Nara Weather in October

In October, the weather of Nara features mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and soft sunshine, making it quite suitable and favorable to visit the city. Besides, it is a relatively quiet month with not many tourists. Colorful autumn views can be seen when you visit Nara in the second half of October.

Cool Overall Temperature

October brings perfectly cool and comfortable temperatures to Nara. During the first few days of the month, daytime highs may still reach around 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). Quickly, they drop to around 25°C (77°F) – a favorable level for outdoor sightseeing, and such a temperature condition can last for about 20 days. Then, by month’s end, daily highs cool to approximately 20°C (68°F). Note that temperatures may drop significantly if it rains. For example, on rainy days toward the end of the month, the daily highs might fall below 15°C (59°F).

Cool Nara in October

The daily temperature gap spans about 10°C (18°F). Overall, from the beginning to the end of the month, daily lows drop from around 20°C (68°F) to approximately 15°C (59°F). In some years, they may be only 11-13°C (52-55°F) during the final days of the month. If you plan to be out at night, remember to dress warmly to avoid catching a cold.

The End of Typhoon Season with Moderate Rainfall

Nara experiences moderate rainfall in October, which is about 130 mm on average. The rain will not be very frequent as well, and there are an average of 10 rainy days. Moreover, the rain this month is usually short and light, producing negligible influence on your outdoor exploration.

However, you are recommended to keep an eye on the weather forecast, since Nara may still have a chance to be hit by a typhoon, though the chance is small at this end period of the typhoon season.

As for the humidity, it is about 67% on average this month. It will not cause stuffy weather but fresh air because of the not-high-at-all temperature.

Daylight Hours / Sunshine Hours

In early October, the sun usually appears in the sky at around 05:51. After about 12 hours of daylight, the sun sets at around 17:41. Then, by late October, the daytime is short at no more than 11 hours with the sunrise and sunset times at 06:16 and 17:04, respectively. Judging from that, trips in October have limited daytime to travel around, especially towards the end of the month. For a leisurely trip, you are advised to include fewer attractions in your daily trip.

The duration of sunshine is around 5 hours. In terms of the UV index, it is 6 to its highest, meaning that you can enjoy the sunshine without worrying about getting sunburn at all this month.

Sunny Days with Soft Sunshine

Is October a Good Time to Visit Nara?

Yes, and October is one of the best months to visit Nara.

First, Nara in October is sunny and cool, creating favorable weather conditions for travel. Second, the scenery in Nara this month is far from boring but quite attractive. At the beginning of the month, both the trees and the grass are still green. As the month goes by, the grass gradually changes color to yellow-green and then to yellow. Some leaves also start to change color by late October. Third, for trips this month, you don’t need to worry about feeling crowded in attractions and spending a lot on tickets and hotels, since October is a slack month of Nara.

Cool and Beautiful October

What to Pack when Visiting Nara in October 2026

Clothes for the first half month: At that time, you can still wear short-sleeved T-shirts plus thin long pants during the warm daytime hours. While in the early morning and at night, you need to put on thin denim jackets or knitwear.

Clothes for the second half month: With decreasing temperatures, you are recommended to wear thicker clothes. In specific, you can wear long-sleeved T-shirts as the base layer, and shirts or thin knitwear as the outer layer during the daytime. As for the lower body, jeans and sweatpants are all suitable choices. When night falls, remember to add leather jackets or trench coats to keep warm on this basis.

Shoes: Sneakers, hiking shoes, and all cozy, lightweight, and flat casual shoes are Ok to wear.

Special Highlights of Nara in October

During your Nara trip in such a month suitable for travelling, you are recommended to note the following highlights unique to October and try to include them in your itinerary if you are interested in them.

1. Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony

Undoubtedly, most visitors to Nara never miss the chance to see and feed the deer in Nara Park. In addition to this, it’s worth noting that visiting Nara Park in October offers the opportunity to witness the special Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony. Typically, this ceremony takes place in mid-October each year, and it primarily aims to ensure visitor safety, as well as prevent deer from getting injuries from fights. During the ceremony, professionals swiftly remove the antlers using traditional methods.

Deer in October

2. Autumn View

As mentioned above, in October, late October more specifically, Nara begins to show signs of the arrival of autumn. Both the grass and the leaves gradually start to change color. If you want to see yellow grassland, Mountain Wakakusa is definitely a recommended spot to go in the second half of the month. For leaves, those in spots within Nara city start changing their color by the end of October. However, Mountain Yoshinoyama, close to the city, begins to offer views of red leaves from mid-October since it has higher elevations.

Autumn View of Todaiji Temple

Autumn View of Mount Wakakusa

3. The Shosoin Exhibition

From October 25 to November 10 every year, the Nara National Museum holds the Shosoin Exhibition. This is a special autumn event that is definitely worth seeing, showcasing national treasure-level artifacts preserved in the Shosoin of Todaiji Temple.

Tips for Visiting Nara in October

1. October is the mating season for deer, so they tend to be more irritable. Therefore, when visiting places like Nara Park to see the deer this month, be sure to keep a safe distance and stay cautious.
2. The cozy climate of Nara in October is pretty suitable for experiencing the kimono, traditional Japanese clothing. There are many kimono rental shops in Nara, and try one if you are interested in it.
3. If you want to visit the Shosoin Exhibition, be sure to book your tickets in advance. Also, you might want to know that it closes at 18:00 from Monday to Thursday, but at 20:00 from Friday to Sunday.