Kyoto · Japan
May
Post-blossom and warm — fresh green temples and the Aoi Matsuri festival, but Golden Week is very busy.
Best match
#4 of 12 months
There are better months for Kyoto — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
25.2°C
Low
16.9°C
Rain
120mm
Sun
6.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How May scores in Kyoto
Weather
Excellent
Value
Above average
Crowds
Average
Events
Very good
Atmosphere
Excellent
What you gain in May
- ↑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
- ↑Temperatures warm and pleasant without the oppressive humidity of summer
What you sacrifice
- ↓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
How May compares to October (best month)
| Factor | May | October ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 8 | 8 |
| Value | 5 | 6 |
| Crowds | 4 | 5 |
May in other destinations
Lisbon (20.7°C)Barcelona (20.8°C)Tokyo (23.8°C)Bali (31.2°C)Santorini (19.8°C)Paris (18.1°C)New York (20.4°C)Marrakech (26.4°C)Amsterdam (16.4°C)Maldives (31.5°C)Rome (21.7°C)Bangkok (32.6°C)Istanbul (20.7°C)Vienna (19.7°C)Seoul (21.4°C)Dubrovnik (20.9°C)Rio de Janeiro (26.2°C)Phuket (32.6°C)Cape Town (18.9°C)Prague (21°C)Amalfi Coast (23°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Kyoto, not across destinations. Methodology →