Kyoto in November: weather, what to wear and events

Kyoto weather in November

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

High: 17.3°C (63°F)
Low: 8.4°C (47°F)
Precipitation: 73.9 mm
Wet days: 6.3 days
Sunshine: 141 hours

Highs fall 6.1°C from October and drop another 5.7°C into December.

That is 3.8°C below Kyoto's yearly average high of 21.1°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Kyoto is the 5th warmest in November: 0.4°C cooler than Hiroshima and level with Nagoya.

November is Kyoto's 4th driest month (73.9 mm).

Of our 15 places, Kyoto has the 4th lowest precipitation in November: 2.1 mm less than Kawaguchiko and 1.4 mm more than Osaka.

Rain of 1 mm or more falls on 6.3 days, and 10 mm or more on 2.5 days.

Rain of 30 mm or more in one day falls on 0.6 days.

The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 16.9 days, and 3.6 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

On 15 November 2026 the sun rises at 6:31 and sets at 16:52 in Kyoto, giving 10 hours 21 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).

Average temperature: 12.5°C (54°F)
Humidity: 68%

Early, mid and late November

Kyoto in November by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Days	High	Low	Precipitation
1–10 November	19.5°C	10.2°C	21.9 mm
11–20 November	17.1°C	8.4°C	31.5 mm
21–30 November	15.3°C	6.5°C	20.5 mm

By the last ten days of November the average high in Kyoto is 4.2°C lower than in the first ten.

By ten-day totals, 11–20 November is the wettest (31.5 mm) and 21–30 November the driest (20.5 mm).

What to wear in Kyoto in November

Cool: highs around 17.3°C

Long sleeves with a light jacket or sweater.
A folding umbrella: rain falls on 6.3 days.

Pack

Folding umbrella

Our clothing rules

Flowers and autumn colour in Kyoto in November

Ginkgo turns yellow

The JMA's sample ginkgo in Kyoto turns yellow around 24 November and has lost most of its leaves by 4 December in an average year (1991–2020). In 2025: 25 November.

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

November records in Kyoto

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

Hottest November day: 26.9°C (80°F) on 19 November 2020 (records since 1880); also on 1 November 1923
Coldest November night: −4.4°C (24°F) on 30 November 1901 (records since 1880)
Wettest November day: 85.0 mm on 21 November 1980 (records since 1880)
Deepest November snow: 2 cm on 13 November 1938 (records since 1886)

Holidays and crowds in November

National holidays in November 2026:

Tue 3 November — Culture Day
Mon 23 November — Labor Thanksgiving Day

Sat 21 November to Mon 23 November: 3 days off in a row

In November 2025, hotels and inns across Kyoto Prefecture were 74.3% full on average (2nd busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 1.59 million nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 76.8% in October and 67.0% in December.

What's on in Kyoto in November

Events in Kyoto in November: dates from each organizer's official page
Event	When	Where and what
Arashiyama Tsukitouro (Arashiyama Bamboo Light-up)嵐山月灯路	Evenings from late September to early November: 30 September to 8 November in 2026	Bamboo path area (Chikurin no Komichi), Sagatenryuji Tateishicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto. About 10 minutes on foot from Saga-Arashiyama Station. Bamboo lanterns light the bamboo path and about 1 km of walkway in the evening. Some of the lanterns were made by local residents in workshops. Open 18:00 to 21:00 (last entry 20:30), every day; cancelled in bad weather. Tickets on the day: 1,500 yen (free for ages 12 and under), cash only, sold on site from 17:50. Online advance tickets at 2,000 yen guarantee entry. Official page
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
Arashiyama Momiji Matsuri (Autumn Leaves Festival)嵐山もみじ祭り	The second Sunday of November, with events on the Saturday and Sunday: 7 and 8 November in 2026	Oi River upstream of Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama, Kyoto. Boats such as the Imayo-bune and Heian kangen-bune perform arts connected with Arashiyama on the Oi River from around Togetsukyo Bridge. The festival praises the autumn leaves of Arashiyama and Mt. Ogura and gives thanks to Zao Gongen, the guardian deity of the Arashiyama area. Held from 11:30 to 17:00 and cancelled in rain. The page lists the fee as free and notes that a ticket is needed to take part in the event. Official page
Hitaki-sai (Fire Festival) at Fushimi Inari Taisha伏見稲荷大社火焚祭	Every year on 8 November; the rite starts at 13:00 and the kagura at 18:00	Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto (the ritual ground in the shrine garden and the front of the main hall). A rite of thanks after the autumn harvest. After the service in the main hall, more than 100,000 votive sticks (hitaki-gushi) offered by worshippers across Japan are burned in the shrine garden while the Oharae prayer is recited. At 18:00 kagura (sacred music and dance) is offered in front of the main hall, including the Hitonaga-mai. Official page

Kyoto before and after November

Kyoto: October, November and December (JMA, 1991–2020)
Month	High	Low	Precipitation	Wet days
October	23.4°C (+6.1°C)	14.4°C (+6.0°C)	143.2 mm (+69.3 mm)	8.2 days (+1.9 days)
November	17.3°C	8.4°C	73.9 mm	6.3 days
December	11.6°C (−5.7°C)	3.5°C (−4.9°C)	57.3 mm (−16.6 mm)	6.6 days (+0.3 days)

Other places in November

November: Kyoto against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
Place	High	Against Kyoto	Wet days	Against Kyoto
Tokyo	16.7°C	−0.6°C	7.4 days	+1.1 days
Osaka	17.8°C	+0.5°C	6.2 days	−0.1 days
Sapporo	8.7°C	−8.6°C	14.6 days	+8.3 days
OkinawaNaha	25.0°C	+7.7°C	8.2 days	+1.9 days
Fukuoka	18.2°C	+0.9°C	8.5 days	+2.2 days

All 15 places in November

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Kyoto in November?

The average high is 17.3°C (63°F) and the average low 8.4°C (47°F). 73.9 mm of rain falls on about 6.3 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Kyoto in November?

Long sleeves with a light jacket or sweater. A folding umbrella: rain falls on 6.3 days.

Is Kyoto busy in November?

In November 2025, hotels and inns across Kyoto Prefecture were 74.3% full on average (2nd busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 1.59 million nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for November in Kyoto?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Kyoto in November is 26.9°C (80°F), on 19 November 2020. The lowest is −4.4°C (24°F), on 30 November 1901.

What events are on in Kyoto in November?

Arashiyama Tsukitouro (Arashiyama Bamboo Light-up): Evenings from late September to early November: 30 September to 8 November in 2026. 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. Arashiyama Momiji Matsuri (Autumn Leaves Festival): The second Sunday of November, with events on the Saturday and Sunday: 7 and 8 November in 2026. Hitaki-sai (Fire Festival) at Fushimi Inari Taisha: Every year on 8 November; the rite starts at 13:00 and the kagura at 18:00.

When do ginkgo trees turn yellow in Kyoto?