SEASONAL
Kyoto in Winter: Weather, New Year & What Is Open
Winter is Kyoto’s quiet season, except for the first three days of January, which are among the busiest of the year. Here is what to expect from December 2026 to February 2027.
The Short Version
- Cold, dry and often sunny. Highs of 9–12°C, lows just above freezing. Snow rarely settles.
- January and February are the quietest and cheapest months.
- 28 December to 4 January: many museums close. Temples and shrines stay open.
- 1–3 January: huge crowds at Fushimi Inari and Yasaka Shrine for the first shrine visit of the year.
- It is dark before 5pm in December. Start early and keep the evening for Gion.
Month by Month
| Month | What to expect | Dates worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| December | The last autumn leaves in the first week, then very quiet from about the 20th | Kodai-ji and Toji night illuminations until 13 Dec. Kaomise kabuki at Minamiza, 1–24 Dec. Year-end markets at Toji (21 Dec) and Kitano Tenmangu (25 Dec) |
| January | Packed on 1–3 Jan, then the quietest weeks of the year | Toka Ebisu, 8–12 Jan. Archery at Sanjusangendo, mid-January. First markets of the year at Toji (21 Jan) and Kitano Tenmangu (25 Jan) |
| February | Cold and quiet. Plum blossoms from late in the month | Setsubun, 2–3 Feb. Jonangu plum festival from 18 Feb. Plum blossom festival at Kitano Tenmangu, 25 Feb |
The busiest days of the year
The quietest weeks of the year
New Year’s Eve
- Temple bells (joya no kane): temples ring their bell 108 times around midnight.
| Temple | How it works on 31 December |
|---|---|
| Chion-in | The famous one, with a giant bell rung by a team of monks. Watch only. Advance application and a ¥3,000 fee. In 2025 applications opened on 1 December |
| Kodai-ji | Numbered tickets from 22:00. The first 108 groups ring the bell |
| Tenryu-ji | Numbered tickets from 23:30. The first 108 groups ring the bell |
| Eikan-do | No tickets. 23:00 to 0:30 |
- Okera Mairi at Yasaka Shrine: from the evening of 31 December a sacred fire burns in the shrine lanterns through the night. People light a rope from it and carry the smouldering end home for luck.
- Trains: last New Year’s Eve only the Keihan line ran all night. JR in Kyoto, Hankyu, the subway and city buses ran no all-night services. This year’s plans were not announced when this was written, so check before you go out and be ready to walk or take a taxi back.
1–3 January: The First Shrine Visit
- Hatsumode is the first shrine visit of the year, and most of Kyoto does it in the first three days. Fushimi Inari, Yasaka Shrine and Heian Jingu are the big three.
- Go at sunrise or stay away. At Fushimi Inari, these are the most crowded days of the year. The shrine car park is closed from 30 December to 6 January, so take the train.
- Join in: wait in line, throw a coin, bow twice, clap twice, bow once. Then buy a fortune slip (omikuji).
- Food: many small restaurants and shops close for several days around 1 January. Hotel restaurants, chains and convenience stores stay open. Reserve dinner for 31 December to 3 January.
What Is Closed Over New Year
| Place | Closed in 2026–27 |
|---|---|
| Kyoto International Manga Museum | 26 Dec–6 Jan |
| Kyoto National Museum | 28 Dec–1 Jan |
| Kyoto Imperial Palace | 28 Dec–4 Jan |
| Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum | 28 Dec–4 Jan |
| Nijo Castle | 29–31 Dec |
| Kyoto Railway Museum | 30 Dec–1 Jan |
| Department stores | Usually 1–2 Jan |
Open as usual: Kinkaku-ji (9:00–17:00), Kiyomizu-dera (6:00–18:00), Ginkaku-ji (9:00–16:30 in winter), Fushimi Inari (24 hours) and Kyoto Tower.
Older guides still recommend these.
Arashiyama Hanatoro, the December lantern event in the bamboo grove, ended in 2021. There is no December light-up in Arashiyama.
ROHM Illumination, the big Christmas lights in western Kyoto, ended in 2022.
The night light show at the Kyoto Botanical Gardens (Light Cycles Kyoto) closed in March 2026.
January and February Events
| Event | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Toka Ebisu, Kyoto Ebisu Shrine | 8–12 Jan | A festival for luck in business, a short walk south of Gion. Open through the night on 9 and 10 Jan. Maiko hand out lucky bamboo on 11 Jan, 14:00–16:00 and 20:00–22:00 |
| Archery at Sanjusangendo | The Sunday nearest 15 Jan (17 Jan in 2027, to be confirmed by the temple) | Young archers in kimono shoot along the temple’s long hall. Entry is free that day |
| Miyama snow lanterns | 30 Jan–6 Feb 2027, 17:00–19:00 | A thatched-roof village in the mountains north of the city. Parking is by advance reservation only |
| Setsubun at Yoshida Shrine | 2–4 Feb. Main rite on 3 Feb | About 800 food and game stalls on 2 and 3 Feb |
| Setsubun at Yasaka Shrine | 2–3 Feb, 13:00 and 15:00 | Maiko from the geisha districts dance, then throw lucky beans to the crowd. Free |
| Jonangu plum festival | 18 Feb–22 Mar, 9:00–16:30 | Weeping plum trees and camellias. ¥1,000 |
| Plum blossom festival, Kitano Tenmangu | 25 Feb | Geiko and maiko serve tea outdoors, 10:00–15:00. In recent years tickets (¥3,000 in 2025) have gone on sale at the shrine from 25 Jan, with no reservations |
- Winter special openings: each winter a group of temples open rooms and gardens that are normally closed. In 2026 it ran from 9 January to 18 March at about ¥800 a site. The 2027 list was not yet published when this was written.
If It Snows
- Go to Kinkaku-ji at the 9:00 opening. There are no special snow hours, and the snow often melts by midday. The temple’s website has a live camera, so check before you set out.
- Kifune Shrine in the northern mountains lights its lantern-lined steps on snowy winter weekends. In 2026 this ran from 17 January to 28 February, and the decision was posted at 15:00 on the day.
- Wear shoes with grip. The stone lanes of Higashiyama are slippery when wet.
What to Wear and Eat
- Warm socks matter most. You take your shoes off in temples, and the wooden floors are cold.
- Coat, scarf, gloves and a thermal layer. Trains and shops are well heated, so wear layers you can take off.
- Hot food: yudofu (simmered tofu), hot pot, ramen, and warm sake. New sake arrives from late November. See Sake in Kyoto.
Early sunsets make winter the easiest season for an evening in Gion. Our Gion Night Walk runs most evenings in winter, with a break over the New Year holidays (the booking calendar shows the dates): 90 minutes with a guide who lives in Kyoto, in a group of up to 10, ending at Yasaka Shrine.
Read next: Kyoto at Night · When to Visit Kyoto · Kyoto Trip Cost
// Gion in Winter
Cold air, empty lanes,
lanterns on by five
Winter is when Gion is quietest, and it is dark before the evening starts. Our Gion Night Walk covers Pontocho, Hanamikoji and the Yasaka Pagoda in 90 minutes with a guide who lives in Kyoto.
FAQ
How cold is Kyoto in winter? ▼
Does it snow in Kyoto? ▼
Is Kyoto worth visiting in winter? ▼
What is closed in Kyoto at New Year? ▼
Can visitors ring a temple bell on New Year's Eve in Kyoto? ▼
RELATED GUIDES
Kyoto Autumn Leaves: Best Spots & When to Go
Plan your Kyoto koyo trip: the best autumn foliage spots, when peak color hits in 2026, how to avoid crowds at the top spots, and the hidden gems most visitors miss.
Kyoto Cherry Blossoms: Best Spots, Peak Timing & Tips
Plan your Kyoto sakura trip: the best cherry blossom spots, how to predict peak bloom timing, crowd management strategies, and the hidden gems beyond the famous locations.
Gion Matsuri Festival Guide: Dates, Events & Tips
Everything you need for Gion Matsuri: the full July event calendar, which nights to visit for Yoiyama, where to see the Yamaboko float processions, and practical tips for navigating the crowds.
Local guide based in Gion, Kyoto. Leading small-group walking tours and cultural workshops since 2024. Passionate about connecting travelers with authentic Kyoto culture.