Kyoto October — tall pagoda surrounded by red and orange early autumn foliage

Kyoto · Japan

October

The intelligent choice — Jidai Matsuri festival, ideal temperatures, and foliage building toward November.

Best match

#1 of 12 months

October is one of the best times to visit Kyoto.

Climate

High

22.8°C

Low

14.7°C

Rain

103mm

Sun

5.5hrs/day

30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5

How October scores in Kyoto

Weather
Excellent
Value
Good
Crowds
Above average
Events
Very good
Atmosphere
Excellent

What you gain in October

  • 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
  • Early foliage at higher elevations; Kurama and Kibune show colour before the city

What you sacrifice

  • 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

October in other destinations

Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Kyoto, not across destinations. Methodology →