Kyoto · Japan
July
Gion Matsuri dominates — Japan's greatest festival, in brutal heat.
Strong option
#11 of 12 months
There are better months for Kyoto — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
31.8°C
Low
24.7°C
Rain
218mm
Sun
6.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How July scores in Kyoto
Weather
Average
Value
Above average
Crowds
Above average
Events
Outstanding
Atmosphere
Very good
What you gain in July
- ↑Gion Matsuri: the most important festival in Japan runs all month, culminating in the Yamaboko Junko float parades on July 17 and 24 — an extraordinary spectacle
- ↑Summer Kamo River dining (kawayuka): restaurants extend platforms over the river for evening meals in the breeze
- ↑Longest days: evening light on the temples until 7pm
What you sacrifice
- ↓Hottest, most humid month: 32°C highs with 75% humidity makes midday sightseeing genuinely uncomfortable
- ↓218mm of rainfall — heaviest month; rain is intense but often brief
- ↓Gion Matsuri crowds: the central festival area around Shijo and Karasuma is impassable on parade nights
How July compares to October (best month)
| Factor | July | October ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 4 | 8 |
| Value | 5 | 6 |
| Crowds | 5 | 5 |
July in other destinations
Lisbon (25.9°C)Barcelona (28.4°C)Tokyo (30.5°C)Bali (29.8°C)Santorini (25.7°C)Paris (23.5°C)New York (28.5°C)Marrakech (36.3°C)Amsterdam (21.6°C)Maldives (30.2°C)Rome (30.2°C)Bangkok (31.8°C)Istanbul (27.9°C)Vienna (25.6°C)Seoul (28.6°C)Dubrovnik (28.3°C)Rio de Janeiro (25.1°C)Phuket (31.5°C)Cape Town (16.8°C)Prague (26°C)Amalfi Coast (31°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Kyoto, not across destinations. Methodology →