September in Kyoto averages highs of 28 °C (82 °F) and lows of 20 °C (68 °F), with about 12 rainy days and 12 h 21 min of daylight.
September weather in Kyoto at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is September a good time to visit Kyoto?
Mixed weather: comfortably warm and wet. September is usually shoulder season in Kyoto: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
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 September 2026
- Mon 21 Sep: Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日) public holiday
- Wed 23 Sep: Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日) 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 September
With frequent rain in September, here are the indoor picks first, then the outdoor ones for drier spells.
- Nishiki Market — lunch on the go indoors
- 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
Where to stay: Near Kyoto Station for transport; Gion or Higashiyama for old streets; Nakagyo for food.
What to pack for Kyoto in September
- Summer clothes, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- An umbrella or a light waterproof: about 12 days this month see real rain.
- 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. September is usually shoulder season in Kyoto: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
September in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 27° / 21° | 12 | Mixed weather |
| Bangkok | 31° / 25° | 24 | Tough month |
| Singapore | 30° / 25° | 19 | 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 September a good time to visit Kyoto?
By the numbers, September is a mixed month: comfortably warm and wet, with average highs of 28 °C (82 °F) and about 12 rainy days. September is usually shoulder season in Kyoto: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower. The best months for weather are April, May, October.
How warm is Kyoto in September?
Average highs are 28 °C (82 °F) and lows 20 °C (68 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Kyoto in September?
Expect about 12 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 201 mm in total. It is the 3rd wettest 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.