Kyoto in November
November is one of the best months of the year to visit Kyoto. Fall color builds through the month toward a mid-November to early-December peak. Tofuku-ji and Arashiyama are mobbed at peak; evening illuminations are worth the planning.
Weather
Cool and sunny, highs near 63F (17C)
Crowds
Prices
What's on in November
Mid November into early December
Autumn leaf season. The maples peak later than most first-timers expect. Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do, and Arashiyama lead; several temples run nighttime illuminations.
Things to do in Kyoto
- 1
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 ↗
- 2
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 ↗
- 3
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.
- 4
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 ↗
- 5
Gion at dusk. Lantern-lit Hanamikoji street and the Shirakawa canal. Be respectful: photographing geiko and maiko on private lanes is restricted.
- 6
Nishiki Market. Five blocks of food stalls, pickles, knives, and skewers. Go hungry, midmorning, before the afternoon crush. official site ↗
- 7
Ryoan-ji rock garden. The most famous Zen garden on Earth. Fifteen stones, raked gravel, and a silence worth arriving early for.
- 8
Day trip to Nara. Bowing deer, the Todai-ji Great Buddha, and lantern-lined paths, 45 minutes away. An easy, kid-delighting day.
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.
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.
Kyoto in November: quick answers
Is November a good time to visit Kyoto?
November is one of the best months of the year to visit Kyoto. Fall color builds through the month toward a mid-November to early-December peak. Tofuku-ji and Arashiyama are mobbed at peak; evening illuminations are worth the planning.
What is the weather like in Kyoto in November?
Cool and sunny, highs near 63F (17C).
Is Kyoto crowded in November?
November is peak crowd season in Kyoto; expect lines at the headline sights.
What is happening in Kyoto in November?
Autumn leaf season (mid november into early december).