Kyoto records about 1491mm of rain across roughly 119 wet days a year, which is a 33% chance on an average day. July is the wettest month at 220mm (15% of the annual total) and December the driest at 48mm. Local rain type: monsoon. Kyoto gets significantly more rain than Tokyo, especially during the June-July rainy season. Many temples have covered walkways designed for wet weather.
Chance of rain on an average day: 33%
Rainfall climatology for Kyoto. The live hour-by-hour answer for today loads at the top of this page from Open-Meteo and refreshes through the day — the figures below describe a typical year, not today.
Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.
| Annual rainfall | 1491mm |
| Rain days per year | 119 |
| Odds on an average day | 33% |
| Wettest month | July — 220mm over 18 days |
| Driest month | December — 48mm over 4 days |
| Rain type | monsoon |
| Best dry window | November offers spectacular autumn foliage with relatively dry conditions. |
| Worst rain window | June through July brings heavy tsuyu rains — bamboo forests and moss gardens actually look most beautiful wet. |
July delivers 358% more rain than December (220mm vs 48mm). That gap is the difference between planning around showers and ignoring them.
No single month holds more than 15% of the annual total, so rain in Kyoto is spread through the year — there is no season you can rely on being dry.
Kyoto rain arrives in short, heavy bursts — shelter and timing matter more than gear.
Rain falls on about 18 days in July against 4 in December — the frequency swing matters more for planning than the millimetre totals.
Climate normals. Use them to judge whether today's live forecast at the top of the page is typical or unusual for the season.
| Month | Rainfall | Rain days | Chance on a given day | Highs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50mm | 4 | 13% | 9°C |
| February | 68mm | 5 | 17% | 9°C |
| March | 113mm | 9 | 30% | 13°C |
| April | 116mm | 9 | 30% | 18°C |
| May | 161mm | 13 | 43% | 24°C |
| June | 214mm | 17 | 57% | 29°C |
| July | 220mm | 18 | 60% | 33°C |
| August | 132mm | 11 | 37% | 33°C |
| September | 176mm | 14 | 47% | 29°C |
| October | 121mm | 10 | 33% | 24°C |
| November | 71mm | 6 | 20% | 18°C |
| December | 48mm | 4 | 13% | 13°C |
Rain probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm falls at your location — not how long it rains. For Kyoto we combine the hourly probability curve, expected volume in millimetres, and the city's own rainfall record into a single umbrella verdict.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly probability | 40% | Peak and sustained chance of measurable rain across the next 24 hours. |
| Expected volume | 30% | Total millimetres, which separates a passing shower from a genuine soaking. |
| Timing & duration | 20% | When rain starts, when it eases, and the longest continuous dry window. |
| Local rain type | 10% | Drizzle, brief showers, thunderstorms or monsoon — each needs different gear. |
Live hourly values come from Open-Meteo and refresh through the day. Monthly rainfall figures are climate normals, so they describe a typical year rather than a forecast.
Kyoto records rain on roughly 119 days a year — about a 33% chance on any given day — totalling around 1491mm.
July, with about 220mm over 18 rain days. That is 15% of the entire year's rainfall in a single month.
December is the driest month at 48mm across roughly 4 days. November offers spectacular autumn foliage with relatively dry conditions.
Kyoto gets significantly more rain than Tokyo, especially during the June-July rainy season. Many temples have covered walkways designed for wet weather.
No. Probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm of rain falls at your location at some point in the period. Check the expected millimetres alongside it: 40% with 0.4mm is a passing shower, 40% with 12mm is a soaking.