Tokyo in July
Hot, humid, festival season
- Temperature
- 22–30°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$$
+Summer festivals and fireworks are a genuine spectacle.
–Heat and humidity are punishing by midday.
Matsuri season, if you can handle the climate.
Tokyo vs Kyoto in July
Kyoto edges it in July. Tokyo averages 22–30°C with moderate crowds; Kyoto 24–32°C with moderate-high crowds.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
Tokyo and Kyoto
The verdict for July
- WeatherTokyo has the better weather4/10 vs 2.5/10
- CrowdsVery similarModerate vs Moderate-High
- PricesVery similar$$$ vs $$$
- OverallKyoto comes out ahead5/10 vs 6/10
Kyoto in July
Hot, humid, and festival-filled
- Temperature
- 24–32°C
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Prices
- $$$
+One of Japan's greatest festivals
–Heat, humidity and big festival crowds
Gion Matsuri takes over the whole month, with grand processions on 17 and 24 July. The heat and humidity are intense, so plan around the midday hours. Evenings are the best time to be outside.
Scores and crowd levels are my own judgement; temperatures are monthly averages. Higher scores are better: quieter, cheaper and more pleasant.
Another month