Kyoto in April: weather, what to wear and events

Kyoto weather in April

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

High: 20.1°C (68°F)
Low: 9.2°C (49°F)
Precipitation: 117.0 mm
Wet days: 9.4 days
Sunshine: 177 hours

Highs rise 6.0°C from March and climb another 5.0°C into May.

That is 1.0°C below Kyoto's yearly average high of 21.1°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Kyoto is the 2nd warmest in April: 4.2°C cooler than Naha and level with Nagoya.

April is Kyoto's 6th driest month (117.0 mm).

Of our 15 places, Kyoto has the 5th lowest precipitation in April: 1.2 mm less than Fukuoka and 10.9 mm more than Kawaguchiko.

Rain of 1 mm or more falls on 9.4 days, and 10 mm or more on 3.8 days.

Rain of 30 mm or more in one day falls on 0.9 days.

The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 17.2 days, and 4.7 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

On 15 April 2027 the sun rises at 5:26 and sets at 18:29 in Kyoto, giving 13 hours 3 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).

Average temperature: 14.4°C (58°F)
Humidity: 59%
Days of 25°C or more: 4.2 days

Early, mid and late April

Kyoto in April by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Days	High	Low	Precipitation
1–10 April	18.1°C	7.4°C	39.6 mm
11–20 April	20.2°C	9.3°C	42.2 mm
21–30 April	21.9°C	11.0°C	35.3 mm

By the last ten days of April the average high in Kyoto is 3.8°C higher than in the first ten.

By ten-day totals, 11–20 April is the wettest (42.2 mm) and 21–30 April the driest (35.3 mm).

What to wear in Kyoto in April

Mild: highs around 20.1°C

Long sleeves, or a T-shirt with a light jacket or cardigan.
Layers you can take off: afternoons are 10.9°C warmer than early mornings on average.
A folding umbrella: rain falls on 9.4 days.

Pack

Folding umbrella

Our clothing rules

Flowers and autumn colour in Kyoto in April

Cherry blossom

The JMA's sample cherry tree in Kyoto opens around 26 March and is in full bloom around 4 April in an average year (1991–2020). In 2026 it opened on 23 March and was in full bloom on 30 March.

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

April records in Kyoto

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

Hottest April day: 30.7°C (87°F) on 30 April 2005 (records since 1881)
Coldest April night: −4.4°C (24°F) on 1 April 1901 (records since 1881)
Wettest April day: 104.9 mm on 7 April 1896 (records since 1881)
Deepest April snow: 1 cm on 10 April 1902 (records since 1886)

Holidays and crowds in April

National holidays in April 2027:

Thu 29 April — Showa Day

In April 2025, hotels and inns across Kyoto Prefecture were 73.9% full on average (3rd busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 2.08 million nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 66.7% in March and 71.3% in May.

What's on in Kyoto in April

Events in Kyoto in April: dates from each organizer's official page
Event	When	Where and what
Special Night Viewing at Kiyomizu-dera清水寺夜間特別拝観	Three periods a year. In 2026: spring 27 March to 5 April, summer 14 to 16 August, autumn 21 to 30 November.	Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. The temple extends its opening hours into the evening during these periods. The summer period is the Sennichi-mairi with special viewing of the inner sanctuary of the main hall. Opening hours are extended to 21:30 (last entry 21:00). No reservation is required. Official page
Miyako Odori都をどり	Every April: 1 to 30 April in 2027	Gion Kobu Kaburenjo theatre, Gion, Kyoto. Dance performance staged by the Gion Kobu Kabukai. Three shows a day, at 12:30, 14:30 and 16:30. The 153rd edition is in 2027. Ticketed: 8,000 yen with a tea ticket (first class), 7,000 yen first class, 5,000 yen second class, 3,000 yen second class for students, and 1,000 yen for the programme, all including tax. Tickets cannot be cancelled, changed or refunded. Official page
Yasurai Matsuri at Imamiya Shrine今宮神社やすらい祭	The second Sunday of April; the shrine's page lists about 15:00	Imamiya Shrine, Kyoto. A spring festival to calm epidemics and pray for peace. About 20 people, including red-haired and black-haired demons, dance through the streets around a flower umbrella decorated with cherry blossoms and camellias, to festival music, and go to the shrine carrying gohei. The page says people believe that going under the flower umbrella keeps one healthy for a year. Official page

Kyoto before and after April

Kyoto: March, April and May (JMA, 1991–2020)
Month	High	Low	Precipitation	Wet days
March	14.1°C (−6.0°C)	4.3°C (−4.9°C)	106.2 mm (−10.8 mm)	9.5 days (+0.1 days)
April	20.1°C	9.2°C	117.0 mm	9.4 days
May	25.1°C (+5.0°C)	14.5°C (+5.3°C)	151.4 mm (+34.4 mm)	9.7 days (+0.3 days)

Other places in April

April: Kyoto against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
Place	High	Against Kyoto	Wet days	Against Kyoto
Tokyo	19.4°C	−0.7°C	9.5 days	+0.1 days
Osaka	19.9°C	−0.2°C	9.2 days	−0.2 days
Sapporo	11.7°C	−8.4°C	9.6 days	+0.2 days
OkinawaNaha	24.3°C	+4.2°C	10.3 days	+0.9 days
Fukuoka	19.9°C	−0.2°C	9.7 days	+0.3 days

All 15 places in April

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Kyoto in April?

The average high is 20.1°C (68°F) and the average low 9.2°C (49°F). 117.0 mm of rain falls on about 9.4 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Kyoto in April?

Long sleeves, or a T-shirt with a light jacket or cardigan. Layers you can take off: afternoons are 10.9°C warmer than early mornings on average. A folding umbrella: rain falls on 9.4 days.

Is Kyoto busy in April?

In April 2025, hotels and inns across Kyoto Prefecture were 73.9% full on average (3rd busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 2.08 million nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for April in Kyoto?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Kyoto in April is 30.7°C (87°F), on 30 April 2005. The lowest is −4.4°C (24°F), on 1 April 1901.

What events are on in Kyoto in April?

Special Night Viewing at Kiyomizu-dera: Three periods a year. In 2026: spring 27 March to 5 April, summer 14 to 16 August, autumn 21 to 30 November. Miyako Odori: Every April: 1 to 30 April in 2027. Yasurai Matsuri at Imamiya Shrine: The second Sunday of April; the shrine's page lists about 15:00.

When do the cherry blossoms open in Kyoto?