Japan · Asia
Kyoto
Temples, tea houses and a thousand shades of maple.
- Best time
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- Flight time
- 12h from London · 14h from New York (via Osaka)
- Language
- Japanese
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
About Kyoto
Why we love Kyoto
Kyoto was Japan's imperial capital for more than a thousand years, and it still moves to an older rhythm. Wooden machiya townhouses line lantern-lit lanes, geiko glide through Gion at dusk and more than 1,600 temples hide among moss gardens and bamboo groves.
Visit Kyoto with Meridian Voyages and you'll see it the way locals do: a private tea ceremony in a Zen sub-temple, dawn at Fushimi Inari before the crowds, kaiseki dinners in a family-run ryokan and a guide who can open doors that stay closed to most visitors.
Highlights not to miss
- 01
Fushimi Inari at first light
Walk through thousands of vermilion torii gates before the day-trippers arrive.
- 02
A private tea ceremony
Learn the art of chadō from a tea master in a 400-year-old temple.
- 03
Arashiyama bamboo grove
Pair the famous grove with a boat ride on the Hozu river and a riverside lunch.
- 04
A night in a ryokan
Tatami rooms, cedar baths and a multi-course kaiseki dinner served in your suite.
When to go
The best time to visit Kyoto
Our travel designers recommend Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov for Kyoto. Temperatures are average daytime highs; rainfall is the monthly average.
| Month | Average high (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | 50 |
| Feb | 10 | 70 |
| Mar | 14 | 110 |
| Apr | 20 | 120 |
| May | 25 | 160 |
| Jun | 28 | 210 |
| Jul | 32 | 220 |
| Aug | 34 | 130 |
| Sep | 30 | 170 |
| Oct | 24 | 120 |
| Nov | 18 | 70 |
| Dec | 12 | 50 |
Journeys
Journeys to Kyoto
FAQ
Kyoto, answered
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, and November for autumn colour. Both are beautiful but busy, so book 6–9 months ahead. May and October are quieter with pleasant weather.