Kumamoto weather in December

December in Kumamoto: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Kumamoto🇯🇵 Japan · Mainland Japan · City70
  1. 66Jan
  2. 67Feb
  3. 73Mar
  4. 83Apr
  5. 77May
  6. 56Jun
  7. 50Jul
  8. 54Aug
  9. 62Sep
  10. 86Oct
  11. 81Nov
  12. 70Dec

#6 of 12 months in Kumamoto · #730 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 70/100 (tier B)

Days
13°C
Nights
3°C
Wet days
9
Sun
6.8 h
Humidity
75%
Daylight
10 h
Kumamoto, Japan
Photo: Jan Bouken · Pexels

Traveller notes on Kumamoto in December

Notes from nearby Fukuoka (92 km away)

Kumamoto 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.
DrierAndSunnierThanRestOfJapanInWinter · December · 1 month ago · about Fukuoka · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Kumamoto

Forum posters describe April across Japan as genuinely one of the best months to visit, though variable - a light anorak or jacket is recommended for cooler days and evenings, while sunny stretches can push temperatures into the mid-20sC, warranting layers that can come off as needed. Posters specifically recommend early April in northern Kyushu, including Kumamoto alongside Saga, Oita and Fukuoka, as a strong window for cherry blossoms. Posters generally note April doesn't require a heavy winter coat anywhere in Japan by this point in spring, distinguishing it clearly from the colder months just prior. Posters generally rate April as mild, changeable but genuinely rewarding for Kumamoto, sakura season a real seasonal highlight worth timing a visit around.
Tripadvisor community · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters call October broadly one of Japan's best travel months - warm days, cool nights, and even when a typhoon passes through, rain typically clears within a day or two back to clear blue skies rather than settling in. Early October can still run a touch warm, cooling noticeably by the end of the month. For Kumamoto specifically, posters note some tourist attractions may still be under restoration or closed depending on the year, but the castle grounds remain walkable and Suizenji Garden stays open regardless, giving visitors a reliable core itinerary even if other sites are affected.
Tripadvisor community · October · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Kumamoto's card on the map.

Kumamoto climate normals — December

Daytime high13°C / 56°F🙂 cool
Nighttime low3°C / 38°F
Feels like (high)11°C / 52°F
Sea temperature15°C / 59°F🥶 cold sea
Rainfall72 mm / 2.8 in🌦 some rain
Rainy days9 days
Humidity75%💧 humid
Dew point3°C / 37°F
Sunshine6.8 h/day
Daylight10 h
Wind13 km/h / 8 mph
Snowfall0.7 cm / 0.3 in
Air quality (US AQI)46🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Kumamoto 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.

BusyWinter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Kumamoto'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 weatherKumamoto's best weather comes in April, October and November — separate windows, not one continuous season.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Kumamoto in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Hazard

    Mount Aso crater alerts

    1 Jan – 31 DecVolcanic activityClosures

    Nakadake is the day trip everyone books and the one that gets cancelled: the crater rim closes without notice on gas readings or a raised alert, and has been shut for long stretches. Check before you drive out. Source ↗

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Kumamoto — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Kumamoto?

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Kumamoto in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Kumamoto?
December in Kumamoto: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Kumamoto on SeasonMap's comfort score (70/100).
What is the weather like in Kumamoto in December?
In December, Kumamoto averages a daily high of 13.3°C and a low of 3.3°C, with about 72.3 mm of rain over roughly 9.3 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Kumamoto in December?
Kumamoto has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 46 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.