Kyoto in May
Fresh maple green replaces blossom and, from about May 7, the crowd halves while the weather stays close to perfect.
Is May a good time to visit Kyoto?
May is one of the busiest months in Kyoto, at about 76/100. If you can move your dates, January is far calmer.
What’s on in May
- Golden Week (Apr 29–May 5) — domestic travel peak
- Aoi Matsuri (May 15) — Heian-era procession to the Kamo shrines
Best days in May
Weekdays are almost always calmer than weekends.
Tue is normally the calmest day of the week.
Best hours in May
The daily rhythm, hour by hour.
The 9:00 AM window is usually the calmest of the day.
Weather in May
Typical highs, lows and wet days.
How May compares
Every month in Kyoto, ranked by how calm it is.
Quieter alternatives
If your dates are flexible, these months are calmer in Kyoto.
Book things to do
Tours and tickets in Kyoto, from our booking partner.
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Frequently asked questions
Is May a good month to visit Kyoto?
May is one of the busiest months in Kyoto, at about 76/100. If you can move your dates, January is far calmer.
How crowded is Kyoto in May?
Kyoto sits at roughly 76/100 in May on our crowd scale, which is 12 points above the yearly average. The quietest month is January.
What is the weather like in Kyoto in May?
Expect highs around 25°C and lows near 15°C in May, with about 11 wet days across the month.