ideal for hanami (flower viewing) and outdoor activities.
Yes, Kyoto can be affected by typhoons, mainly in September. Typhoons bring heavy rain and strong winds, so travelers should monitor weather forecasts during this period.
Kyoto receives about 1,500–1,600 mm of precipitation annually, with the wettest months being June, July, and September. Winter is the driest season.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (88.6 °F). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (42.5 °F). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 64.8 °F.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (72.2 °F). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (31.9 °F). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 50.2 °F.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (5.8 inch). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is November (1.2 inch). Over the whole year there are 33.3 inch of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (20.2 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is November (12.3 days). Over the whole year there are 182.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (3.8 inch). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 inch). Over the whole year there are 8.2 inch of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (9.9 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are August and November (0 days). Over the whole year there are 25.2 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is November (82.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (72.8 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 79.2 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is March (5.4 mph). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (4.3 mph). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 4.8 mph.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (56.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is November (43.2 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 49.1 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 9.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 4 h). Over the whole year there are 6.4 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 7). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.1.
