January in Kyoto averages highs of 8 °C (47 °F) and lows of -1 °C (31 °F), with about 5 rainy days and 10 h 03 min of daylight.
January weather in Kyoto at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is January a good time to visit Kyoto?
Tough month: cold and some rain. January is usually low season in Kyoto: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in January 2026
- Thu 1 Jan: New Year's Day (元日) public holiday
- Mon 12 Jan: Coming of Age Day (成人の日) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Kyoto in January
January's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Fushimi Inari shrine — climb past the first gates to lose the crowds outdoors
- Kiyomizu-dera and Higashiyama — early morning outdoors
- Arashiyama bamboo grove — before 8am outdoors
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) outdoors
- Gion at dusk — teahouse streets outdoors
- Nishiki Market — lunch on the go indoors
Where to stay: Near Kyoto Station for transport; Gion or Higashiyama for old streets; Nakagyo for food.
What to pack for Kyoto in January
- A warm jacket and layers; evenings drop to around -1 °C (31 °F).
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Kyoto costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €60–130 | €160–330 |
Excluding flights. January is usually low season in Kyoto: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
January in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 9° / 0° | 5 | Mixed weather |
| Bangkok | 31° / 22° | 2 | Good time to go |
| Singapore | 29° / 24° | 20 | Tough month |
Plan your Kyoto trip
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is January a good time to visit Kyoto?
By the numbers, January is a tough month: cold and some rain, with average highs of 8 °C (47 °F) and about 5 rainy days. January is usually low season in Kyoto: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper. The best months for weather are April, May, October.
How warm is Kyoto in January?
Average highs are 8 °C (47 °F) and lows -1 °C (31 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Kyoto in January?
Expect about 5 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 64 mm in total. It is the driest month of the year in Kyoto.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.