01Weather
Kyoto weather in December
Afternoons in December average 11.9 °C (53 °F) and nights cool to 4.1 °C (39 °F). The month brings about 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain spread over roughly 7 days. Compared with November it is 6.3 °C cooler; January is 2.3 °C cooler again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical December | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 16 °C / 61 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 8 °C / 46 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 1 °C / 33 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.0 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 1.2 | frost mornings per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 23 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest December day 2016–2025 | 22.7 °C / -1.6 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December | 06:46 | 16:45 | 10.0 h |
| 15 December | 06:57 | 16:46 | 9.8 h |
| 31 December | 07:04 | 16:55 | 9.8 h |
Daylight shrinks by about 12 minutes over the month. Times are local (Asia/Tokyo).
03Crowds
How busy Kyoto is in December
moderate The main sights are moderate in December. What drives it:
- early-December foliage
- Arashiyama Hanatouro
- year-end closures from 29 December
04Public holidays
Public holidays in December 2026
No public holidays in Japan fall in December, so shops and museums keep normal hours all month.
05Events
What's on in Kyoto in December
Every year in December
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Arashiyama Hanatouro | mid-December, lantern-lit bamboo grove | seasonal |
07Packing
What to pack for Kyoto in December
- a warm jacket or coat
- scarf for windy evenings
- closed, water-resistant shoes
- a compact umbrella for occasional showers
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
December opens with the last foliage in the first week, afternoons around 12 °C and lantern-lit bamboo at Arashiyama for the Hanatouro event in mid-December, then turns cold and quiet. From 29 December, shops and restaurants close for New Year and shrines prepare for hatsumode, with the Chion-in bell rung 108 times at midnight. Early December is good value with some colour still on the trees. Rain falls on about seven days.
The Kaomise kabuki season at the Minamiza theatre runs through December. The Toji and Kitano year-end markets on the 21st and 25th are the biggest of the year. Daylight is under ten hours. For hatsumode, the New Year closures and the quiet, cold gardens, see January.
09Compare
Kyoto month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10 °C | 2 °C | 6 | – | quiet | Good |
| February | 11 °C | 2 °C | 8 | – | quiet | Good |
| March | 16 °C | 6 °C | 9 | – | busy | Mixed |
| April | 21 °C | 10 °C | 9 | – | very busy | Good |
| May | 25 °C | 15 °C | 8 | – | busy | Excellent |
| June | 29 °C | 20 °C | 11 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| July | 33 °C | 25 °C | 13 | – | busy | Mixed |
| August | 34 °C | 26 °C | 8 | – | busy | Good |
| September | 30 °C | 23 °C | 10 | – | moderate | Good |
| October | 24 °C | 16 °C | 8 | – | busy | Excellent |
| November | 18 °C | 10 °C | 7 | – | very busy | Good |
| December | 12 °C | 4 °C | 7 | – | moderate | Good |
Not sure about December? See the best time to visit Kyoto.
10Elsewhere
December in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo in December | 12 °C | 6 |
| Seoul in December | 4 °C | 11 |
| Shanghai in December | 12 °C | 8 |
| Beijing in December | 5 °C | 1 |
| Bangkok in December | 33 °C | – |
| Singapore in December | 31 °C | 16 |
11FAQ
Kyoto in December: your questions
Is December a good time to visit Kyoto?
December is a good month to visit Kyoto. Daytime highs average 12 °C (53 °F), rain falls on about 7 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are moderate.
What is the weather like in Kyoto in December?
Expect cool days around 12 °C (53 °F) and nights near 4 °C (39 °F). One December in ten brings afternoons above 16 °C, and one in ten stays below 8 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Kyoto in December?
December brings about 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain over roughly 7 days, which is fairly dry by Kyoto standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 23 percent.
What should I wear in Kyoto in December?
Pack a warm jacket or coat, scarf for windy evenings, closed, water-resistant shoes.
Is Kyoto crowded in December?
The main sights are moderate in December. Main drivers: early-December foliage; Arashiyama Hanatouro; year-end closures from 29 December.
What time does it get dark in Kyoto in December?
Around the middle of December the sun sets at about 16:46 and rises at 06:57, giving 9.8 hours of daylight.