Month guide · Kyoto · Japan
Kyoto in February
What February is really like in Kyoto: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Akonnchiroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
February is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 10°C (50°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 10.9 hours of daylight. The coldest-feeling month and one of the quietest, with plum blossom starting late in the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 10°C (50°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in February
February is the 11th-warmest month in Kyoto: days average 10°C (50°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 28 days. Compared with January (9°C (48°F)), February is about as warm; by March highs climb to around 14°C (57°F).
- Sunrise (15 February)
- About 06:43
- Sunset (15 February)
- About 17:39
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and quiet, with low prices, occasional snow on the temples and New Year rituals at shrines.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, February rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes February one of the better-value months to book.
Events in February
- Setsubun bean-throwing ceremonies at Yoshida and Yasaka shrines (2 or 3 February)
- Plum blossom at Kitano Tenmangu (late February to March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in February
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Religious site · Fushimi
Fushimi Inari Taisha
The head shrine of Inari, god of rice and commerce, is famous for the thousands of vermilion torii gates donated by businesses that tunnel up Mount Inari.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- Active
- Kids
- After dark
Religious site · Higashiyama
Kiyomizu-dera
Go at opening time, then walk down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka before the shops open and the crowds arrive.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Religious site · Kita
Kinkaku-ji
The Golden Pavilion is a Zen temple whose upper two floors are covered in gold leaf, reflected in the Mirror Pond.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- History
Nature · Arashiyama
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji
Walk the bamboo grove soon after sunrise, then visit Tenryu-ji's garden when it opens.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 10°C, lows near 1°C and 8 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is February a good time to visit Kyoto?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Kyoto in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is February a good time to visit Kyoto?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. The coldest-feeling month and one of the quietest, with plum blossom starting late in the month.
+How warm is Kyoto in February?
Average highs are around 10°C (50°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Kyoto in February?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.