SeasonMapJapan in December
December is Japan's 7th-best month (rank 7 of 12): its 32 destinations average 68/100, led by Furano at 91 — -6°C and 22 rainy days — while Ishigaki is warmer at 22°C and scores 59.
#7 of 12 months for Japan · 32 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Where in Japan in December
| # | Place | Type | Feels-like high | Rain | Comfort | At its best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furano | Ski resort | -6°C | 108 mm · 22 days | 91 tier S | Yes |
| 2 | Niseko | Ski resort | -4°C | 82 mm · 20 days | 85 tier A | Yes |
| 3 | Hakuba | Ski resort | 1°C | 247 mm · 23 days | 81 tier A | Yes |
| 4 | Nozawa Onsen | Ski resort | 2°C | 230 mm · 23 days | 80 tier A | Yes |
| 5 | Fujikawaguchiko | Trekking hub | 7°C | 61 mm · 7 days | 76 tier B | — |
| 6 | Kagoshima | City | 13°C | 68 mm · 7 days | 75 tier B | — |
| 7 | Kamakura | City | 10°C | 58 mm · 7 days | 74 tier B | — |
| 8 | Kobe | City | 9°C | 52 mm · 6 days | 73 tier B | — |
| 9 | Osaka | City | 10°C | 49 mm · 6 days | 73 tier B | — |
| 10 | Beppu | City | 10°C | 44 mm · 6 days | 72 tier B | — |
| 11 | Nagoya | City | 9°C | 48 mm · 5 days | 72 tier B | — |
| 12 | Nara | City | 9°C | 46 mm · 6 days | 72 tier B | — |
| 13 | Fukuoka | City | 10°C | 58 mm · 8 days | 71 tier B | — |
| 14 | Hiroshima | City | 9°C | 59 mm · 10 days | 71 tier B | — |
| 15 | Kyoto | City | 8°C | 57 mm · 7 days | 71 tier B | — |
| 16 | Yokohama | City | 10°C | 58 mm · 6 days | 71 tier B | — |
| 17 | Kumamoto | City | 11°C | 72 mm · 9 days | 70 tier B | — |
| 18 | Tokyo | City | 9°C | 52 mm · 7 days | 69 tier C | — |
| 19 | Nagasaki | City | 9°C | 82 mm · 10 days | 68 tier C | — |
| 20 | Yakushima | National park | 5°C | 123 mm · 15 days | 67 tier C | — |
| 21 | Hakone | City | 5°C | 78 mm · 9 days | 66 tier C | — |
| 22 | Nikko | City | 4°C | 56 mm · 10 days | 64 tier C | — |
| 23 | Sendai | City | 5°C | 60 mm · 13 days | 64 tier C | — |
| 24 | Matsumoto | City | 6°C | 110 mm · 16 days | 62 tier C | — |
| 25 | Okinawa | Beach | 19°C | 154 mm · 13 days | 60 tier C | — |
| 26 | Ishigaki | Island | 22°C | 177 mm · 19 days | 59 tier D | — |
| 27 | Miyakojima | Island | 21°C | 189 mm · 16 days | 59 tier D | — |
| 28 | Karuizawa | City | 1°C | 48 mm · 8 days | 58 tier D | — |
| 29 | Nagano | City | 5°C | 154 mm · 21 days | 53 tier D | — |
| 30 | Kanazawa | City | 7°C | 252 mm · 24 days | 50 tier D | — |
| 31 | Takayama | City | 3°C | 169 mm · 22 days | 50 tier D | — |
| 32 | Sapporo | City | -2°C | 73 mm · 17 days | 42 tier F | — |
Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score; each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. "At its best" means December is one of that place's own top three months. Feels-like highs fold in humidity, wind and sun.
What's on in Japan in December
- Christmas and New Year · Niseko · 24 Dec – 5 Jan
- New Year on the mountain · Hakuba · 28 Dec – 3 Jan
- New Year in the village · Nozawa Onsen · 28 Dec – 3 Jan
- Autumn colour · Osaka and 4 more places · 15 Nov – 5 Dec (usually)
- New Year temple bells · Kyoto · 31 Dec – 3 Jan
- New Year shutdown · Tokyo · 29 Dec – 3 Jan
- Naha Marathon · Okinawa · 25 Nov – 10 Dec (usually)
- Autumn colour at Arima and Rokko · Kobe · 5 Nov – 5 Dec (usually)
Seasons in force
Peak crowds at 5 of Japan's 21 well-known places this month.