Month guide · Nara · Japan
Nara in August
What August is really like in Nara: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
August is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 33°C (91°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 13.4 hours of daylight. Very hot and humid, but evenings bring lantern festivals across the park.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 33°C (91°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 13.4 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in August
August is the warmest month in Nara: days average 33°C (91°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with July (32°C (90°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 29°C (84°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 05:18
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 18:45
- Daylight
- About 13.4 hours
Summer (June–August). A rainy June, fawns in the park, then hot, humid days and lantern festivals in August.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 3 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in April). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in August
- Nara Tokae — candle lantern festival in Nara Park (usually early to mid-August)
- Chugen Mantoro — lanterns lit at Kasuga Taisha (usually 14–15 August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
With intense heat, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Garden · Nara Park
Isui-en and Yoshiki-en gardens
Two neighbouring gardens west of Todai-ji.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Nara Park
Nigatsu-do Hall
Climb the stone steps behind the hall at sunset for the best free view in Nara.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Naramachi
Naramachi
Lanes of wooden machiya townhouses south of Sarusawa Pond, where the Naramachi Koshi-no-Ie model house shows a merchant's home and red monkey charms (migawari-zaru) hang under the eaves to ward off misfortune.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Shopping
- Architecture
Religious site · Naramachi
Gango-ji
Look up at the Gokuraku-bo hall's roof, where older, darker tiles mark those carried from the original temple.
- Time needed
- 40 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 33°C, lows near 23°C and 8 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Nara?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Nara in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Nara?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Very hot and humid, but evenings bring lantern festivals across the park.
+How warm is Nara in August?
Average highs are around 33°C (91°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Nara in August?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.