Kyoto in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Kyoto sees average daytime highs around 29°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 584 mm of rain over about 46 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 25°C in early June to 30°C by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Summer is Kyoto's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Kyoto's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 29°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 21°C
- Rainfall
- 584 mm
- 46 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.6
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Kyoto in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 25°C in early June to 30°C by late August.
A typical summer day in Kyoto reaches about 29°C and drops to 21°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is August, the coolest June.
How summer really feels in Kyoto
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 48 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in summer is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Kyoto weather by month
How the three summer months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7° / -0° | 64 | 7.9 | 2.3 | 9.9 | 1.1 |
| Feb | 8° / 0° | 70 | 8.9 | 2.3 | 10.7 | 1.5 |
| Mar | 12° / 3° | 122 | 12.4 | 0.6 | 11.7 | 3.1 |
| Apr | 18° / 8° | 133 | 11.7 | 0 | 12.9 | 5.4 |
| May | 23° / 13° | 153 | 11.6 | 0 | 13.8 | 6.4 |
| Jun | 26° / 18° | 205 | 14.6 | 0 | 14.3 | 5.6 |
| Jul | 30° / 22° | 239 | 17.6 | 0 | 14.1 | 4.2 |
| Aug | 31° / 23° | 140 | 13.5 | 0 | 13.3 | 4.1 |
| Sep | 27° / 19° | 187 | 12.9 | 0 | 12.2 | 5.8 |
| Oct | 21° / 13° | 161 | 9.9 | 0 | 11.1 | 6.6 |
| Nov | 16° / 7° | 84 | 7.6 | 0 | 10.2 | 5.1 |
| Dec | 10° / 2° | 65 | 7.7 | 1 | 9.7 | 2.4 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Kyoto gets around 584 mm of rain over 46 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 8 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 h 12 min in early June to 12 h 48 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 5.0 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Kyoto
In summer, Kyoto overlaps its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Kyoto sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.
Is summer a good time to visit Kyoto?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Kyoto for sightseeing.
What to pack for Kyoto in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Kyoto sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 46 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Kyoto in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 24°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 56 km away) is warmest in August at about 27°C and coldest in February near 13°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 6 to Nov 11 — about 5.2 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 17 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Cool | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Bracing |
| Feb | 13 | Bracing |
| Mar | 13 | Bracing |
| Apr | 15 | Cool |
| May | 18 | Cool |
| Jun | 21 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 25 | Warm |
| Aug | 27 | Warm |
| Sep | 26 | Warm |
| Oct | 23 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 20 | Cool |
| Dec | 17 | Cool |
UV index in Kyoto in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Kyoto peaks around July 15 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 2 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | High |
| Apr | 7 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 10 | Very high |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 9 | Very high |
| Sep | 9 | Very high |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Moderate |
Air quality in Kyoto in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Kyoto is worst in April — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (October, 12 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 14 | 17 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Moderate |
| Feb | 17 | Moderate |
| Mar | 22 | Moderate |
| Apr | 24 | Moderate |
| May | 22 | Moderate |
| Jun | 19 | Moderate |
| Jul | 17 | Moderate |
| Aug | 17 | Moderate |
| Sep | 14 | Moderate |
| Oct | 12 | Good |
| Nov | 13 | Moderate |
| Dec | 12 | Moderate |
Where is Kyoto?
Kyoto sits at 35.0°N, 135.8°E, 50 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Kamigyō-ku, 1.0 km away.
Topography around Kyoto
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Kyoto.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Kyoto has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 148 m around an average of 56 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 946 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,418 m.
The land around Kyoto is covered by artificial surfaces (89%) within 3 km, trees (61%) and artificial surfaces (28%) within 16 km, and trees (63%) within 80 km.
Japan travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 1
- Exercise Normal Precautions
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 100 V · 50 / 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 65% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $35,951
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.1 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 99%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 0.2
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 3.6
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- English
- Very low
- EF EPI 446
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Kyoto (35.0211°, 135.7538°, elevation 50 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.