SeasonMapNozawa Onsen (Nozawa) weather in December
Japan
December in Nozawa Onsen: cold, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 23 rainy days.
#3 of 12 months in Nozawa Onsen · #451 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 80/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Nozawa Onsen in December
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Nozawa Onsen climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 5°C / 41°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -3°C / 26°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 2°C / 36°F | |
| Rainfall | 230 mm / 9.1 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 23 days | |
| Humidity | 87% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -1°C / 30°F | |
| Sunshine | 6.5 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | |
| Wind | 11 km/h / 7 mph | |
| Snowfall | 103.1 cm / 40.6 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 33 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Nozawa Onsen 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 crowdsNew Year in the village, Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Nozawa Onsen'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).
Best weatherNozawa Onsen's weather peaks December–February.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Nozawa Onsen in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Ski season
28 Nov – 5 May · usuallyOne long mountain above a working hot-spring village, usually open from the end of November to early May. The top runs hold snow well after the base has gone.
- Holiday
New Year in the village
28 Dec – 3 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyThe Japanese holiday week fills every inn in the old village. The thirteen free public baths are busiest at this time of year and the etiquette is not optional. Source ↗
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk23 rainy days and about 230 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.
from the climate normals
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 103 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Nozawa Onsen — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Nozawa Onsen?
Nozawa Onsen in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Nozawa Onsen?
- December in Nozawa Onsen: cold, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 23 rainy days. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Nozawa Onsen on SeasonMap's comfort score (80/100).
- What is the weather like in Nozawa Onsen in December?
- In December, Nozawa Onsen averages a daily high of 5.2°C and a low of -3.1°C, with about 229.9 mm of rain over roughly 23 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Nozawa Onsen in December?
- Nozawa Onsen has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in December.
- Does it snow in Nozawa Onsen in December?
- Nozawa Onsen sees roughly 103.1 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Nozawa Onsen
Compare Nozawa Onsen in December
Warmer or cooler than Nozawa Onsen in December
Similar destinations in East Asia — December
Within 300 km: Karuizawa's First lifts in Japan on 1 Nov – 31 Mar, and Tokyo's Autumn colour around 15 Nov – 10 Dec.