Month guide · Nara · Japan
Nara in September
What September is really like in Nara: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
September is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 29°C (84°F), lows of 19°C (66°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 12.3 hours of daylight. Still warm, with typhoon risk; the moon-viewing festival at Sarusawa Pond is usually held around the harvest moon.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 29°C (84°F) / 19°C (66°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 12.3 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in September
September is the 3rd-warmest month in Nara: days average 29°C (84°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 19°C (66°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 30 days. Compared with August (33°C (91°F)), September is cooler; by October highs drop to around 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 September)
- About 05:39
- Sunset (15 September)
- About 18:04
- Daylight
- About 12.3 hours
Autumn (September–November). Pleasant temperatures, the deer antler-cutting, the Shoso-in Exhibition and maple colour in November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, September 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 September
- Uneme Festival at Sarusawa Pond (usually around the September harvest moon)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in September
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Nature · Nara Park
Kasugayama Primeval Forest
Walk the trail in the morning and carry water; it is quiet and has few facilities.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Takabatake
Shin-Yakushi-ji
A small 8th-century temple in Takabatake whose main hall holds a seated Healing Buddha surrounded by twelve clay Heavenly Generals, eleven of them original National Treasures, arranged in a dim circle.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Nishinokyo
Heijo Palace site
It is large and exposed; visit in spring or autumn and rent a bike from near Yamato-Saidaiji station.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Religious site · Nishinokyo
Yakushi-ji
One of Nara's great temples, Yakushi-ji has twin pagodas: the East Pagoda, from 730 and restored in a recent long renovation, and the rebuilt West Pagoda.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Art
What to pack
For highs near 29°C, lows near 19°C and 10 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is September a good time to visit Nara?
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.
Nara in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is September a good time to visit Nara?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Still warm, with typhoon risk; the moon-viewing festival at Sarusawa Pond is usually held around the harvest moon.
+How warm is Nara in September?
Average highs are around 29°C (84°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Nara in September?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.