Japan, Asia

Kyoto in May

After Golden Week ends in the first week, mid and late May are a sleeper pick: fresh green temple gardens, long days, and the Aoi Matsuri procession.

GoodWarm and green, highs near 76F (24C)

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

The straight answer

May is a good month to visit Kyoto. After Golden Week ends in the first week, mid and late May are a sleeper pick: fresh green temple gardens, long days, and the Aoi Matsuri procession.

Weather: Warm and green, highs near 76F (24C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What May is like in Kyoto

May is warm and green, with highs near 76F (24C). Golden Week ends in the first week, and after that mid and late May are a sleeper pick: temple gardens are fresh and green, days are long, and crowds ease. The Aoi Matsuri procession passes through the city in mid May.

This month suits families, garden lovers, and anyone who wants good weather without the blossom crowds. Skip the first week if you can. If you want an even calmer city with cooler air, October is the other great choice.

Make the most of May

What is especially good about Kyoto this month.

Aoi Matsuri

In mid May, a Heian-era costume procession walks from the Imperial Palace to the Kamo shrines. It is elegant and easy to watch from the street.

Green maple gardens

Maples that blaze red in fall are bright green now, and gardens like Okochi Sanso in Arashiyama feel fresh and cool.

A day trip to Nara

Warm, dry days are perfect for Nara's bowing deer and the Great Buddha, just 45 minutes away.

What to pack for May

Light, breathable clothes
Sunscreen and a hat
Shoes that slip off easily for temples
A refillable water bottle

Our timing tip

Arrive after the first week of May, once Golden Week ends, for lower prices and much easier trains.

Book Kyoto for May.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Kyoto
Opens a hotel search for Kyoto in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for May
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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 May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in May

Golden Week

Late April into the first week of May

Japan's biggest holiday cluster floods Kyoto with domestic travelers. Trains and hotels sell out well in advance.

Aoi Matsuri

Mid May

One of Kyoto's three great festivals: a Heian-era costume procession from the Imperial Palace to the Kamo shrines.

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.

Kyoto in May, quick answers

Is May a good time to visit Kyoto?

May is a good month to visit Kyoto. After Golden Week ends in the first week, mid and late May are a sleeper pick: fresh green temple gardens, long days, and the Aoi Matsuri procession.

What is the weather like in Kyoto in May?

Warm and green, highs near 76F (24C).

Is Kyoto crowded in May?

Kyoto is busy in May, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Kyoto in May?

Golden Week (late april into the first week of may); Aoi Matsuri (mid may).