January in Kyoto: expect compromises
Hardest · 4.3/10At 3°C (37°F) this is proper winter weather in January: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
Budget for roughly 75 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.9 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 4.3/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.
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.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Kyoto — 2.3 points higher on the same scale.
February in Kyoto — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.7/10At 3°C (38°F) this is proper winter weather in February: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
Budget for roughly 76 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 2 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.7 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 4.7/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for 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.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Kyoto — 1.9 points higher on the same scale.
March in Kyoto — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.2/10March 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 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.2/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with 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.
April in Kyoto: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6.4/10Temperatures hover around 13°C (56°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
163 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 6.4/10 on the same scale — 2nd of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
May in Kyoto tops the year's climate scores
Best window · 6.6/10May 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 makes this the wettest stretch of the year, though about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still appear — keep an indoor fallback ready.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Kyoto at 6.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
June in Kyoto — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 6.2/10At 21°C (70°F) this is comfortable city weather in June, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
This is the year's wettest stretch at 278 mm, but with about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.
That is 6.2/10 on the same scale — 3rd of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
July in Kyoto — off-season conditions
Hardest · 4.7/10Days in July average 26°C (79°F) and humidity near 85% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
This is the year's wettest stretch at 208 mm, but with about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.
That is 4.7/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for 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.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Kyoto — 1.9 points higher on the same scale.
August in Kyoto — off-season conditions
Hardest · 4.2/10August averages 27°C (80°F) and humidity near 85%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
242 mm makes this the wettest stretch of the year, though about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still appear — keep an indoor fallback ready.
It scores 4.2/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? May scores 2.4 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
September in Kyoto — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 5.2/10September averages 24°C (76°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
At 148 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 14 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.2/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination. That combination — decent conditions at the lowest rates of the year — is the best value window on this page.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
October in Kyoto — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.8/10Temperatures hover around 17°C (62°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
145 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 8 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 5.8/10 on the same scale — 4th of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for 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.
November in Kyoto — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5/10Expect 11°C (53°F) in November. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
123 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 2 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 5/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-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.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Kyoto — 1.6 points higher on the same scale.
December in Kyoto: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 5/10December 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 almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 5/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? May scores 1.6 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
