Japan
Kyoto in May
🌿 Late springPleasant and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why May scores 9.0What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.8
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (25°C highs / 15°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 13.6°C)
- !Wet: ~151 mm rain, ~4 heavy-rain days
- Air quality8.6
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~14 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| May | Nov | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.0 Excellent | 9.0 Excellent |
| Season | 🌿 Late spring | 🍁 Autumn (koyo) |
| High / low | 25° / 15° | 17° / 8° |
| Rain | 151 mm | 74 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 14° | dew pt 9° |
| PM2.5 | 14 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Kyoto weather-station normals. Rainfall: Kyoto weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Holiday weekA long local holiday falls this month. Expect crowds at sights, fuller trains and flights, and higher hotel prices on those dates. Book ahead.
- Golden Week 1–5 May · 5 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Kyoto
- 2026 forecast: Arashiyama2026 forecastPeak from ~13 Nov 2026
Last year the peak began 13 Nov. JWA expects most of Japan to be on time or a little later than usual this year.
Source: Japan Weather Association (tenki.jp), forecast 14 Oct 2026
- Cherry blossom 2026 (what actually happened)2026 actualFirst blooms 23 Mar 2026, full bloom 30 Mar 2026
Observed by JMA at the city's official sample tree. The 2027 forecast isn't out yet: Japanese weather companies such as the Japan Weather Association usually publish the first one in January, and we add it then.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Cherry blossomTypical datesFirst blooms ~26 Mar, full bloom ~4 Apr
Typical dates (1991–2020 normal). In 2021–2026 first blooms came between 16 Mar and 29 Mar (23 Mar in 2026). Blossoms last about a week after full bloom.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Autumn leaves: ArashiyamaTypical datesUsually mid-Nov to early-Dec
Usual peak viewing window for this spot.
- Autumn leaves: EikandoTypical datesUsually mid-Nov to late-Nov
Usual peak viewing window for this spot.
- Autumn leaves: Kiyomizu-deraTypical datesUsually late-Nov to early-Dec
Usual peak viewing window for this spot.
Explore KyotoEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Japan's imperial capital for over a thousand years: 1,600 temples, wooden machiya streets, geiko districts and a distinct, refined food culture.
Aoi MatsuriEvery year15 May every year
Imperial-court procession in Heian-period dress decorated with hollyhock leaves.
Why go: Elegant and slower-paced than Gion Matsuri.
Where: Imperial Palace → Shimogamo Shrine → Kamigamo Shrine
Coming up later
Gion MatsuriEvery yearAll of July; Yamaboko float parades on 17 and 24 July
One of Japan's most famous festivals, centred on Yasaka Shrine, with towering wooden floats.
Why go: The evenings before the parades (Yoiyama) have street stalls and yukata crowds. Expect heat around 33–35 °C.
Where: Central Kyoto (Shijo, Karasuma, Kawaramachi)
Gozan no OkuribiEvery year16 August every year, from 8 pm
Giant bonfire characters such as 大 (dai) light the hills to send ancestral spirits back during Obon.
Why go: A moving, quiet evening — find a riverbank spot early.
Where: Five mountains around the city (view from Kamogawa riverbanks)
Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages)Every year22 October every year
A 2 km costume parade of ~2,000 people representing Kyoto's history from the 8th to 19th centuries.
Why go: Free to watch along the route; paid seats near the Imperial Palace. Rain can postpone it.
Where: Kyoto Imperial Palace → Heian Shrine
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Thousands of vermilion torii gates winding up Mount Inari.
💡 Before 8 am or after dusk is quiet; the upper loop thins out crowds.
Kiyomizu-dera
Hillside temple with a wooden stage over the valley.
💡 Walk up via Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka; spring and autumn night illuminations are spectacular.
Arashiyama
Bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji's garden, Togetsukyo Bridge and Hozu River.
💡 Bamboo grove at 7 am; continue to the quieter Okochi Sanso villa garden.
Kinkaku-ji
The gold-leaf Golden Pavilion reflected in its pond.
💡 Small site — 45 minutes is enough; pair with Ryoan-ji's rock garden nearby.
Gion & Hanamikoji
Teahouse district where geiko and maiko work.
💡 Photographing maiko on private lanes is banned; stick to public streets.
Philosopher's Path & Ginkaku-ji
Canal-side walk lined with cherry trees, ending at the Silver Pavilion.
💡 Best in early April and late November.
Tofuku-ji
Zen temple famous for its sea of maple leaves seen from Tsutenkyo bridge.
💡 Peak foliage is usually mid/late November; go at opening.
Nishiki Market
'Kyoto's kitchen' — a narrow arcade of pickles, tofu, sweets and knives.
💡 Eating while walking is discouraged; eat at the stall.
Yudofu
Simmered tofu, a Buddhist-temple dish made with soft Kyoto water.
💡 Around Nanzen-ji and Arashiyama
Kyo-kaiseki
Multi-course seasonal meal rooted in the tea ceremony.
💡 Gion and Pontocho ryotei (book ahead)
Obanzai
Kyoto home-style small dishes of seasonal vegetables.
💡 Counter restaurants near Nishiki and Pontocho
Nishin soba
Buckwheat noodles topped with sweet-simmered herring — a Kyoto specialty.
💡 Shijo-Ohashi area soba shops
Saba-zushi
Pressed mackerel sushi from the old 'Mackerel Road' to the Sea of Japan.
💡 Department-store food halls
Uji matcha sweets
Matcha parfaits, warabi-mochi and soft-serve made with tea from nearby Uji.
💡 Gion, Uji town
Yatsuhashi
Cinnamon rice-flour sweets; soft 'nama' version with bean filling.
💡 Shops near Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto Station
Uji matcha & sencha
High-grade green tea from Kyoto's own tea region.
💡 Tea merchants in Uji and Shijo
Kyo-sensu folding fans
Hand-made fans, a Kyoto craft for over 1,000 years.
💡 Specialist shops on Shijo and Sanjo
Kiyomizu-yaki ceramics
Kyoto's own pottery style.
💡 Gojozaka 'teapot lane'
Kyo-tsukemono pickles
Shibazuke (purple shiso) and senmaizuke (turnip) pickles.
💡 Nishiki Market (vacuum-packed)
Yojiya oil-blotting paper
Kyoto cosmetics brand famous for its blotting paper.
💡 Yojiya shops in Gion and Sanjo