Japan weather in December
Planning a journey to Japan this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:
What is the weather like 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.
The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Kamikawa at -4°C to warm in Ishigaki Island at 24°C. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 20°C in Ishigaki Island and -12°C in Kamikawa.
In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Fukaya with an average of 51 mm to heavy rainfall in Yunohama with 312 mm. Based on climate data from the last 30 years, Tokyo typically sees the least rain in this month, making it the driest month of the year. The city Tokyo usually sees around 177 hours of sunlight, indicating a moderately sunny period.
To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Japan in December, check out the map below. For more details on the yearly weather, visit our Japan climate page.
Where to go in Japan in December
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Popular destinations in Japan
What is the weather like in December for the 5 most popular destinations in Japan?
Average weather in Tokyo
In December Tokyo generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
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Average weather in Kyoto
In December Kyoto generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
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Average weather in Osaka
In December Osaka generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
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Average weather in Hakuba
In December Hakuba generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C and heavy monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Hakone
In December Hakone generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Japan.
Is December the best 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.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
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 climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.