Japan

Japan Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Japan in December.

Considering a trip to Japan this December and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Japan in December

In December, Japan experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from very cold to warm and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Kamikawa at -4°C (25°F) to warm in Ishigaki Island at 24°C (75°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 20°C (68°F) in Ishigaki Island and -12°C (10°F) in Kamikawa.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Japan, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Fukaya with an average of 51 mm (2 in) to heavy rainfall in Yunohama with 312 mm (12 in). In Tokyo, this particular month consistently records the lowest levels of rainfall, making it the driest period throughout the entire year.

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Tokyo gets around 177 hours of sunlight, providing a pleasant balance of sun and clouds. If you'd prefer more guaranteed sunshine, our weather planner can show you sunnier spots around the world.

Explore Japan by month

Best Places to Visit in Japan in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Japan.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Japan

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Japan?

Temperature range in Japan (December)

Precipitation variation in Japan (December)

Tokyo

In December Tokyo generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
147 hours
177 hours
189 hours
Monthly rainfall
96 mm (3.8 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Kyoto

In December Kyoto generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
2°C (36°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
140 hours
138 hours
124 hours
Monthly rainfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
73 mm (2.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
18 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Osaka

In December Osaka generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
148 hours
151 hours
142 hours
Monthly rainfall
82 mm (3.2 in)
67 mm (2.6 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
15 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Hakuba

In December Hakuba generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) and heavy monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
110 hours
86 hours
80 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
193 mm (7.6 in)
221 mm (8.7 in)
223 mm (8.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
23 days
26 days
Weather conditions

Hakone

In December Hakone generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly rainfall
139 mm (5.5 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
103 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
8 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Japan.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Japan in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Tokyo 13°C (55°F) 5°C (41°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Osaka 13°C (55°F) 4°C (39°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Kyoto 11°C (52°F) 2°C (36°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Hakone 12°C (54°F) 5°C (41°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Hiroshima 12°C (54°F) 4°C (39°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Nara 12°C (54°F) 3°C (37°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)

Japan weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Japan in December?

December in Japan brings unpleasant weather. In Tokyo, daytime temperatures are typically around 13°C (55°F) and nighttime lows hover near 5°C (41°F).

What is the average temperature in Japan in December?

In Tokyo, the average daytime high in December is 13°C (55°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 5°C (41°F).

Does Japan get a lot of rain in December?

Not particularly. Tokyo averages just 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain in December, making it a mostly dry month for Japan.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Japan?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to Japan with often unpleasant weather in Tokyo.

Generally speaking, May, June and November provide pleasant weather in Tokyo. On the other hand, the month of January tends to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Japan.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Japan? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Japan.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.