Voyaggora
Top sights in Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari-taisha – Shinto shrines in Kyoto, Japan
- Kiyomizu-dera – Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
- Gion – Neighborhood in Kyoto, Japan
- Nijō Castle – Castle in Kyoto, Japan
Well-known landmarks, each checked against Wikidata (CC0), which also supplies the one-line descriptions. The bookable tours below are the second layer: guided ways to see them.
Top-rated tours in Kyoto
Planning your trip to Kyoto
Best time to visit
Spring blossoms in late March and April and autumn color in November are the most beautiful seasons and also the most crowded, so book early and start sightseeing at opening time. Summer is hot and humid. Winter is cold but quiet, and temples and gardens look striking with a dusting of snow.
How many days you need
Three days covers the major temples, shrines and the Gion and Higashiyama districts at a reasonable pace. Four or five days leaves room for the bamboo grove area of Arashiyama, the quieter northern temples and day trips to Nara or Osaka.
Getting around
The subway has only a couple of lines, so buses and trains fill in the gaps, and buses are often crowded near popular sights. Many central areas are good for walking or cycling. Taxis are useful for reaching temples outside the center, especially when traveling as a group. Fast trains link the city to Osaka and Tokyo.
What to skip
Popular spots such as the famous torii gate shrine and the bamboo grove are packed by mid-morning; go at sunrise or late in the day. Do not chase geisha or photograph them without permission, as the practice is discouraged in some districts. Trying to visit a dozen temples in a day leaves them all blurring together; choose a few and take your time.
Where to stay in Kyoto
Hotels and vacation rentals around Kyoto with live prices from the big booking sites. Pick your dates on the map to compare.
Hotel map by our partner Stay22. If you book through it we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Best time to visit Kyoto
The most comfortable months in Kyoto are March to April and November, with average daytime highs of 57 to 65°F (14 to 18°C) and 6 to 13 rainy days a month. August is the hottest month, averaging 90°F (32°C), and January the coolest at 47°F (8°C). July sees the most rain, around 18 days, while November is the driest with about 6.
Jump to a month: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain (about, mm) | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47°F (8°C) | 31°F (-1°C) | 100 | 8 | Shoulder: 47°F (8°C), 8 rainy days |
| February | 49°F (9°C) | 33°F (1°C) | 90 | 8 | Shoulder: 49°F (9°C), 8 rainy days |
| March | 57°F (14°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 110 | 13 | Best: 13 rainy days |
| April | 65°F (18°C) | 47°F (8°C) | 120 | 11 | Best: 11 rainy days |
| May | 74°F (23°C) | 55°F (13°C) | 140 | 11 | Shoulder: 74°F (23°C), 11 rainy days |
| June | 80°F (27°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 180 | 14 | Shoulder: 80°F (27°C), 14 rainy days |
| July | 86°F (30°C) | 73°F (23°C) | 210 | 18 | Avoid: among the wettest, 18 rainy days |
| August | 90°F (32°C) | 75°F (24°C) | 150 | 14 | Shoulder: 90°F (32°C), 14 rainy days |
| September | 84°F (29°C) | 70°F (21°C) | 190 | 14 | Shoulder: 84°F (29°C), 14 rainy days |
| October | 72°F (22°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 160 | 11 | Shoulder: 72°F (22°C), 11 rainy days |
| November | 62°F (17°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 100 | 6 | Best: 6 rainy days |
| December | 51°F (11°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 110 | 7 | Shoulder: 51°F (11°C), 7 rainy days |
Average daily high and low, and days with rain (a day with at least 1 mm), from Open-Meteo ERA5 records for 2019-2024. Highlighted rows are the pick above. Verdicts use only these numbers.
Rainfall: NASA POWER monthly normals.
Plan the rest of your trip to Kyoto
More destinations in Asia
Closest guides to Kyoto
Planning guides
Right now in Kyoto
Is it safe to travel to Japan right now?
Official US, UK and Canada travel advice for Japan, side by side, with each source and the time it was checked. See today's advisory for Japan
Kyoto: common questions
- When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
- The best time to visit Kyoto is March to April and November, when average highs run 57 to 65°F (14 to 18°C) with 6 to 13 rainy days a month. August is the hottest month at 90°F (32°C) on average, and January the coolest at 47°F (8°C).
- What is the rainiest month in Kyoto?
- July, with roughly 18 days of rain. The driest is November, with about 6. A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain; figures are averages from 2019-2024 records.
- How warm does it get in Kyoto?
- August is the warmest month, averaging 90°F (32°C) by day and 75°F (24°C) at night. January is the coolest, at 47°F (8°C) by day and 31°F (-1°C) at night.
- What is the rainy season in Kyoto?
- The wettest months in Kyoto are June to September, with 14 to 18 rainy days a month. November is the driest.
- How many days do you need in Kyoto?
- Three days covers the major temples, shrines and the Gion and Higashiyama districts at a reasonable pace. Four or five days leaves room for the bamboo grove area of Arashiyama, the quieter northern temples and day trips to Nara or Osaka.
- How do I get around Kyoto?
- The subway has only a couple of lines, so buses and trains fill in the gaps, and buses are often crowded near popular sights. Many central areas are good for walking or cycling. Taxis are useful for reaching temples outside the center, especially when traveling as a group. Fast trains link the city to Osaka and Tokyo.
- Is it safe to travel to Japan right now?
- Voyaggora shows the official US, UK and Canada travel advisories for Japan on one page, with the source and the time each was last checked. Open the live advisory for Japan before you book.
- What other places are near Kyoto?
- The closest Voyaggora guides to Kyoto are Osaka (30 miles), Tokyo (230 miles), Busan (380 miles).
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