Month guide · Kyoto · Japan
Kyoto in January
What January is really like in Kyoto: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Quick answer
January is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 9°C (48°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Cold, crisp and quiet after the New Year holidays; temples are calm and a rare snowfall turns Kinkaku-ji white.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 9°C (48°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Kyoto: days average 9°C (48°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with December (12°C (54°F)), January is cooler; by February highs stay near 10°C (50°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:04
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:08
- Daylight
- About 10 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, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Hatsumode — New Year shrine visits, busiest at Fushimi Inari and Yasaka (1–3 January)
- Toka Ebisu festival at Ebisu Shrine near Gion (around 8–12 January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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
What to pack
For highs near 9°C, lows near 1°C and 7 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 January 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 January a good time to visit Kyoto?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Cold, crisp and quiet after the New Year holidays; temples are calm and a rare snowfall turns Kinkaku-ji white.
+How warm is Kyoto in January?
Average highs are around 9°C (48°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Kyoto in January?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.