Kyoto, Japan Climate & Monthly Averages
Kyoto has a humid subtropical climate. August is the hottest month, averaging 89° by day; January is the coldest at 47°.
Kyoto's climate is a story of contrasts
A 24°C spread between its warmest and coolest months puts Kyoto among the more strongly seasonal places we cover. August averages 89°F (32°C) by day; January averages 47°F (8°C), with nights at 31°F (-1°C).
August
89° by day 75° at nightJanuary
47° by day 31° at nightThe two ends of the year
At its warmest, in August, Kyoto runs to 89°F (32°C) in the afternoon and back to 75°F (24°C) by dawn. January is the coolest month, with highs of 47°F (8°C) and lows near 31°F (-1°C). Sunshine averages 8.3 hours a day over the year - duller than about 75% of the cities we track, peaking in August at 10.4 hours.
Snow falls on roughly 2 days a year, mostly December through February. Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 2 months, January through February. The wettest month is July (10.8 inches (275 mm) across 18 days) and the driest January. Between the average August and the average January lie 24°C, a wider spread than roughly 79% of the cities we track.
The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 100°F (38°C) and bottoms at 10°F (-12°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
More climate facts for Kyoto
- Hottest month: August - highs near 89°F (32°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 47°F (8°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 100°F (38°C) high · 10°F (-12°C) low
- Wettest month: July (18 rainy days) · Sunniest: August (10.4 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 24°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 9°C
- Snow: about 2 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 2
- Average humidity: 77%
Four distinct parts of the year in Kyoto
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Kyoto is crisp but comfortable, with daytime highs averaging 66°F (19°C) and nights around 46°F (8°C); rain falls on around 34 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Kyoto brings hot afternoons: 85°F (29°C) by day, 70°F (21°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 45 of the 90 days. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Kyoto settles into easy warmth: 72°F (22°C) by day, 56°F (13°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Kyoto runs cold, with daytime highs averaging 49°F (9°C) and nights around 32°F (0°C); expect showers on roughly 22 days across the season, plus about 2 snowy days.
Kyoto temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.
Choosing a season in Kyoto
Best time to visit Kyoto
Aim for April to May and October to November if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 68°F (20°C) against roughly 10 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
What to pack
Pack for Kyoto with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season, a compact umbrella or rain shell and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. Even in August, lows of 75°F (24°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Monthly highs, lows and seasonal change
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47° | 31° | 8 | 2.5 in | 7.2 h/day | 10.0 h | 26% | 76% |
| February | 49° | 32° | 8 | 2.5 in | 7.5 h/day | 10.9 h | 27% | 74% |
| March | 57° | 38° | 11 | 4.9 in | 8.3 h/day | 11.9 h | 36% | 73% |
| April | 66° | 47° | 11 | 6.4 in | 8.4 h/day | 13.0 h | 38% | 73% |
| May | 74° | 55° | 11 | 6.8 in | 9.3 h/day | 14.0 h | 37% | 73% |
| June | 80° | 63° | 15 | 9.4 in | 8.6 h/day | 14.5 h | 49% | 78% |
| July | 86° | 72° | 18 | 10.8 in | 9.1 h/day | 14.3 h | 56% | 82% |
| August | 89° | 75° | 13 | 7.5 in | 10.4 h/day | 13.5 h | 42% | 78% |
| September | 82° | 68° | 15 | 7.9 in | 8.4 h/day | 12.3 h | 49% | 80% |
| October | 71° | 56° | 11 | 7.1 in | 8.0 h/day | 11.2 h | 35% | 79% |
| November | 62° | 45° | 7 | 3.1 in | 7.7 h/day | 10.3 h | 25% | 79% |
| December | 51° | 35° | 7 | 2.5 in | 7.3 h/day | 9.8 h | 22% | 77% |
Kyoto from the coldest month to the hottest
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Kyoto's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.2 h
- Daylight
- 10.0 h
- Snow
- 1 day
February
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
March
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 8.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
May
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 14.0 h
June
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 14.5 h
July
- Rain
- 18 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 14.3 h
August
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
September
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 8.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
November
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 7.7 h
- Daylight
- 10.3 h
December
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 7.3 h
- Daylight
- 9.8 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Kyoto's coolest part of the year: January, February, December.
Where Kyoto sits among other climates
- Annual precipitation is 71.6 inches (1818 mm) - wetter than 89% of the 3496 cities we track.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.