Nagoya weather in December

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

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Nagoya🇯🇵 Japan · Mainland Japan · City72
  1. 68Jan
  2. 70Feb
  3. 73Mar
  4. 81Apr
  5. 85May
  6. 69Jun
  7. 54Jul
  8. 58Aug
  9. 64Sep
  10. 82Oct
  11. 80Nov
  12. 72Dec

#6 of 12 months in Nagoya · #686 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 72/100 (tier B)

Days
12°C
Nights
4°C
Wet days
5
Sun
7.6 h
Humidity
74%
Daylight
10 h
Nagoya, Japan
Photo: Heather Mallon · Pexels

Traveller notes on Nagoya in December

Notes from nearby Kyoto (106 km away)

Nagoya doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Kyoto, close enough to share the season.

Regulars describe most winter days here as genuinely sunny and good for sightseeing despite the cold, with temperatures sliding from around 10C early in the month down toward 5C by the end - real thermal base layers under a jumper or cardigan are standard advice rather than overkill. Our row backs the descending cold, 11.8C over 3.4C nights feeling 1C, with 56.5mm of rain across 7.3 days and a real 2.1cm of snow, more likely as the month wears on. Regulars are candid that snow around Christmas and New Year does happen some years, though it's not the reliable, expected kind of snow this destination sees later in winter. The trade for the cold is genuinely thin crowds compared with the autumn foliage season. The record: humidity 79 percent, 7.3 hours of sun and AQI 43.
SunnyAndColdLayerLikeItsWinter · December · 1 month ago · about Kyoto · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Nagoya

Forum posters describe mid-to-late November in Nagoya as bringing temperatures that regularly settle into the mid-to-low teens Celsius, with a regular jacket generally sufficient, though posters recommend packing something warmer in case of an occasional dip into single digits. Posters consistently rate November as one of the best months to visit for weather alone - comfortable temperatures paired with thinner crowds than the peak autumn-foliage rush elsewhere in Japan. Posters point to nearby Korankei as a standout for autumn leaf viewing and Nabana no Sato for its winter illumination displays as popular November day-trip pairings from Nagoya. Posters generally rate November as mild, comfortable and well-timed for a Nagoya visit, cool evenings the main thing to plan around.
Tripadvisor community · November · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
May is one of Japan's best months — warm without being hot or humid, too early for typhoons, and the rainy season not usually starting until early June. Nagoya averages 23°C by day and 14 overnight, with rain on ten days. The timing advice is about crowds: Golden Week runs into the first week of the month, and from the second week it is business as usual. What May is not is blossom season — Nagoya's cherry blossom runs roughly 25 March to 10 April, so a May visit gets the gardens green rather than pink. The last two weeks are the pick: warm, plenty of flowers out, not yet humid.
Tripadvisor community · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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

Nagoya climate normals — December

Daytime high12°C / 53°F🧥 cold
Nighttime low4°C / 39°F
Feels like (high)9°C / 48°F
Sea temperature12°C / 54°F🥶 cold sea
Rainfall48 mm / 1.9 in🌦 some rain
Rainy days5 days
Humidity74%💧 humid
Dew point1°C / 34°F
Sunshine7.6 h/day
Daylight9.8 h
Wind15 km/h / 10 mph
Snowfall0.2 cm / 0.1 in
Air quality (US AQI)47🍃 good

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

Crowds in Nagoya 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 crowdsNabana no Sato illumination, New Year at Atsuta Shrine, Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Nagoya'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 weatherNagoya's best weather comes in April, May and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Nagoya in December

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

  • Festival

    Nabana no Sato illumination

    18 Oct – 31 May · usuallyLights & fireCrowded

    A day trip away in Kuwana, about half an hour from Nagoya: a flower park lit by millions of LEDs from mid-October through spring. Weekends and the days before Christmas are crowded and cost more. Source ↗

  • Holiday

    New Year at Atsuta Shrine

    31 Dec – 3 JanSchool holidaysCrowdedClosures

    Millions make their first shrine visit of the year at Atsuta Jingu in the first three days of January, with long queues and food stalls. Many restaurants, shops and museums close for the holiday. Source ↗

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

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

Where is Nagoya?

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Nagoya in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Nagoya?
December in Nagoya: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Nagoya on SeasonMap's comfort score (72/100).
What is the weather like in Nagoya in December?
In December, Nagoya averages a daily high of 11.9°C and a low of 3.8°C, with about 47.6 mm of rain over roughly 5.2 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Nagoya in December?
Nagoya has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 47 in December.

Within 300 km: Kyoto's Autumn colour around 10 Nov – 5 Dec, and Nara's Autumn colour around 5 Nov – 5 Dec.