The Weather in Kyoto Japan
Kyoto's weather ranges from hot and extremely muggy in summertime, to cold and even snowy in wintertime. Yes, it has been known to snow in Kyoto! There is a rainy season, and in fact, you should get used to carrying an umbrella just about all year round, since you never know. When it rains, the city doesn't stop humming, however. Rain is just a part of the way of life sometimes in Kyoto, and Kyoto-ites have learned to work around the drizzle. You will see school kids and riding to school and office workers going to work on bicycles every day of the week except Sunday. Even when it pours outside, they still ride their bicycles, but carrying umbrellas! Yes, one hand drives the bicyle, and the other holds up the umbrella. This one-handed driving skill also comes in handy in dry weather, when the extra hand can be used to hold a book or comic book. Yes, people here somehow are able to read a book while driving down crowded city streets on their way to school or work.
When to Go
Kyoto is beautiful at any time of year, but there are certain times when either the weather or the holiday schedule of locals make visiting Kyoto even better, or less convenient. One time that is amazingly beautiful in Kyoto is blossom time, when all the cherry trees in town blossom in a pink extravaganza of soft petals carpeting the gardens wherever you go. This is the most beautiful time of year, according to many people, and there are celebrations that go along with cherry blossom time, as well as constant garden picnics and parties held by local Kyoto-ites. This is course is in the Spring, when blossoms are everywhere. Locals hold hanami, which are basically blossom-viewing parties, under the giant umbrella-like branches of the blossoming cherry trees in city parks and gardens. One of the most popular spots to hold hanami is at Maruyama Park, which has a giant, ancient cherry tree that's famous, it's so big. It's lit up at night, so it's one of the most beautiful things on earth! It's a wonderful time of year, and there's a celebretory spirit in the air. It can also be a crowded time in Kyoto, as people come from all over for the parties and cherry blossom viewings. To most, however, the crowds are worth it.
Golden Week may be the worst time to visit Kyoto, since this is the one week in all of Japan where everyone has a vacation at the same time. This means transportation, hotels, restaurants, and museums are crammed full of Japanese people on their annual vacations, which means not the time to go to Kyoto! Lots of Japanese people go to Kyoto on their vacation, too, so if you can avoid Golden Week, by all means try and do so. It's in March.
Summertime in Kyoto is pretty hot and humid, and you'll find yourself wanting to escape to the countryside more often than not if you choose to visit Kyoto during this time. Really, one of the most beautiful times of year in Kyoto is Fall, when the leaves change color. There aren't too many places in the world where the deciduous leaves turn red, orange and yellow in Autumn, but Kyoto Japan is one of them. Like Cherry Blossom time, there are fall festivals and constant garden parties, and leaf-viewing themed activities abound all throughout the city, for locals and for tourists. Autumn leaves make the perfect picture backdrop for the orange gates of shrines, the giant plazas of temples, or whatever you make snap a picture of. Photographers love Kyoto in Fall!
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Rain is common in Kyoto, so pack an umbrella and some good all-weather shoes or boots. Rubber boots like these are not only perfect for rainy city weather, but they're also fashionable!
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