Kyoto in February: weather, what to wear and events

Kyoto weather in February

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Kyoto station (41 m above sea level).

High: 10.0°C (50°F)
Low: 1.6°C (35°F)
Precipitation: 65.1 mm
Wet days: 7.3 days
Sunshine: 122 hours
Snow on ground: 2.0 days

Highs rise 0.9°C from January and climb another 4.1°C into March.

That is 11.1°C below Kyoto's yearly average high of 21.1°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Kyoto is the 7th warmest in February: 0.5°C cooler than Nagoya and 0.1°C warmer than Nara.

February is Kyoto's 3rd driest month (65.1 mm).

Of our 15 places, Kyoto has the 8th highest precipitation in February: 4.7 mm less than Fukuoka and 0.4 mm more than Nagoya.

Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 7.3 days, and 10 mm or more on 2.5 days.

The temperature drops below 0°C on 6.7 nights.

7 cm of snow falls in an average February; snow lies on the ground on 2.0 days.

The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 13.7 days, and 2.8 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

On 15 February 2027 the sun rises at 6:44 and sets at 17:39 in Kyoto, giving 10 hours 55 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).

Average temperature: 5.4°C (42°F)
Humidity: 65%
Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest): 4 cm

Early, mid and late February

Kyoto in February by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Days	High	Low	Precipitation
1–10 February	9.0°C	1.0°C	15.7 mm
11–20 February	9.9°C	1.6°C	26.2 mm
21–28 February	11.5°C	2.5°C	23.3 mm

By the last ten days of February the average high in Kyoto is 2.5°C higher than in the first ten.

By ten-day totals, 11–20 February is the wettest (26.2 mm) and 1–10 February the driest (15.7 mm).

What to wear in Kyoto in February

Chilly: highs around 10.0°C

A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.
Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 6.7 nights.
A folding umbrella: rain or snow falls on 7.3 days.

Shoes

Shoes with good grip: snow or sleet falls on 14.2 days.

Pack

Folding umbrella
Gloves and a warm hat

Our clothing rules

Flowers and autumn colour in Kyoto in February

Plum blossom

The JMA's sample plum tree in Kyoto opens around 22 February in an average year (1991–2020). In 2026: 22 February.

Dates are for one sample tree at or near the JMA observatory, not for every park in the city.

February records in Kyoto

The extremes the JMA has measured in February at its Kyoto station.

Hottest February day: 22.9°C (73°F) on 18 February 1890 (records since 1881)
Coldest February night: −11.6°C (11°F) on 1 February 1894 (records since 1881)
Wettest February day: 62.4 mm on 1 February 1906 (records since 1881)
Deepest February snow: 32 cm on 5 February 1936 (records since 1886)
Most snow in one February day: 16 cm on 2 February 1993 (records since 1953)

Holidays and crowds in February

National holidays in February 2027:

Thu 11 February — National Foundation Day
Tue 23 February — Emperor's Birthday

In February 2025, hotels and inns across Kyoto Prefecture were 56.1% full on average (11th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 1.02 million nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 52.8% in January and 66.7% in March.

What's on in Kyoto in February

Events in Kyoto in February: dates from each organizer's official page
Event	When	Where and what
Setsubun Festival at Yoshida Shrine吉田神社節分祭	Three days centered on Setsubun in early February: 2 to 4 February in 2026	Yoshida Shrine (main hall and Daigen-gu), Kyoto. On the first day, the Ekijin-sai ritual and the Tsuina-shiki ceremony (Oni-yarai), a court rite in which a figure in a four-eyed mask drives off demons with a peach bow and reed arrows. On the second day, the Karo-sai, in which old talismans brought by worshippers are burned in a large furnace in front of the main hall. About 800 stalls line the grounds on the first two days. The shrine says about 500,000 worshippers come in a typical year, and asks visitors to use public transport because the temporary car park cannot be used during the festival. Official page
Kyoto Marathon京都マラソン	Mid-to-late February, on a Sunday: 21 February in 2027 (15 February in 2026)	Starts at Takebishi Stadium Kyoto (Nishikyogoku General Sports Park) and finishes in front of Heian Jingu. The wheelchair race runs from the stadium to Arashiyama. Marathon (42.195 km), pair relay (27.6 km and 14.6 km legs) and wheelchair race (6.1 km). The wheelchair race starts at 8:55, the marathon and pair relay start at 9:00 and finish at 15:00. Roads along the course are affected on race day; the official site has a traffic-impact page and a map of regulated sections. Official page

Kyoto before and after February

Kyoto: January, February and March (JMA, 1991–2020)
Month	High	Low	Precipitation	Wet days
January	9.1°C (−0.9°C)	1.5°C (−0.1°C)	53.3 mm (−11.8 mm)	6.4 days (−0.9 days)
February	10.0°C	1.6°C	65.1 mm	7.3 days
March	14.1°C (+4.1°C)	4.3°C (+2.7°C)	106.2 mm (+41.1 mm)	9.5 days (+2.2 days)

Other places in February

February: Kyoto against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
Place	High	Against Kyoto	Wet days	Against Kyoto
Tokyo	10.9°C	+0.9°C	5.2 days	−2.1 days
Osaka	10.5°C	+0.5°C	6.3 days	−1.0 days
Sapporo	0.4°C	−9.6°C	16.0 days	+8.7 days
OkinawaNaha	20.2°C	+10.2°C	9.9 days	+2.6 days
Fukuoka	11.6°C	+1.6°C	8.8 days	+1.5 days

All 15 places in February

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Kyoto in February?

The average high is 10.0°C (50°F) and the average low 1.6°C (35°F). 65.1 mm of rain or snow falls on about 7.3 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Kyoto in February?

A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater. Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 6.7 nights. A folding umbrella: rain or snow falls on 7.3 days.

Does it snow in Kyoto in February?

Yes. 7 cm of snow falls in an average February, and snow lies on the ground on 2.0 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is Kyoto busy in February?

In February 2025, hotels and inns across Kyoto Prefecture were 56.1% full on average (11th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 1.02 million nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for February in Kyoto?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Kyoto in February is 22.9°C (73°F), on 18 February 1890. The lowest is −11.6°C (11°F), on 1 February 1894.

What events are on in Kyoto in February?

Setsubun Festival at Yoshida Shrine: Three days centered on Setsubun in early February: 2 to 4 February in 2026. Kyoto Marathon: Mid-to-late February, on a Sunday: 21 February in 2027 (15 February in 2026).

When do plum trees bloom in Kyoto?