Kyoto in March: a seasonal travel plan
Kyoto, Japan. In march, the average daytime high is 12.3 °C and the night-time low is 2.6 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Choose a month
Selected month: March
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Kyoto
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 12.3 °C
- Nighttime low
- 2.6 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 119.7 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 11.9
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 10.7 | 1.5 | 4.4 |
| Days 11–20 | 12.5 | 2.4 | 4.0 |
| From day 21 | 13.6 | 3.7 | 3.5 |
What this month is like
Kyoto, Japan. In march, the average daytime high is 12.3 °C and the night-time low is 2.6 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 11.9 wet days on average, with about 119.7 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Average daylight is 12.0 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 7.7 °C, March — 12.3 °C, next month — 17.6 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 12.7, 11.9 and 11.8.
Things to do
Kyoto lies in a basin between hills, and its history reads district by district: the temples of Higashiyama, the bamboo grove at Arashiyama, Nishiki Market in the centre. The city runs north to south, so plan each day on one side and use buses or the subway between them.
Fushimi Inari
Climb the torii path on Mount Inari early in the morning while the tunnels are empty. The upper rows demand effort, yet even the first few hundred metres show what the place is.
Arashiyama
At Arashiyama walk through the bamboo grove to Tenryu-ji and its garden, then down to the Katsura River. Half a day fits here, and the Sagano line brings you back. The Sagano line stops at Arashiyama.
Higashiyama
Walk down from Kiyomizu-dera along the paved lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka to Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park. Early morning is quiet, and the temples open around eight. Wear shoes with grip for the slopes.
Where to stay
Downtown and Kawaramachi
Downtown around Kawaramachi and Nishiki Market is practical: restaurants, shops and transport are close. Streets are busy, but most temples are a direct bus ride away. Nishiki Market closes in the evening, so come before five.
Gion
Gion draws people for wooden houses and tea rooms, though rooms are expensive and noise is frowned upon. Evening walks along Hanamikoji are lovely if you respect private entrances. Rooms are few, so plan the stay early.
Kyoto Station area
The area around Kyoto Station suits anyone who values convenience: trains, buses and shopping centres are at hand. There are no historic lanes here, and Gion is a ride away.
Getting to and around Kyoto
Kyoto connects to the rest of Japan by shinkansen, and the Haruka train runs from Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station in about seventy minutes. Buses are the main way around: they reach most temples but fill up at peak times. The subway runs north to south through the centre, and short distances in Higashiyama and Gion are better walked.
Three days in Kyoto
Higashiyama and Gion
Start at Kiyomizu-dera and walk down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka to Yasaka Shrine. After lunch cross Maruyama Park to Chion-in and end the day in Gion. Lunch in the lanes by Yasaka Shrine, tea in Gion in the evening.
Fushimi Inari and the centre
Climb Fushimi Inari early, return to the centre by day and walk through Nishiki Market. Have dinner in Pontocho beside the Kamo River. The upper gates are quiet and open a view over the city.
Arashiyama
Ride to Arashiyama for opening time, walk the bamboo grove and the garden at Tenryu-ji, then climb to the monkey park. Return on the Sagano line. Lunch by the Katsura River, then the train back to the centre.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.6 | -0.4 | 95.3 | 16.3 | 10.1 |
| February | 7.7 | -0.3 | 77.4 | 12.7 | 10.9 |
| March | 12.3 | 2.6 | 119.7 | 11.9 | 12.0 |
| April | 17.6 | 7.2 | 152.2 | 11.8 | 13.1 |
| May | 22.2 | 12.0 | 160.8 | 11.1 | 14.0 |
| June | 25.1 | 16.7 | 221.0 | 15.1 | 14.5 |
| July | 29.0 | 22.1 | 252.6 | 18.5 | 14.3 |
| August | 30.1 | 22.9 | 201.0 | 16.8 | 13.5 |
| September | 26.5 | 19.3 | 204.7 | 17.3 | 12.4 |
| October | 20.7 | 12.6 | 164.9 | 12.7 | 11.3 |
| November | 15.4 | 7.0 | 93.4 | 12.0 | 10.4 |
| December | 9.3 | 1.7 | 96.3 | 17.2 | 9.9 |
Frequently asked questions
Kyoto: what is the temperature in March?
The average daytime high is 12.3 °C and the night-time low is 2.6 °C. Fit the main walking route into daylight hours; bring an extra layer for the evening.
How many days with precipitation are there in March?
On average, there are 11.9 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 119.7 mm. There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
What should I pack for walks in March?
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 10.7 °C; 11–20 — 12.5 °C; 21 to month-end — 13.6 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in March?
The average is 12.0 hours. Spread walks between the morning and afternoon, then leave the evening for dinner or indoor activities.
Is Kyoto worth visiting in March?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 12.3 °C and nights around 2.6 °C work for you. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
What can I do in Kyoto on a wet day in March?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Kyoto in March?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 12.0 hours.