Kyoto Weather by Month
| Month | High / Low °C (°F) | Rainy days | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.1 (48.4) / 1.5 (34.7) | 8.1 | 67% |
| February | 10.0 (50.0) / 1.6 (34.9) | 8.9 | 65% |
| March | 14.1 (57.4) / 4.3 (39.7) | 11.2 | 61% |
| April | 20.1 (68.2) / 9.2 (48.6) | 10.6 | 59% |
| May | 25.1 (77.2) / 14.5 (58.1) | 10.8 | 60% |
| June | 28.1 (82.6) / 19.2 (66.6) | 13.2 | 66% |
| July | 32.0 (89.6) / 23.6 (74.5) | 12.6 | 69% |
| August | 33.7 (92.7) / 24.7 (76.5) | 9.3 | 66% |
| September | 29.2 (84.6) / 20.7 (69.3) | 11.1 | 67% |
| October | 23.4 (74.1) / 14.4 (57.9) | 9.4 | 68% |
| November | 17.3 (63.1) / 8.4 (47.1) | 7.4 | 68% |
| December | 11.6 (52.9) / 3.5 (38.3) | 8.2 | 68% |
A month-by-month planning table for Kyoto on the Japan Meteorological Agency 1991-2020 normals (records back to 1880) — the 30-year averages behind the question every temple-and-garden itinerary asks: what will this month actually feel like on the Philosopher's Path? Pick a month for typical high and low in both scales, rainy days, humidity and a packing line.
Kyoto sits in a basin, and the basin is the story: summers run hotter than Tokyo or Osaka with humidities that refuse to drop below the mid-60s even in December, and winters are colder at night with nearly double Tokyo's snowfall (15 cm a year against 8). The reward for timing it right: November is Kyoto's mildest, driest walking month — 17.3/8.4 C with the fewest rain days of autumn, exactly when the maple season peaks.
How to use
- Pick your travel month from the dropdown.
- Read the typical high/low (C and F), rainy days and humidity, plus the packing line.
- Routing Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in one trip? Compare the three tables linked below — the basin runs hotter, colder at night, and drier in late autumn than either coastal city.
Frequently asked questions
How does Kyoto's weather differ from Tokyo and Osaka?
The basin amplifies everything: August highs average 33.7 C (warmer than Tokyo's 31.3), January nights drop to 1.5 C with frosts Tokyo rarely sees, annual snowfall is about 15 cm against Tokyo's 8, and humidity stays 67-68% through autumn when the coastal cities dry out. Kyoto does share the late-autumn sweet spot: November's 7.4 rainy days make it the driest walking month.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
Mid-November for the maple season — mild days (17.3 C), cold crisp evenings (8.4 C), the year's lowest rain counts, and the foliage at peak. Late March to mid-April is the cherry-blossom window (14.1 to 20.1 C highs); book rooms far ahead for both.
Does it snow in Kyoto?
More than you might expect for Japan's old capital: about 15 cm a year, most of it in January (5 cm) and February (7 cm). Basin cold traps the snow, temple gardens dust white a few times each winter, and roads in the surrounding hills can stay icy past sunrise.
When is rainy season and typhoon season in Kyoto?
Tsuyu, the plum-rain front, sits over the basin in June (13.2 rainy days, the year's most) and into July, which posts the highest monthly total at about 224 mm. Typhoons reach Kyoto August into September, usually weakened by the mountains — but July's rain fronts, not typhoons, are the wettest stretch here.
How bad is Kyoto's summer heat?
A basin holds heat: July and August average 32.0 and 33.7 C highs with lows near 24-25 C, and humidity holds 66-69%. Sightsee before 10 am and after 4 pm, plan temple interiors and shaded gardens for midday, and treat August evening festivals (Gion Odori aside) as the main event.
How do these normals compare with a forecast?
Normals are 30-year averages — an individual month can run 2-3 C off and rain days swing by several. Use this table to choose dates and pack, then check a forecast about a week before departure.