Kyoto · Month comparison
September vs October
October ranks #1 overall vs September at #8. The intelligent choice — Jidai Matsuri festival, ideal temperatures, and foliage building toward November.
September
#8 of 12 months
Strong option
The overlooked shoulder — cooling from summer, crowds gone, autumn beginning at the edges.
- ↑Sharp drop in tourist numbers after Obon: temple access returns to manageable levels
- ↑Temperatures falling from the August peak: 28°C highs with lower humidity than July–August
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 | September | October |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 5 | 8 |
| Value score | 8 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 5 |
| Events score | 4 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 28.6°C | 22.8°C |
| Monthly rain | 168mm | 103mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5.5hrs | 5.5hrs |
September trade-offs
- ↓168mm of rainfall with typhoon season risk: late September can bring significant disruption to travel plans
- ↓Still humid and warm in early September — the relief from August comes gradually
- ↓Foliage has not yet begun; the colour payoff is still 6–8 weeks away
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 →