Beppu weather in December
December in Beppu: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#6 of 12 months in Beppu · #668 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 72/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 13°C
- Nights
- 4°C
- Wet days
- 6
- Sun
- 7 h
- Humidity
- 78%
- Daylight
- 10 h

Traveller notes on Beppu in December
Notes from nearby Fukuoka (106 km away)
Beppu doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Fukuoka, close enough to share the season.
Regulars are specific that northern Kyushu runs genuinely dry and clear this month, more sunny days than much of the rest of the country in winter, with coastal cities along this stretch relatively mild compared with inland Japan. Our row backs that cool, still-mild read, 12.4C over 5.8C nights feeling 2C, with 58.3mm of rain across 8.3 days and a trace of snow, 1.2cm. Regulars are consistent snow in the city itself is genuinely rare early in the month, appearing only in some years and largely dependent on exactly where a Siberian cold front settles, with one recent year seeing first snow in November and the next seeing none until deep December. Layers over a warm coat remain the standard advice given how much year-to-year variation regulars report. The sea sits at a cool 15.3C. The record: humidity 73 percent, 6.4 hours of sun, a 14 kph wind and AQI 49.
Other months in Beppu
Japan's forum rates April as one of the best months nationwide, and Beppu's own posters add a useful altitude note: up at Mt. Tsurumi (1,300m), overlooking the city, temperatures can run a full 10C colder than down in Beppu itself, with cherry blossoms arriving later there than at sea level. Down in the city, sunny days warm up nicely into the mid-20s C, but a light jacket is worth having for cooler mornings, evenings and the occasional spring rain shower. It's a genuinely pleasant month, just don't assume the summit will match the city's forecast.
Forum posters planning Kyushu autumn trips describe October as a comfortable, mild shoulder month for exploring Beppu's onsen district, with proper autumn foliage only starting to appear at higher elevations (around 1,000m) in the final week of October or early November - lower-lying Beppu itself stays greener longer. Posters recommend a one-day bus pass to work through the town's seven signature 'hells' (the tourist onsen viewing ponds, including the striking red 'Bloody Hell Pond'), noting five sit within walking distance of each other while two require the bus. Reviews are mixed on the wider town's upkeep, but the onsen sightseeing itself is consistently rated as worthwhile in October's mild, comfortable conditions.
Add your own note from Beppu's card on the map.
Beppu climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Beppu in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsBeppu Christmas Fantasia, Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Beppu's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherBeppu's best weather comes in April, October and November — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Beppu in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Morning mist on Lake Kinrin
15 Nov – 28 Feb · usuallyFog seasonA day trip away in Yufuin: the spring-fed lake stays warm, so on cold mornings steam rolls off the surface until the sun clears it. Arrive before sunrise; by mid-morning it is gone. Source ↗
- Festival
Beppu Christmas Fantasia
20–25 Dec · usuallyLights & fireCrowdedFireworks set to music launched from boats in Beppu Bay on the weekend around Christmas, watched from Matogahama Park and Spa Beach, with children's choirs and food stalls first. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Beppu — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Beppu?
Beppu in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Beppu?
- December in Beppu: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Beppu on SeasonMap's comfort score (72/100).
- What is the weather like in Beppu in December?
- In December, Beppu averages a daily high of 12.9°C and a low of 3.8°C, with about 44.2 mm of rain over roughly 5.7 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Beppu in December?
- Beppu has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 43 in December.
Within 300 km: Fukuoka's Autumn leaves around 15 Nov – 8 Dec, and Kagoshima's Cranes winter at Izumi around 1 Nov – 25 Mar.