Photo by Su San Lee on Unsplash

Japan

Kyoto

Golden and silver pavilions, thousands of red torii at Fushimi Inari, the Arashiyama bamboo grove, Gion's lantern-lit lanes and Nishiki Market's food stalls.

Best time to visit Kyoto

Best months: Dec–Feb

• Jan

  Best time

  9° / 2°C · 53 mm rain · Quiet

  Cold and dry; quiet after the New Year shrine visits in the first days of January.

• Feb

  Best time

  10° / 2°C · 65 mm rain · Quiet

  Coldest stretch with occasional snow on temples; plum blossoms start late in the month.

• Mar

  Rainy

  14° / 4°C · 106 mm rain · Moderate

  Warming up; cherry blossoms usually begin in the last week of March and crowds build.

• Apr

  Rainy

  20° / 9°C · 117 mm rain · Busy

  Peak cherry blossom in early April, one of the busiest times of the year; Golden Week starts on 29 April.

• May

  Rainy

  25° / 14°C · 151 mm rain · Busy

  Golden Week crowds in early May, then pleasant and green; Aoi Matsuri on 15 May.

• Jun

  Rainy

  28° / 19°C · 200 mm rain · Moderate

  Rainy season (tsuyu) brings humid, wet days and lighter crowds.

• Jul

  Rainy

  32° / 24°C · 224 mm rain · Busy

  Hot and humid; the Gion Matsuri festival runs all month and packs central Kyoto.

• Aug

  Rainy

  34° / 25°C · 154 mm rain · Moderate

  Hottest month; Obon and the Gozan Okuribi bonfires (16 Aug) draw domestic crowds.

• Sep

  Rainy

  29° / 21°C · 179 mm rain · Moderate

  Still hot, with typhoon season peaking; Silver Week holidays can be busy.

• Oct

  Rainy

  23° / 14°C · 143 mm rain · Moderate

  Comfortable autumn weather; Jidai Matsuri on 22 October.

• Nov

  Good

  17° / 8°C · 74 mm rain · Busy

  Autumn leaves peak from mid-November into early December, Kyoto's other busiest season.

• Dec

  Best time

  12° / 4°C · 57 mm rain · Moderate

  Late autumn colour early in the month, then cold; many places close or get busy around New Year.

Typical averages, not a forecast. Weather: en.wikipedia.org.