Japan · 35°01′N 135°46′E
Kyoto
Temples, gardens and old wooden streets.
- Good for
- Food, History & culture, Big city, Nature, Doing nothing
- Rough daily spend
- around $140 per person mid-range, not counting getting there (our estimate; it varies a lot)
- Mildest months
- August is warmest, January is driest
Best time to visit Kyoto
Warmest in August (around 32° by day), coolest in January (8° by day, -1° at night). January has the fewest wet days (7).
| Month | High | Low | Wet days | Rain | Sun / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8° | -1° | 7 | 54 mm | 7.3 h |
| Feb | 9° | 0° | 7 | 63 mm | 7.4 h |
| Mar | 14° | 3° | 11 | 116 mm | 8.1 h |
| Apr | 19° | 8° | 11 | 154 mm | 8.5 h |
| May | 23° | 13° | 12 | 185 mm | 9 h |
| Jun | 27° | 18° | 14 | 242 mm | 8.7 h |
| Jul | 31° | 23° | 17 | 258 mm | 9.5 h |
| Aug | 32° | 24° | 13 | 182 mm | 10.5 h |
| Sep | 28° | 20° | 15 | 192 mm | 8.5 h |
| Oct | 22° | 13° | 12 | 191 mm | 7.7 h |
| Nov | 16° | 7° | 7 | 69 mm | 7.9 h |
| Dec | 11° | 1° | 7 | 60 mm | 7.3 h |
Averages for 2016–2025 from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (CC BY 4.0), for the point at 35°01′N 135°46′E. Wet day = 1 mm or more. Highlighted months are mild (18–27° highs) and fairly dry.
What to pack for Kyoto
For four nights, based on the weather above. Every trip also needs the basics: documents, chargers, toiletries and any medication.
August
- 4 × T-shirts or vests
- 2 × shorts or skirts
- Waterproof jacket
- Compact umbrella
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
January
- 4 × tops
- 2 × trousers or jeans
- Warm jumper or fleece
- Insulated coat
- Hat, gloves and scarf
- Thermal base layer
Either way
- 5 × underwear
- 5 × socks
- Something to sleep in
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Small cross-body bag
- Transit card or app set up
Going with a group? The planner builds a shared list where each person ticks their own things and claims the shared ones.
Going with friends?
One link for the group: find the days you’re all free, vote on what to do, get a day-by-day route and a shared packing list. No sign-up.