Season guide · Nara · Japan
Nara in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ミス テルジ, CC BY 2.1 jp
Quick answer
A rainy June, fawns in the park, then hot, humid days and lantern festivals in August. Expect highs up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 32 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 18°C (64°F) to 33°C (91°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 32
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 28°C (82°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 | 14.5 h | 2/5 |
| July | 32°C (90°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 12 | 14.3 h | 3/5 |
| August | 33°C (91°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 8 | 13.4 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 32 of the year's roughly 103 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: Deer fawns in Nara Park (June–July)
- August: Nara Tokae — candle lantern festival in Nara Park (usually early to mid-August)
- August: Chugen Mantoro — lanterns lit at Kasuga Taisha (usually 14–15 August)
Good choices for summer
Museum · Nara Park
Nara National Museum
Visit the permanent Buddhist sculpture galleries in the old building, a good stop on a rainy afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Day trips in summer
- Uji (About 30–45 minutes by train) — A riverside town famous for green tea and for Byodo-in, whose Phoenix Hall from 1053 appears on the ¥10 coin.
- Fushimi Inari-taisha (About 45 minutes by train) — The shrine's tunnels of thousands of vermilion torii gates climb Mount Inari on the southern edge of Kyoto.
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 Nara?
It is a trade-off: A rainy June, fawns in the park, then hot, humid days and lantern festivals in August. The best months overall are March–May and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Nara in summer?
Highs of up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 32 rainy days over the season.