Season guide · Kyoto · Japan
Kyoto in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nacaru, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
A hot start, then dry, clear days and spectacular maple colour from mid-November, with evening temple illuminations. Expect highs up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 26 rainy days across September–November. October–November are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 8°C (46°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 26
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 29°C (84°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 11 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
| October | 23°C (73°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 8 | 11.2 h | 4/5 |
| November | 17°C (63°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 7 | 10.3 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 23°C (73°F) against a yearly 21°C (70°F), and 26 of the year's roughly 113 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Moon-viewing events at Daikaku-ji and Shimogamo Shrine (mid-September or early October)
- October: Jidai Matsuri — historical costume parade (22 October)
- October: Kurama Fire Festival in Kurama village (22 October)
- November: Autumn leaves and evening temple illuminations (usually mid-November to early December)
Good choices for autumn
Museum · Higashiyama
Kyoto National Museum
Opposite Sanjusangen-do, the Kyoto National Museum shows Buddhist sculpture, painting, calligraphy and ceramics from Kyoto's temples in the modern Heisei Chishinkan wing, beside a red-brick Meiji-era hall and garden.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Market · Downtown Kawaramachi
Nishiki Market
Eat at or beside the stall where you buy; the market asks visitors not to eat while walking.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
- Iconic
Religious site · Higashiyama
Sanjusangen-do
A 120-metre wooden hall, Japan's longest, holds 1,001 gilded statues of Kannon, the bodhisattva of mercy, standing in ranks around a large seated figure and guarded by 28 deities.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Religious site · Gion
Kennin-ji
Photography is allowed in most areas, and it is usually calmer than the temples up the hill.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Kyoto Station area
Kyoto Railway Museum
Japan's largest railway museum displays more than 50 trains, from steam locomotives in a working roundhouse to early shinkansen, with driving simulators and a short steam-train ride.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Day trips in autumn
- Kurama and Kibune (About 30 minutes by train) — Two mountain villages north of the city are linked by a forest trail of about 1.5 hours over the ridge from Kurama-dera to Kibune Shrine, with its lantern-lined steps.
- Osaka (About 15–45 minutes by train) — Kyoto's brash neighbour is a food city of street stalls in Dotonbori, with Osaka Castle, the Kuromon market and Universal Studios Japan.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Kyoto?
Yes: October–November are among the best months. A hot start, then dry, clear days and spectacular maple colour from mid-November, with evening temple illuminations.
+What is the weather like in Kyoto in autumn?
Highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 26 rainy days over the season.