Month guide · Kyoto · Japan
Kyoto in July
What July is really like in Kyoto: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
July is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 13 rainy days and roughly 14.3 hours of daylight. Hot and sticky as the rainy season ends mid-month; Gion Matsuri fills the city with festival floats and evening street parties.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 13
- Daylight
- About 14.3 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in July
July is the 2nd-warmest month in Kyoto: days average 32°C (90°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 13 of its 31 days. Compared with June (28°C (82°F)), July is warmer; by August highs climb to around 34°C (93°F).
- Sunrise (15 July)
- About 04:54
- Sunset (15 July)
- About 19:11
- Daylight
- About 14.3 hours
Summer (June–August). The rainy season in June and early July, then intense heat and humidity; Gion Matsuri in July and the Okuribi bonfires in August.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, July rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: July is one of the pricier months.
Events in July
- Gion Matsuri — month-long festival with float processions (17 and 24 July) and yoiyama street nights before them
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in July
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Castle · Nakagyo
Nijo Castle
Walk the Ninomaru Palace corridors slowly to hear the nightingale floors chirp underfoot.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
Garden · Kita
Ryoan-ji
Ryoan-ji's dry rock garden, 15 stones set in raked white gravel within an earthen wall, is the most famous Zen garden in Japan; from any point on the veranda, at least one stone stays hidden.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
Palace · Kamigyo
Kyoto Imperial Palace and Gyoen
Bring a picnic and look for the early-flowering weeping cherry trees near the Konoe residence site in late March.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
- Kids
Religious site · Kyoto Station area
To-ji
Founded in 796, To-ji has Japan's tallest wooden pagoda at about 55 metres and a lecture hall of Buddhist statues arranged as a three-dimensional mandala.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 23°C and 13 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is July a good time to visit Kyoto?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event 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 July a good time to visit Kyoto?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Hot and sticky as the rainy season ends mid-month; Gion Matsuri fills the city with festival floats and evening street parties.
+How warm is Kyoto in July?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Kyoto in July?
Expect rain on about 13 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.