Kyoto City→
Station: KyotoKyoto, Arashiyama, Gion, Fushimi Inari
High
23.4℃
Low
14.4℃
- Precip.
- 143.2mm
- Sunshine
- 156h
- Sunset
- 17:23
Jidai Matsuri on the 22nd. Too early for autumn leaves, but the weather is perfect
Kansai Weather Guide
Kansai Weather in October: What to Wear & Expect
October in Kansai is a comfortable season as the heat eases. Kyoto's high is 23.4°C and mornings are around 14°C. From mid-October there are more clear autumn days, making it an ideal time for sightseeing. On the 22nd comes the Jidai Matsuri, one of Kyoto's three great festivals, and late in the month the Shosoin Exhibition opens in Nara. On mountaintop Koyasan, autumn leaves start peaking at the end of the month.
- Kyoto high
- 23.4℃
- Kyoto low
- 14.4℃
- Kyoto rainfall
- 143.2mm
- Kyoto sunset
- 17:23
Overview
Kansai in October: Key Points
- ✓Kyoto's high is 23.4°C, with mornings around 14°C. Many days are fine in a single long-sleeved layer
- ✓More clear autumn days from mid-October: ideal for sightseeing
- ✓Kyoto's Jidai Matsuri on the 22nd. Nara's Shosoin Exhibition from late October
- ✓Autumn leaves peak on Koyasan from late October to early November
By Area
October Weather by Area
Temperature, precipitation, snow and sunshine are climate normals (1991-2020). Sunset is for October 15.
Osaka→
Station: OsakaOsaka, Namba, Umeda, Osaka Castle
High
23.7℃
Low
16.0℃
- Precip.
- 136mm
- Sunshine
- 166h
- Sunset
- 17:25
Highs around 24°C. Ideal for exploring the city and food-hopping
Nara→
Station: NaraNara, Nara Park, Todaiji, Mt. Yoshino
High
22.6℃
Low
13.5℃
- Precip.
- 134.7mm
- Sunshine
- 149h
- Sunset
- 17:23
The Shosoin Exhibition from late October. Deer antler cutting (Shika no Tsunokiri) in Nara Park
Kobe & Arima Onsen→
Station: KobeKobe, Arima Onsen, Kitano Ijinkan, Mt. Rokko
High
23.2℃
Low
16.7℃
- Precip.
- 118mm
- Sunshine
- 170h
- Sunset
- 17:26
Highs around 23°C. Good for Arima Onsen and strolls around the port city
Himeji→
Station: HimejiHimeji, Himeji Castle, Mt. Shosha
High
23.1℃
Low
13.4℃
- Precip.
- 108.7mm
- Sunshine
- 167h
- Sunset
- 17:28
The Nada Fighting Festival in mid-October. A great season for visiting Himeji Castle
Lake Biwa→
Station: HikoneOtsu, Hikone, Omihachiman, Nagahama
High
21.8℃
Low
14.0℃
- Precip.
- 140.7mm
- Sunshine
- 163h
- Sunset
- 17:22
Highs around 22°C. Good for lakeside drives and cycling
Shirahama & Nanki→
Station: Nanki-ShirahamaShirahama, Kumano Kodo, Nachikatsuura, Kushimoto
High
24.0℃
Low
16.5℃
- Precip.
- 231.3mm
- Sunshine
- —
- Sunset
- 17:26
Highs around 24°C. A great season for walking the Kumano Kodo
Koyasan→
Station: KoyasanKoyasan, Okunoin, Danjo Garan
High
17.8℃
Low
9.1℃
- Precip.
- 203.3mm
- Sunshine
- 131h
- Sunset
- 17:25
Autumn leaves peak from late October. Mornings are around 9°C, so you'll need a jacket
Amanohashidate & Ine→
Station: MaizuruMiyazu, Amanohashidate, Ine
High
22.0℃
Low
13.2℃
- Precip.
- 179.9mm
- Sunshine
- 129h
- Sunset
- 17:25
Highs around 22°C. Amanohashidate is beautiful under clear autumn skies
Ise & Shima→
Station: ObataIse, Ise Jingu, Toba, Shima
High
22.7℃
Low
13.6℃
- Precip.
- 258.4mm
- Sunshine
- 158h
- Sunset
- 17:20
Kannamesai at Ise Jingu on the 15th–17th. A fairly rainy month
What to Wear
What to Wear in Kansai in October
Tops
Long-sleeved shirt or T-shirt
Outerwear
Cardigan or light jacket
Bottoms
Long pants
Shoes
Comfortable walking shoes like sneakers
Accessories
A hat too in early October, when the sun is still strong
On Koyasan, mornings and evenings drop to around 9°C. If you're going to see the autumn leaves, a light down jacket or fleece is handy.
Good to Know
Good to Know
One of the most comfortable times of the year
From mid-October there are lots of sunny days, and it's neither hot nor cold — perfect for sightseeing that involves a lot of walking.
Book early for autumn leaf season
Kyoto in November is one of the busiest times of the year. If you're going for the autumn leaves, book your accommodation in October.
Special autumn openings
In autumn, temples and shrines hold special openings of buildings and gardens that are normally closed to the public.
Watch for typhoons in early October
Typhoons sometimes approach in early October. Check the weather forecast before your trip.
Events
October Events & Highlights
The festival of Heian Jingu. A procession of about 2,000 people in costumes spanning the Meiji period back to the Heian period walks from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Jingu.
Read the guide：Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) →Tours & tickets for this eventPR
- PRKlookGion Kimono Rental (Kyoto, by Kitemiru)Rent a full kimono set at a shop in Gion and combine it with Kyoto sightseeingView on Klook
- PRKlookKimono Rental (Kyoto, by Kimono Rental Kanwa Yasaka Shrine Store)Kimono rental at a shop near Yasaka Shrine, with Japanese, Chinese and English supportView on Klook
Treasures more than 1,200 years old, handed down in the Shosoin repository of Todaiji, are displayed only at this time each year.
Read the guide：Annual Exhibition of Shōsōin Treasures →Ise Jingu's most important festival, in which the year's new rice is offered to the deities.
Read the guide：Kanname-sai →A Kyoto summer tradition from early summer to autumn, when restaurants build wooden dining platforms over or beside the river and serve meals on them. Along the Kamo River in the city center they are called "noryo yuka," with about 90 restaurants lining the west bank between Nijo and Gojo. In Kibune in northern Kyoto they are called "kawadoko," and you can enjoy the cool air on platforms set right above the mountain stream.
Read the guide：Noryo Yuka / Kawadoko (Kamogawa & Kibune) →Tours & tickets for this eventPR
A festival in Kishiwada, Osaka, with more than 300 years of history, in which large teams of pullers race zelkova-wood danjiri floats weighing several tons through the streets. It is held twice a year, in September (Kishiwada and Haruki districts) and October (Higashi-Kishiwada district and others), and is also known for its well-organized structure, with everyone from children to elders taking on roles according to age.
Read the guide：Kishiwada Danjiri Festival →Dates change every year. Please check the official websites before you go.
FAQ
FAQ
Q. What's the temperature in Kyoto in October?＋
On average, the high is 23.4°C and the low is 14.4°C. A single long-sleeved layer or a light jacket is enough.
Q. Can I see autumn leaves in Kyoto in October?＋
It's still too early in the city of Kyoto, where the leaves peak from mid-November. In late October, you can enjoy autumn leaves on Koyasan.
Q. When is the Jidai Matsuri?＋
It's held every year on October 22. If it rains, it's postponed to the following day.
Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Kansai TripPR
Other Months
Kansai Weather in Other Months
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (climate normals 1991-2020). Compiled by tripuuu.log. Temperatures are from a representative station in each area; actual weather varies from year to year.
