January in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.9/10January averages 3°C (37°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 75 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 9.9 hours of daylight.
It scores 3.9/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — 3.7 points higher on the same scale.
February in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.5/10February averages 3°C (38°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 76 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 2 sunny days and 10.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 4.5/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — 3.1 points higher on the same scale.
March in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.8/10March averages 8°C (46°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 129 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 11 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.8/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — 1.8 points higher on the same scale.
April in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 7.3/10April averages 13°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 163 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 18 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.3/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
May in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — the year's strongest window
Best window · 7.6/10May averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
214 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 24 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Arashiyama Bamboo Grove at 7.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
June in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 7.1/10June averages 21°C (70°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
278 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 21 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 7.1/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
July in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.4/10July averages 26°C (79°F) with humidity around 85%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
208 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 22 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 5.4/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — 2.2 points higher on the same scale.
August in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.9/10August averages 27°C (80°F) with humidity around 85%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
242 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 22 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 4.9/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — 2.7 points higher on the same scale.
September in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.5/10September averages 24°C (76°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
At 148 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 14 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.5/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — 2.1 points higher on the same scale.
October in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.9/10October averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 145 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 8 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.9/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — 1.7 points higher on the same scale.
November in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.1/10November averages 11°C (53°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 123 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 2 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.1/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — 2.5 points higher on the same scale.
December in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.6/10December averages 5°C (40°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 60 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 9.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 4.6/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — 3 points higher on the same scale.
