Kyoto · Month comparison
May vs October
October ranks #1 overall vs May at #4. The intelligent choice — Jidai Matsuri festival, ideal temperatures, and foliage building toward November.
May
#4 of 12 months
Best match
Post-blossom and warm — fresh green temples and the Aoi Matsuri festival, but Golden Week is very busy.
- ↑Aoi Matsuri (May 15): one of Kyoto's three great annual festivals — 500 participants in Heian-era costume from the Imperial Palace to Shimogamo Shrine
- ↑Fresh green: the temple gardens after cherry blossom are lush and photogenic in a completely different way
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 | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 8 |
| Value score | 5 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 4 | 5 |
| Events score | 7 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 25.2°C | 22.8°C |
| Monthly rain | 120mm | 103mm |
| Daily sunshine | 6.5hrs | 5.5hrs |
May trade-offs
- ↓Golden Week (May 3–5): domestic holiday brings massive domestic crowds — the worst window in the month
- ↓Prices remain elevated from cherry blossom season through mid-May
- ↓120mm of rain across the month; Kyoto's spring showers can last all day
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 →