Kyoto Prefecture · Japan
Kyoto in May
In May, Kyoto averages a daytime high of 22 °C and a night-time low of 12 °C, with about 135 mm of rain over the month. Kyoto has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here.
- Average high
- 22 °C
- Average low
- 12 °C
- Rain in the month
- 135 mm
- Daylight on 15 May
- 14 h
- Comfortable month
- No
- Places to stay
- 214
When to go
How May compares with the rest of the year in Kyoto
May is the 5th warmest month in Kyoto by average daytime high; across the year the highs run from 6 °C to 31 °C and the lows from -1 °C to 22 °C. By day, May is 5 °C warmer than April, and June is 3 °C warmer than May.
May brings 135 mm of rain, less than the monthly average of 139 mm (1669 mm a year); it is the 4th wettest month.
On 15 May the sun is up for about 14 h, against 9 h 50 min at the shortest and 14 h 30 min at the longest point of the year (calculated from the latitude, sunrise to sunset).
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6 °C | -1 °C | 116 mm | |
| February | 7 °C | -1 °C | 98 mm | |
| March | 11 °C | 2 °C | 127 mm | |
| April | 17 °C | 7 °C | 119 mm | |
| May | 22 °C | 12 °C | 135 mm | |
| June | 25 °C | 17 °C | 199 mm | |
| July | 29 °C | 21 °C | 220 mm | |
| August | 31 °C | 22 °C | 127 mm | |
| September | 26 °C | 18 °C | 188 mm | |
| October | 21 °C | 12 °C | 129 mm | |
| November | 15 °C | 6 °C | 93 mm | |
| December | 9 °C | 2 °C | 120 mm |
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
When to go
Is May a good time to visit Kyoto?
Not by the measure used here: about 135 mm of rain is 80 mm or more. No month in Kyoto meets it.
The measure is about weather for a city stay only; it says nothing about events, school holidays or prices.
Public holidays in Japan in May
Nationwide public holidays; shops and offices may close on these dates.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Kyoto
This guide lists 214 places to stay in Kyoto: 5 chain properties with their details and own websites, and 209 hotels recorded in Wikidata. By straight-line distance from the centre: under 1 km, 42; 1–3 km, 124; 3–10 km, 43.
Sources: climate from CRU TS v4.10 (Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia; Open Database License), 1991–2020 averages; day length calculated from the latitude; public holidays from python-holidays (MIT); places to stay from each operator's own public pages and Wikidata. How this guide is made.