Kyoto · Month comparison
December vs October
October ranks #1 overall vs December at #6. The intelligent choice — Jidai Matsuri festival, ideal temperatures, and foliage building toward November.
December
#6 of 12 months
Best match
Quiet and cold — early December still has foliage; after that, Kyoto at its most contemplative.
- ↑Early December (1–10): late foliage colour still visible at Tofukuji and Eikan-do without November crowds
- ↑Driest month of the year: 38mm rainfall — the clearest skies for temple photography
October
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The intelligent choice — Jidai Matsuri festival, ideal temperatures, and foliage building toward November.
- ↑Jidai Matsuri (Oct 22): the Festival of Ages — 2,000 participants in historical costume from every era of Japanese history
- ↑Ideal temperatures: 23°C highs with low humidity — perfect for full-day temple circuits
| Factor | December | October |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 5 | 8 |
| Value score | 8 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 5 |
| Events score | 5 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 11.3°C | 22.8°C |
| Monthly rain | 38mm | 103mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5hrs | 5.5hrs |
December trade-offs
- ↓Cold: 4°C lows from mid-December require serious layering for full-day outdoor visits
- ↓New Year spike: Dec 28–Jan 3 sees prices surge and Fushimi Inari hatsumode crowds become enormous
- ↓Winter garden closures at some temples reduce the total itinerary available
October trade-offs
- ↓Crowds building toward the November foliage peak — accommodation prices rising from mid-October
- ↓Foliage not yet at peak; visitors seeking the full autumn colour should wait for November
- ↓103mm of rainfall across the month; October showers can disrupt outdoor plans
Scores compare months within Kyoto. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →