Kyoto is famous for cherry blossoms and fiery autumn colors, but June reveals a side of the city that many travelers miss. As Japan’s rainy season, known as tsuyu, settles in, Kyoto transforms into a lush, misty landscape filled with vibrant greenery, tranquil temples and seasonal blooms. With fewer crowds and a uniquely atmospheric charm, this is one of the most rewarding times to explore Japan’s ancient capital. If you’re visiting Kyoto in June, here’s how to experience its quieter, rain-soaked beauty.
Embracing the Rainy Season Atmosphere
When the rainy season starts in kansai (osaka/kyoto)
From early June to mid-July, Kyoto experiences frequent rainfall, high humidity, and shifting temperatures. Average temperature ranges from 20 to 28°C (68-82°F), with a mix of light drizzle and heavier showers. Despite them, it rarely lasts all day, so rest assured that you can still explore comfortably as long as you’re prepared enough.
Rather than detracting from the experience, nature becomes lush and luxuriant, giving it a fairytale-like appeal. Moss gardens (or koke as they’re known in Japanese), like those of the renowned Saihouji Temple, glow brighter and the city’s greenery becomes intensely vibrant. Many travelers find that Kyoto feels more peaceful and less crowded compared to the following peak tourist season during July and August.
Hydrangea Season: Kyoto’s Rainy Season Highlight
Hydrangea season at Mimurotoji Temple
Photo from kyototourism.org
June is synonymous with hydrangeas (called ajisai in Japanese). These flowers thrive in rainy conditions and bloom in stunning shades of blue, pink, and purple. Similar to our previous post about rainy season in Osaka, many places in Kyoto have them, including gardens.
Best Hydrangea Spots
- Mimuroto-ji Temple: Known as the “Hydrangea Temple,” featuring thousands of blooms across landscaped gardens, as well as many azaleas
- Sanzen-in : A serene mountain temple with moss gardens and hydrangea-lined paths
- Umenomiya Taisha Shrine: Offers a wide variety of hydrangea species alongside ponds and seasonal flowers
- Heian Jingu Shrine: Its historic garden becomes open to the public during the season and is a memorable event which happens every year
Hydrangeas are actually at their most beautiful after rainfall, when their colors deepen and petals glisten with droplets.
Seasonal Festivals You Can’t Miss
Yanagidani Kannon Hydrangea Photo from en.japantravel.com
Ajisai Matsuri (Hydrangea Festival, June 1st-June 30th)
Held at Fujinomori Shrine, this festival runs throughout June, with its gardens filled with hydrangeas, traditional performances and rituals, as well as occasional cultural demonstrations such as kemari, a classical court sport similar to playing soccer, but only by using your right foot to juggle the ball and passing it around once it hits the ground, with eight people in total. This event celebrates both nature and tradition in a uniquely Kyoto way, the sport having existed for at least a thousand years and is an integral part of its history.
On a side note, while Shiramine Jingu Temple is more well known for kemari, where the God of Sports resides, its main event takes place in January rather than June.
Yanagidani Kannon Hydrangea Week (June 1st-June 30th)
At Youkoku-ji Temple, also known as Yanagidani Kannon, this event transforms temple grounds into a colorful hydrangea wonderland with thousands of them blooming and seasonal decorations like flower-filled purification basins, as well as numerous flower-decorated umbrellas called Umbrella Sky.
Unlike the name implies, it actually runs for the whole month of June, just like the aforementioned Ajisai Matsuri, making it easy to fit into your itinerary.
Kifune Festival (June 1st)
Held at Kifune Shrine, this traditional festival marks seasonal change with rituals such as Susano’s sacred dance ceremony and local celebrations involving a portable shrine walked around the neighborhood.
Summer Purification Ceremony (June 30th)
Nagoshi no Harae (Summer Purification Ceremony) at Kamigamo Shrine is one of Kyoto’s most atmospheric June traditions. Held on June 30, this centuries-old Shinto ritual marks the midpoint of the year, allowing participants to symbolically cleanse themselves of impurities and pray for good health and protection during the months ahead. Visitors can walk through a large ring of reeds (chinowa), a purification practice believed to ward off misfortune, and submit paper dolls known as hitogata that symbolically absorb their worries and impurities. In the evening, priests release these paper effigies into the Nara-no-Ogawa stream during a torch-lit ceremony accompanied by traditional prayers and music, creating one of Kyoto’s most memorable early-summer spectacles.
Rainy-Day Compatible Activities
1. Explore Temples and Shrines
Rain adds a mystical quality to iconic sites like Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which feel more serene and contemplative with fewer crowds than you would experience in spring and autumn. If you truly want to go where locals go we recommend visiting Shimogamo Shrine, Kamigamo Shrine and Daitokuji Temple.
2. Wander Covered Markets
Head to Nishiki Market, Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcades for a lively, mostly covered street experience. Since it is covered by a roof for a majority of the way for all locations, you won’t need to worry about the weather, and there are plenty of shops and restaurants to see. Our recommendations include Kasumi and the Sir Thomas Lipton Café.
For less busy arcades you can also visit the Kyoto Sanjo Shopping Street or Furukawacho Shopping Street.
3. Dive Into Kyoto’s Museums and Aquarium
If the rain gets heavier, Kyoto has excellent indoor activities, such as Kyoto Aquarium, Kyoto International Manga Museum and the Kyoto National Museum.
These provide a comfortable break while still offering cultural insight and entertainment. Kyoto Aquarium is also close to a big park. You can walk around if the rain remains light or stops completely. As for the International Manga Museum, it has a small café where you can take a break and look around at all the signatures from famous mangaka from all genres on the walls.
4. Enjoy a Traditional Tea Experience
Rainy afternoons are ideal for slowing down. A tea ceremony or matcha break in one of the many traditional teahouses around Kyoto offers a cozy, authentic experience, arguably even more enjoyable with the sound of rain outside. We recommend the ones in Uji like Ito Kyuemon and Tsujiri for quality matcha and desserts, as well as Ippodo which also owns a tea house in the previously mentioned Teramachi.
If you’re interested in the history of tea ceremonies we also recommend checking out Omotesenke Kitayama Kaikan where you can learn about tea utensils as well as other aspects of Omotesenke (one of the three historic schools of tea ceremonies in Japan). Note the hall is closed between May 27th to June 19th 2026 for exhibition changes. The exhibition space only offers information in Japanese but you can enjoy tea and traditional sweets when you visit.
Why June Might Be One of the Best Times to Visit Kyoto
Despite the weather, June has some major advantages, such as fewer crowds compared to peak seasons, especially the one following in July and August, as well as lower accommodation prices. This season is known for its beautiful and vibrant nature of hydrangeas and lush greenery, offering atmospheric photographic opportunities. Many visitors report that Kyoto’s temples and gardens feel even more magical in the rain, with mist, reflections and vivid colors enhancing the experience.
Practical Tips for Visiting Kyoto in June
Please be sure to bring a compact umbrella or buy one at the convenience store (they’re widely available in Japan), and to wear breathable and waterproof clothing, since humidity can be very high and rainfall can often be unpredictable or occur for days at a time. As such, planning a mix of indoor and outdoor activities is a foolproof way of navigating the season in case of sudden or unexpected changes. Keep in mind to visit popular sites early in the morning to avoid crowds, whenever possible, especially in more popular spots.
Should you Visit Kyoto in June?
While it may seem June looks unappealing at first glance due to its weather, it also has a lot to offer once you take the rain factor into account. If you’re willing to embrace it and take your time visiting at a slower pace, you’ll discover a Kyoto that many travelers never see, and one you may never forget.
