Kyoto weather in May
Kyoto in May averages 21°C (69°F), 133 mm of rain and 6.4 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Kyoto, May is the fifth warmest, the sixth wettest and the third sunniest.
- Average temp
- 21°C (69°F)
16–26°C · 61–78°F
- Rainfall
- 133 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 6.4 h
hours per day
What is Kyoto like in May?
Daytime
Days are warm, typically in the mid-20s°C or above.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Kyoto in May?
A light rain jacket
About 133 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A layer for the evening
Evenings cool off noticeably once the sun is down.
May compared with April and June
May in Kyoto is 5.6°C warmer than April and about as wet as it, which averages 15°C (59°F).
May in Kyoto is 3.5°C cooler than June and 46 mm drier than it, which averages 24°C (76°F).
Daylight in Kyoto in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 14 hours in Kyoto, rising about 04:53 and setting about 18:53 local time.
May ends 45 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 30 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Kyoto
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Kyoto
What to read before you book.
Kyoto weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C / 43°F | 45 mm |
| February | 7°C / 44°F | 74 mm |
| March | 10°C / 50°F | 106 mm |
| April | 15°C / 59°F | 125 mm |
| May | 21°C / 69°F | 133 mm |
| June | 24°C / 76°F | 179 mm |
| July | 28°C / 83°F | 250 mm |
| August | 30°C / 86°F | 157 mm |
| September | 26°C / 78°F | 204 mm |
| October | 20°C / 68°F | 162 mm |
| November | 14°C / 57°F | 74 mm |
| December | 8°C / 47°F | 68 mm |
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about Kyoto in May
May climate averages for Kyoto, 1991–2020.
Kyoto averages 21°C (69°F) in May, ranging from about 16°C (61°F) at night to 26°C (78°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 133 mm falls across May, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. May averages 21°C (69°F) against 24°C (76°F) in June — 3.5°C cooler.
May is 5.6°C warmer than April, and about as wet.
Yes. May falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, April to July, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 6.4 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 14 hours of daylight in mid-May, against 14 hours 30 minutes in June and 9 hours 49 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 04:53 and sunset about 18:53 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 45 minutes longer than it starts.
