Kyoto, Japan Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Kyoto
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).
Climate quick facts
- 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%
Temperatures through 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.
Rain, sun and snow
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.
How Kyoto compares
- Annual precipitation is 71.6 inches (1818 mm) - wetter than 89% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| 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 month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Kyoto's year (left is the coldest night, right is the 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
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons 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.
Climate questions, answered
When does Kyoto drop below freezing?
What is the average temperature in Kyoto?
How sunny is Kyoto?
Is Kyoto a wet city?
How long does summer last in Kyoto?
How hot does Kyoto get in summer?
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.
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.
Kyoto temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.