Weather in Kyoto

On this site the months that score closest to a 22°C day, lighter rain, and moderate humidity are June, July, and September. Kyoto is in Japan at 35.0°N. The 2001–2020 NASA POWER daily record describes a continental climate with a wide temperature swing.

August is the warmest month (average 25.9°C, high 29.6°C) and January is the coolest (average 2.6°C, low -0.7°C). Rain is rain in every month and about 1657 mm across the year. The wettest month is July at 210 mm; the driest is February at 92 mm.

Rainfall pattern

Rain does not take a season off. Kyoto receives about 1657 mm a year, and even February still sees 92 mm. July is the peak at 210 mm and 17 days with at least 1 mm.

A rainy day here is a day with at least 1 mm in the NASA POWER series. July averages 17 such days; February averages 15.

How warm Kyoto gets

Kyoto has a 23.3°C gap between its coolest monthly average (2.6°C in January) and its warmest (25.9°C in August). That is a northern-hemisphere pattern.

Mean high across all twelve months is 18.0°C and mean low is 9.8°C. These are 20-year grid averages, so a city station can read a few degrees warmer or cooler.

Distinctive months in Kyoto

The year bottoms out in January. Plan for -0.7°C at night and 6.0°C in the afternoon. February is the driest month, averaging only 92 mm across 15 rainy days. Highs sit near 7.4°C. In March, Kyoto averages 11.2°C by day and 1.7°C at night, with 114 mm of rain. April brings 119 mm and 11 rainy days; temperatures run from 6.4°C to 16.8°C. May stands apart from the months beside it: 21.7°C / 11.6°C and 140 mm. June: 25.1°C high, 16.6°C low, 178 mm rain, 84% humidity.

July is the wettest month — 210 mm and 17 rainy days, with 86% humidity. Peak heat arrives in August: 29.6°C by day, 22.3°C at night, and 84% humidity. September stands apart from the months beside it: 26.0°C / 18.5°C and 192 mm. October stands apart from the months beside it: 20.5°C / 12.2°C and 161 mm. November brings 96 mm and 12 rainy days; temperatures run from 6.4°C to 14.7°C. In December, Kyoto averages 8.8°C by day and 1.4°C at night, with 109 mm of rain.

Best months to visit Kyoto

The three months with the highest comfort score are June, July, and September: June (20.9°C average, 178 mm, 84% humidity); July (25.0°C average, 210 mm, 86% humidity); September (22.2°C average, 192 mm, 85% humidity). They fall in calendar order. The score rewards averages near 22°C, lower rainfall, and humidity near 60%. It is a climate score, not a festival or price calendar.

If you prefer the hottest stretch, that is August. The coolest stretch is January.

How Kyoto compares inside Japan

Osaka is about 43 km away: Kyoto is about as warm as Osaka at the hot peak and 96 mm drier over the year than Osaka. Osaka’s wettest month is September (225 mm) versus July here.

Kobe is about 64 km away: Kyoto is 1.5°C cooler than Kobe in its hottest month and 131 mm wetter over the year than Kobe. Kobe’s wettest month is July (204 mm) versus July here.

Nagoya is about 106 km away: Kyoto is 1.4°C cooler than Nagoya in its hottest month and 84 mm drier over the year than Nagoya. Nagoya’s wettest month is July (225 mm) versus July here.