Monthly climate guide
Kyoto weather in May
Expect warm weather in Kyoto in May: afternoons reach about 22°C (72°F), while nights drop to around 12°C (53°F). Around 132 mm of rain falls over the month (wet), and skies are often cloudy. Daytime highs are 5°C warmer than April and 3°C cooler than June.
What stands out in May
- In Kyoto, May is late spring.
- Check the hourly forecast before heading to Fushimi Inari Shrine — showers are likely.
- Skies are at their clearest this time of year.
- Just 180 km apart, but Kyoto runs about 2°C warmer than Hamamatsu this month.
Avg high
22°C
72°F
Avg low
12°C
53°F
Rainfall
132 mm
wet
Humidity
79%
relative
Sky
66%
cloud · often cloudy
Kyoto weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C / 43°F | -1°C / 31°F | 91 mm | 84% | 83% |
| February | 7°C / 45°F | -1°C / 31°F | 85 mm | 82% | 80% |
| March | 12°C / 53°F | 2°C / 35°F | 104 mm | 80% | 71% |
| April | 17°C / 62°F | 6°C / 43°F | 129 mm | 79% | 67% |
| May | 22°C / 72°F | 12°C / 53°F | 132 mm | 79% | 66% |
| June | 25°C / 77°F | 17°C / 62°F | 193 mm | 84% | 80% |
| July | 29°C / 84°F | 22°C / 71°F | 226 mm | 85% | 77% |
| August | 30°C / 86°F | 23°C / 73°F | 163 mm | 84% | 66% |
| September | 26°C / 79°F | 19°C / 65°F | 227 mm | 84% | 73% |
| October | 21°C / 69°F | 12°C / 54°F | 174 mm | 83% | 67% |
| November | 15°C / 59°F | 7°C / 44°F | 85 mm | 84% | 70% |
| December | 9°C / 48°F | 1°C / 34°F | 106 mm | 84% | 80% |
What to pack for May
- T-shirts plus a light layer for the evening
- Comfortable trainers or sandals for long walks
- A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Water-resistant shoes
Is May a good time to visit Kyoto?
Our Kyoto guide recommends: March to April for cherry blossoms or November for autumn foliage — both are peak season, so book well ahead.
Visit the most famous sites (Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji) at opening time — both get extremely crowded by mid-morning.
Best time to visit Kyoto →Other Japan cities in May
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Kyoto weather in May. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/japan/kyoto/may
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/japan/kyoto/may">Kyoto weather in May</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/japan/kyoto" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Kyoto weather in May"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/japan/kyoto/may">Kyoto weather in May</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Kyoto in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Kyoto?
Yes. May is one of the best months for Kyoto, with highs around 22°C and about 132 mm of rain.
How warm is Kyoto in May?
Average highs are about 22°C (72°F) and average lows about 12°C (53°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Kyoto in May?
Kyoto typically gets around 132 mm of rain in May — wet.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
March to April for cherry blossoms or November for autumn foliage — both are peak season, so book well ahead.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Kyoto (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.