Season guide · Kyoto · Japan
Kyoto in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jordy Meow, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The rainy season in June and early July, then intense heat and humidity; Gion Matsuri in July and the Okuribi bonfires in August. Expect highs up to 34°C (93°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F), with about 34 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 19°C (66°F) to 34°C (93°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 34
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 28°C (82°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 12 | 14.5 h | 3/5 |
| July | 32°C (90°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 13 | 14.3 h | 4/5 |
| August | 34°C (93°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 9 | 13.5 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 21°C (70°F), and 34 of the year's roughly 113 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Hydrangea season at Mimuroto-ji in Uji (June)
- July: Gion Matsuri — month-long festival with float processions (17 and 24 July) and yoiyama street nights before them
- August: Gozan no Okuribi — bonfires in kanji shapes on the hills for Obon (16 August)
Good choices for summer
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
Museum · Higashiyama
Kyoto National Museum
Major special exhibitions draw long queues; the permanent collection is calmer and well labelled in English.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Market · Downtown Kawaramachi
Nishiki Market
A five-block covered street known as 'Kyoto's kitchen', Nishiki has more than a hundred stalls selling pickles, tofu, dashi rolled omelettes, fresh seafood, wagashi and knives.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
- Iconic
Religious site · Higashiyama
Sanjusangen-do
Look for a face that resembles someone you know; tradition says you can find one among the statues.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Day trips in summer
- Uji (About 20–30 minutes by train) — Uji's Byodo-in, the Phoenix Hall pictured on the ten-yen coin, sits by the Uji River among shops selling some of Japan's most prized green tea.
- 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Kyoto?
It is a trade-off: The rainy season in June and early July, then intense heat and humidity; Gion Matsuri in July and the Okuribi bonfires in August. The best months overall are March–May and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Kyoto in summer?
Highs of up to 34°C (93°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F), with about 34 rainy days over the season.