August is the hottest month in Kyoto – about 34°C by day and 25°C at night in a basin that holds the heat – and the month of its most solemn spectacle. On the night of Monday 16 August 2027, five giant characters are set alight on the mountains ringing the city to send the ancestors home at the close of Obon. It is also the middle of Japan’s busiest travel week.
Gozan no Okuribi, 16 August
Often called Daimonji. At 20:00 on 16 August, fires are lit in sequence on five mountainsides around Kyoto, forming enormous characters and shapes – beginning with dai, the character for “great”, on Mount Nyoigatake, and followed at five-minute intervals by the others, including a boat shape and a torii gate.
They burn for around half an hour. The purpose is not decorative: it is the okuribi, the sending-off fire that guides the spirits of the dead back at the end of Obon.
Practical notes: the fires are best seen from a spot with an open view of the right mountain – the Kamo riverbanks around Demachiyanagi for the first dai, the Kitaoji bridge, or a booked rooftop. You cannot see all five from one place without height. Central Kyoto is very crowded and the trains afterwards are packed.
Obon and the travel week
Obon runs 13–16 August 2027, and with Mountain Day on Wednesday 11 August the stretch from about the 11th to the 16th is the busiest travel week of the Japanese year. Shinkansen reserved seats sell out, fares peak, and Kyoto accommodation is at its most expensive.
Obon is also when Kyoto is at its most atmospheric: lanterns, family graves cleaned, Bon Odori dances in neighbourhoods, and the whole city oriented around the dead returning.
The heat
Kyoto in August averages 34°C by day and 25°C at night with roughly 154 mm of rain. The basin geography means no sea breeze and warm nights, and heatstroke advisories are routine.
The only workable structure is the local one:
- Temples at opening. Fushimi Inari before seven, Kiyomizu-dera at six.
- Middle of the day indoors or on water – the Kyoto National Museum, Nishiki market, the Hozugawa river boat, kawadoko at Kibune.
- Head north. Kurama, Ohara and Kibune are meaningfully cooler.
- Drink constantly. Vending machines are on every street and salt sweets are sold for exactly this.
Prices and crowds
The Obon week is among the most expensive of the Kyoto year. Either side of it, August is moderate – the heat keeps ordinary tourism down – and the last ten days are decent value with identical weather.
See how many days Kyoto needs.
What to pack
Minimal, light, breathable clothing, a hand towel, a fan, a hat, sunscreen and a large refillable bottle. Socks you are happy to be seen in, because shoes come off constantly. See the Japan packing list.
The August 2027 calendar
- Wednesday 11 August – Mountain Day, a public holiday; the Obon travel rush begins.
- 13–16 August – Obon; Bon Odori dances and lanterns across the city.
- Monday 16 August, 20:00 – Gozan no Okuribi; five fires lit in sequence on the mountains.
- From about 17 August – the travel rush clears and rates fall back.
- Saturday 21 August – the Toji temple market.
- Wednesday 25 August – the Kitano Tenmangu market.
- Through August – kawadoko dining at Kibune and Pontocho.
Read alongside
- Kyoto in July – Gion Matsuri and the start of the heat.
- Kyoto in September – typhoon season and the heat breaking.
- Japan in August – the country-level view and Obon.
- Best time to visit Japan – all twelve months compared.
- Day trips from Kyoto – Kurama, Ohara and Kibune for the cool.
- Things to do in Kyoto – the shaded list.
- Kyoto food guide – kawadoko and summer dishes.
Frequently asked
What is Gozan no Okuribi?
The sending-off fires on the night of 16 August, when five giant characters and shapes are set alight in sequence from 20:00 on the mountains around Kyoto, burning for about half an hour. They guide the spirits of the dead home at the close of Obon.
Where should I watch the Daimonji fires?
Somewhere with an open view of the right mountain – the Kamo riverbanks near Demachiyanagi for the first dai, or the Kitaoji bridge. You cannot see all five from one spot without height, and a booked rooftop is the only way to get several at once.
When is Obon in 2027?
13 to 16 August, and with Mountain Day on Wednesday 11 August the stretch from about the 11th to the 16th is the busiest travel week of the Japanese year. Book far ahead or travel outside it.
How hot is Kyoto in August?
About 34°C by day and 25°C at night, with high humidity and no sea breeze because of the basin geography. Heatstroke advisories are routine, and nights stay warm.
Is August a bad time to visit Kyoto?
It is the hardest month for weather and the Obon week is the most expensive. But the Okuribi fires are among the most remarkable things in Japan, and the last ten days of August are good value with the same weather.
Where is cooler near Kyoto?
North – Kurama, Ohara and Kibune, where the kawadoko platforms sit directly over the stream and it runs several degrees cooler than the city.
Are the temples open during Obon?
Yes, and they are busy with Japanese families rather than foreign visitors. Some sub-temples hold special Obon openings and rituals that are not available at other times.
Is Kyoto expensive in August?
During Obon, among the most expensive weeks of the year. Outside it the heat suppresses demand, and late August is reasonably priced.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
