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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Kyoto, the ancient Japanese capital, located in the southern part of Honshu Island, is
temperate humid, with quite mild winters and hot, moist, and rainy summers. Like the rest of Japan, the city is affected by the
monsoon circulation: in winter, the northwest cold currents will prevail, while in summer, they will be replaced by hot and humid currents of tropical origin.
The city is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) away from the sea, in a plain surrounded by low mountains, and to the south, it is practically merged with Osaka and Kobe, in a large metropolitan area called
Keihanshin.
In
winter, there are fairly mild periods, with highs above 10 °C (50 °F), alternating with cold periods, with wind and rain, highs around 5/7 °C (41/45 °F) or less, and possible falls of sleet or snow. Snowfalls, however, are usually light, as are nocturnal frosts.
From time to time, especially in the past, there have been more intense cold waves. The records are -8 °C (17.5 °F) in January 1963 and -8.8 °C (16 °F) in February 1929.
Summers in Kyoto are particularly hot and humid, both because of the distance from the sea and because of the heat island effect which is typical of big cities. There can be periods of good weather, with maximum temperatures around 35 °C (95 °F) or above, tropical nights and high humidity, but also periods of bad weather due to the summer monsoon. August is the hottest month, both because of the thermal inertia of the sea and because of the lower frequency of periods of bad weather.
Rainfall is quite abundant, in fact, it amounts to 1,500 millimeters (60 inches) per year. Winter is undoubtedly the driest season, at least in quantity; the rainiest months are June and July, ie the first period of the rainy season (called
Baiu). In August, there is a certain decrease in rain frequency: on average, among the summer months, it is the hottest as well as the driest and sunniest.
The amount of
sunshine in Kyoto, all things considered, is decent in winter, but it never becomes very good, however, there are two relative maxima, one in spring (April-May) and the other in August, after the Baiu rains, both with around 6 hours of sunshine per day.
From June to October (but especially from August to early October), Kyoto may be affected by
typhoons, the tropical cyclones of Southeast Asia.
Best Time
As regards to the climate, the best times to visit Kyoto are spring and autumn, and in particular, from mid-April to mid-May and from late October to mid-November.
The
cherry blossoming in Kyoto occurs around April the 3rd: even though in some years it can get a little cold, with highs around 10 °C (50 °F), you can take advantage of this period to visit the Buddhist temples that are located around the city (and maybe, nearby Lake Biwa). Or you can go from mid-November to early December, when the trees take on the beautiful autumn colors. That of Kyoto is indeed one of the best areas for the so-called
momijigari, the hunt for red maples in autumn.
In summer, August is partly preferable to July, having more sunshine and less rainfall, but it is also true that it is hotter and there's a greater risk of typhoons.
Kyoto - Climate data
In Kyoto, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of
5.3 °C, that of the warmest month (August) is of
29.2 °C. Here are the average temperatures.
Kyoto - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | 1.5 | 9.1 | 5.3 |
|---|
| February | 1.6 | 10 | 5.8 |
|---|
| March | 4.3 | 14.1 | 9.2 |
|---|
| April | 9.2 | 20.1 | 14.6 |
|---|
| May | 14.5 | 25.1 | 19.8 |
|---|
| June | 19.2 | 28.1 | 23.6 |
|---|
| July | 23.6 | 32 | 27.8 |
|---|
| August | 24.7 | 33.7 | 29.2 |
|---|
| September | 20.7 | 29.2 | 25 |
|---|
| October | 14.4 | 23.4 | 18.9 |
|---|
| November | 8.4 | 17.3 | 12.8 |
|---|
| December | 3.5 | 11.6 | 7.6 |
|---|
| Year | 12.2 | 21.2 | 16.65 |
|---|
amounts to
1525 millimeters per year: it is therefore abundant. It ranges from
55 millimeters in the driest months (January, December) to
225 millimeters in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
Kyoto - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 55 | 8 |
|---|
| February | 65 | 9 |
|---|
| March | 105 | 11 |
|---|
| April | 115 | 11 |
|---|
| May | 150 | 11 |
|---|
| June | 200 | 13 |
|---|
| July | 225 | 13 |
|---|
| August | 155 | 9 |
|---|
| September | 180 | 11 |
|---|
| October | 145 | 9 |
|---|
| November | 75 | 7 |
|---|
| December | 55 | 8 |
|---|
| Year | 1525 | 121 |
|---|
There are on average around 1795
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Kyoto - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
| January | 4 | 125 |
|---|
| February | 4.5 | 125 |
|---|
| March | 5 | 155 |
|---|
| April | 6 | 175 |
|---|
| May | 6 | 180 |
|---|
| June | 4.5 | 135 |
|---|
| July | 4.5 | 145 |
|---|
| August | 6 | 185 |
|---|
| September | 5 | 145 |
|---|
| October | 5 | 155 |
|---|
| November | 4.5 | 140 |
|---|
| December | 4.5 | 135 |
|---|
| Year | 4.9 | 1795 |
|---|
Kyoto - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.3 °C, with a minimum of
1.5 °C and a maximum of
9.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.5 °C in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14 °C. However, it reached
17.2 °C in January 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.8 °C, with a minimum of 1.6 °C and a maximum of 10 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C. However, it dropped to -4.2 °C in February 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C. However, it reached 22.1 °C in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of 11 kph.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.2 °C, with a minimum of 4.3 °C and a maximum of 14.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C. However, it dropped to -1.6 °C in March 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C. However, it reached 25.5 °C in March 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of 10 kph.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C, with a minimum of 9.2 °C and a maximum of 20.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C. However, it dropped to 0.4 °C in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C. However, it reached 30.7 °C in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of 9 kph.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.8 °C, with a minimum of 14.5 °C and a maximum of 25.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C. However, it dropped to 4.5 °C in May 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C. However, it reached 34.2 °C in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 150 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of 8 kph.
June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.6 °C, with a minimum of 19.2 °C and a maximum of 28.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C. However, it dropped to 12.2 °C in June 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C. However, it reached 36.4 °C in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 200 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 8 kph.
July is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 27.8 °C, with a minimum of 23.6 °C and a maximum of 32 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19.5 °C. However, it dropped to 16.6 °C in July 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C. However, it reached 39.8 °C in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 225 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 8 kph.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 29.2 °C, with a minimum of 24.7 °C and a maximum of 33.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 20.5 °C. However, it dropped to 17.7 °C in August 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C. However, it reached 39.8 °C in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 155 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 8 kph.
September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 25 °C, with a minimum of 20.7 °C and a maximum of 29.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15 °C. However, it dropped to 11.4 °C in September 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C. However, it reached 38.1 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 180 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 8 kph.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.9 °C, with a minimum of 14.4 °C and a maximum of 23.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C. However, it dropped to 5.2 °C in October 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C. However, it reached 33.6 °C in October 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 145 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 9 kph.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C, with a minimum of 8.4 °C and a maximum of 17.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C. However, it dropped to 0.9 °C in November 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C. However, it reached 26.9 °C in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 10 kph.
December is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.6 °C, with a minimum of 3.5 °C and a maximum of 11.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C. However, it dropped to -3.7 °C in December 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C. However, it reached 22.7 °C in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 10 kph.