Kyoto Weather in December

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

Thinking about venturing to Kyoto, Japan this December and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Kyoto in December

Kyoto, Japan is a region in Japan. December in Kyoto generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 11°C (52°F) and nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) in Kyoto.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Uji with an average of 66 mm (2.6 in) to heavy rainfall in Kyotango with 162 mm (6.4 in). Looking at the climate data spanning the last 30 years, this month usually has the lowest rainfall in Kyoto, marking it as the year's driest month.

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Kyoto as an example - it receives around 138 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore Kyoto by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Kyoto — and find the best time to visit. (based on Kyoto)

Best Places to Visit in Kyoto in December

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

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 Kyoto

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

Temperature range in Kyoto (December)

Precipitation variation in Kyoto (December)

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

Uji

In December Uji generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
140 hours
138 hours
124 hours
Monthly rainfall
79 mm (3.1 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
16 days
20 days
Weather conditions

Nantan city

In December Nantan city generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
140 hours
138 hours
124 hours
Monthly rainfall
93 mm (3.7 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
22 days
25 days
Weather conditions

Kameoka

In December Kameoka 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)
70 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
18 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Kyotango

In December Kyotango generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
6°C (43°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly rainfall
119 mm (4.7 in)
162 mm (6.4 in)
159 mm (6.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
26 days
28 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kyoto 11°C (52°F) 2°C (36°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Uji 12°C (54°F) 3°C (37°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Nantan city 11°C (52°F) 3°C (37°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Kameoka 11°C (52°F) 2°C (36°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Kyotango 12°C (54°F) 6°C (43°F) 162 mm (6.4 in)
Miyazu 12°C (54°F) 5°C (41°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)

Kyoto weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Kyoto, Japan in December?

In December, Kyoto, Japan generally has unpleasant weather conditions. Kyoto sees daytime temperatures near 11°C (52°F), with nights cooling to roughly 2°C (36°F).

What is the average temperature in Kyoto, Japan in December?

Kyoto averages a daytime maximum of 11°C (52°F) in December, with overnight lows close to 2°C (36°F).

Does Kyoto, Japan get a lot of rain in December?

December is on the drier side in Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto averages only about 71 mm (2.8 in), with most days staying dry.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Kyoto, Japan?

Given the typically unpleasant weather conditions in Kyoto, December may not be the ideal time to visit Kyoto, Japan.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in May and October offering mostly pleasant weather in Kyoto. The weather in January, February, July and August, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Kyoto.

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.

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