See my comments about the Imperial Palace in the other thread ("Kyoto--4 temples in 1 day possible?") My response was, "I had to make reservations for THIS?"

I spent two weeks in Kyoto one August, and I have never been so miserably hot in my life. Kyoto is surrounded by mountains on three sides and is fairly far inland, so you can get hot, humid days with no air moving.

Because of the heat, you will need to pace yourself. I agree that the temples can all start to look alike, especially if you really wish you were lying down in an air-conditioned room, so study your guidebooks again to figure out which temples are really distinctive.

Learn to recognize the sign for kaki-gôri (shaved ice). It looks like this:

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%...gori_hyoki.png

Its texture is more like snow than like granulated ice, and it is flavored with a variety of syrups, including diluted honey (mi-zo-reh). It's a refreshing and authentic way to rehydrate yourself if you're tired of vending machine drinks.

Another traditional summer drink is mugi-cha, or chilled barley tea. Some mom-and-pop restaurants serve it instead of water during the summer, so if someone hands you a glass of what appears to be rusty water, it's most likely mugi-cha. Be prepared for a slightly bitter but ultimately refreshing taste.

If you need relief from the heat, take a cable car or bus trip to Hiei-zan (Mt. Hiei). If you take the bus back down to Kyoto, it travels along a ridge that affords a view of Lake Biwa.

Now you may encounter a freaky August with cool weather, as I did in 1977 when I lived in Japan. But all the other Augusts have been miserable, so wear loose, lightweight, easily washable clothing.

The advantage of starting in Kyoto is that Tokyo will feel cool to you.