Japan, Asia

Kyoto in January

The quietest Kyoto of the year. A dusting of snow on Kinkaku-ji is the rarest and most beautiful shot in Japan. January 1 to 3 brings shrine crowds and shop closures.

Quiet valueCold, highs near 48F (9C), occasional light snow

Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, reflected in its pond, Kyoto — KyotoPhoto: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit Kyoto. The quietest Kyoto of the year. A dusting of snow on Kinkaku-ji is the rarest and most beautiful shot in Japan. January 1 to 3 brings shrine crowds and shop closures.

Weather: Cold, highs near 48F (9C), occasional light snow
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What January is like in Kyoto

January is the quietest Kyoto of the year. Highs are near 48F (9C), mornings are cold, and now and then a light snow dusts the temple roofs. Prices are at their lowest. The first three days of the year are the exception: shrines are packed for New Year prayers, and many restaurants and shops close from December 29 through January 3.

This month suits travelers who want temples with few people, and photographers hoping for snow on the Golden Pavilion. Families who can handle the cold will find the big sights easy. If you want blossoms or fall color, plan for early April or November instead.

Make the most of January

What is especially good about Kyoto this month.

Snow on Kinkaku-ji

A dusting of snow on the Golden Pavilion is rare and beautiful. Watch the forecast and go at opening the morning after a snowfall.

New Year at the shrines

In the first days of January, shrines like Fushimi Inari fill with families praying for the year ahead. It is lively, crowded, and very Japanese.

Quiet Zen gardens

Ryoan-ji's rock garden is at its most peaceful now, with few visitors to break the silence.

What to pack for January

A warm coat, hat, and gloves
Slip-on shoes, since you remove them at many temples
Warm socks for cold temple floors
Heat packs for early mornings

Our timing tip

Plan your trip for after January 3, when shops and restaurants reopen and the New Year shrine crowds have gone.

Book Kyoto for January.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Kyoto
Opens a hotel search for Kyoto in January, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for January
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Vacation rentals in Kyoto
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
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Tours and tickets in Kyoto
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Kyoto for January. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Kyoto

Full guide

Fushimi Inari Taisha

The thousand-gate mountain shrine, open 24 hours. Go at dawn or after dinner; by mid morning the lower gates are a slow-moving line.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

Gleaming above its pond and busy all day. Arrive at opening or in the last hour for the calmest light.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Arashiyama bamboo grove and river

The bamboo path is short and mobbed by 9am. Come very early, then give the rest of the day to the riverside, monkey park, and Okochi Sanso garden.

Tickets and tours →

Kiyomizu-dera and the Higashiyama lanes

The hillside temple's veranda view is the classic Kyoto panorama. The preserved streets below (Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka) are best before the shops open.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Gion at dusk

Lantern-lit Hanamikoji street and the Shirakawa canal. Be respectful: photographing geiko and maiko on private lanes is restricted.

Tickets and tours →

Nishiki Market

Five blocks of food stalls, pickles, knives, and skewers. Go hungry, midmorning, before the afternoon crush.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Kyoto rewards early risers more than any city in Asia: Fushimi Inari at 6:30am and the bamboo grove at 7am are transcendent, and both are shoulder to shoulder by 10.
In blossom and maple season, hit the famous gardens at opening, then spend afternoons at second-tier temples (Shoren-in, Honen-in, Daitoku-ji's subtemples) that see a fraction of the traffic.
Stay overnight rather than day-tripping from Osaka: the magic hours are before the day-trip waves arrive and after they leave.
Skip the buses at peak season; they jam solid. The subway, JR lines, and a bike cover most of the city faster.

Know before you go

December 29 through January 3: many restaurants and shops close for the New Year holiday while shrines see their heaviest crowds of the year.
Golden Week (late April to early May) and the mid-November maple peak are Kyoto's two sold-out windows: nothing closes, everything fills. Book transport and rooms far ahead or shift your dates.
Some temples close irregularly for private ceremonies, and several famous gardens admit visitors only in short spring and fall windows. Check specific temples before anchoring a day to them.
Obon in mid August brings closures at some family-run restaurants and shops while the big sights run normally.