Kyoto
Kyoto was Japan's imperial capital for about eleven centuries. Its temples, shrines and gardens sit in a mountain basin in the Kansai region.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Kyoto is the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, on the island of Honshu in Japan's Kansai region. It is one of Japan's largest cities. The city was the imperial capital for about eleven centuries, from 794 until the court moved to Tokyo in 1869, and it is widely called Japan's cultural capital. Kyoto has about 2,000 religious sites, roughly 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, plus palaces and gardens. The Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji and the rock garden at Ryōan-ji are among its best-known landmarks.
Kyoto's old center follows a grid of named streets, and many addresses use street names and directions rather than house numbers. Many older streets are narrow, one-way and have no sidewalks, so walkers and cyclists should take care. Kyoto has no commercial airport. The limited express Haruka runs from Kansai International Airport to Kyōto Station in 73 minutes. Summers are hot and humid, and the rainy season runs from mid-June to late July.
Kyoto in five
- Be at the big temples at openingFushimi Inari never closes and Kiyomizu-dera opens at 6am. By 9am both are crowded.
- Ride trains, not busesCity buses are slow and full. The subway, Keihan, Hankyu and JR lines reach most sights faster, and ICOCA works on all of them.
- Budget for the lodging taxKyoto charges a tax per person, per night, on top of the room rate, and it is higher for pricier rooms.
- Respect the lanes in GionSome private alleys in Gion ban entry and photos, and the signs mean it. Walk the public streets and give way to anyone in kimono on their way to work.
- Swap one Kyoto day for a quieter townFive places within an hour that feel the way Kyoto used to.Kyoto without the queues
Things to do in Kyoto
See all attractions in Kyoto
Need to know
- Airport
- Kansai (KIX), about 80 min by JR Haruka
- Getting around
- Subway, JR and private lines; ICOCA works on all
- Best base
- Near Kyoto Station for day trips, Kawaramachi for evenings
- Emergency
- 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh8°Low0°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh9°Low1°Plum blossomFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Plum blossom
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh13°Low4°Blossom startsMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 129 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Blossom starts
- AprilRain11 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Blossom, very busyAprilRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 171 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Blossom, very busy
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Green, mildMayRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 211 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 266 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Gion Matsuri, humidJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 294 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Gion Matsuri, humid
- AugustRain15 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°HottestAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 227 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Typhoon riskSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 232 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Typhoon risk
- OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Clear, mildOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 195 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, mild
- NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Autumn colorNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Kyoto, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: May Aoi Matsuri · Oct Jidai Matsuri
Right now in Kyoto
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 86%
- Wind
- 3 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Kyoto
05:06 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today20°11°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed20°12°35%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Thu20°15°91%Thursday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Fri20°11°35%Friday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Sat12°7°2%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun13°7°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
Updated 01:02 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- MayAoi MatsuriKyoto
- JulTenjin MatsuriOsaka, a day trip
- AugPL Art of FireworksOsaka, a day trip
- SepKishiwada Danjiri MatsuriOsaka, a day trip
- OctJidai MatsuriKyoto
- DecKobe LuminarieKōbe, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Nara45–50 min by JR Miyakoji RapidThe deer park and Tōdai-ji make a relaxed half day.Read the guide
- Osaka15 min shinkansen, about 30 min JRFood streets and a late dinner, then back by train.Read the guide
- KobeAbout 55 min by JR special rapidHarbor, Kitano hillside and a beef lunch.Read the guide
- HimejiAbout 45–60 min by shinkansen or JRJapan's best-preserved original castle.Read the guide
Before you go to Kyoto
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Kyoto, checked
- Kyoto lodging tax: ¥200 to ¥10,000 per person, per night, by room price, since March 1, 2026Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Kyoto
Kyoto FAQ
Where should I stay in Kyoto for a first trip?
Kawaramachi if you want food and shops on foot, or Kyoto Station if you have day trips and an early train. Gion suits couples who want temples at dawn.
How many days do you need in Kyoto?
Two full days cover the main temples and Gion, three add Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari at a relaxed pace. Add a day for Nara and one for Osaka.
Is Kyoto or Osaka a better base?
Osaka for food, nightlife and cheaper rooms; Kyoto if temples at opening are the point. They are 15–30 minutes apart by train, so the other is always a day trip.
Do I need a rail pass in Kyoto?
No. Kyoto's sights are reached by subway, bus, JR and private lines, and an IC card covers them. Passes only pay if you stack long day trips.
Is there a tax on hotels in Kyoto?
Yes. Since March 1, 2026 it runs from ¥200 to ¥10,000 per person, per night, rising with the room price. Rooms under ¥6,000 pay ¥200 and rooms from ¥6,000 to ¥19,999 pay ¥400.
Can I day-trip to Nara from Kyoto?
Yes. The JR Miyakoji Rapid takes 45–50 minutes from Kyoto Station, and Kintetsu trains are similar. Leave before 9am to see the deer park and Tōdai-ji.