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Best time to visit Nara: month by month
Short answer
Late March to mid-April (cherry blossom) and mid-November to early December (autumn leaves) are the best times, with highs of about 15-22°C, but also the busiest. Summer is hot and humid at 31-32°C, while winter is cold (highs of 8-11°C) but quiet and cheap.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8°C | -1°C | 9 | low |
| Feb | 9°C | 0°C | 8 | low |
| Mar | 15°C | 5°C | 12 | high |
| Apr | 19°C | 9°C | 12 | very high |
| May | 23°C | 14°C | 14 | high |
| Jun | 27°C | 18°C | 15 | low |
| Jul | 31°C | 23°C | 15 | medium |
| Aug | 32°C | 24°C | 18 | medium |
| Sep | 29°C | 21°C | 15 | medium |
| Oct | 22°C | 13°C | 8 | high |
| Nov | 17°C | 8°C | 7 | very high |
| Dec | 11°C | 2°C | 7 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs rise from 15°C in March to 23°C in May; cherry blossom in late March to mid-April and busy Golden Week in early May.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot and humid, with highs of 27-32°C, rainy season in June and 15-18 rainy days a month.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September is still hot (29°C); October (22°C) and November (17°C) are excellent, with autumn leaves from mid-November.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold and dry, with highs of 8-11°C and lows around 0°C; quiet temples and fire festivals.
Events worth planning around
- Wakakusa Yamayaki (burning of Mount Wakakusa), fourth Saturday of January
- Omizutori fire ceremony at Nigatsu-do, 1-14 March
- Shosoin exhibition at the Nara National Museum, late October to early November
- Nara Tokae lantern festival, August (check dates)
- Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri, mid-December
When to avoid
Golden Week (late April to early May) and weekends in the cherry blossom and autumn leaf seasons bring very large crowds. July and August are uncomfortably hot and humid for long walks.
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Common questions
What is the best time to visit Nara?
Late March to mid-April for cherry blossom or mid-November to early December for autumn leaves.
Is Nara good in winter?
Yes, if you like quiet temples: highs of 8-11°C and fire festivals in January and March.
How hot is Nara in summer?
Highs of about 31-32°C in July and August, with high humidity.