Kyoto in December: weather, what to wear and events

Kyoto weather in December

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Kyoto station (41 m above sea level).

High: 11.6°C (53°F)
Low: 3.5°C (38°F)
Precipitation: 57.3 mm
Wet days: 6.6 days
Sunshine: 134 hours
Snow on ground: 0.7 days

Highs fall 5.7°C from November and drop another 2.5°C into January.

That is 9.5°C below Kyoto's yearly average high of 21.1°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Kyoto is the 7th warmest in December: 0.1°C cooler than Nagoya and level with Nara.

December is Kyoto's 2nd driest month (57.3 mm).

Of our 15 places, Kyoto has the 7th lowest precipitation in December: 0.6 mm less than Tokyo and 0.5 mm more than Nara.

Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 6.6 days, and 10 mm or more on 1.8 days.

The temperature drops below 0°C on 2.2 nights.

2 cm of snow falls in an average December; snow lies on the ground on 0.7 days.

The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 17.3 days, and 2.9 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

On 15 December 2026 the sun rises at 6:57 and sets at 16:47 in Kyoto, giving 9 hours 50 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).

Average temperature: 7.2°C (45°F)
Humidity: 68%
Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest): 2 cm

Early, mid and late December

Kyoto in December by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Days	High	Low	Precipitation
1–10 December	13.3°C	4.7°C	18.8 mm
11–20 December	11.2°C	3.3°C	15.7 mm
21–31 December	10.4°C	2.6°C	22.9 mm

By the last ten days of December the average high in Kyoto is 2.9°C lower than in the first ten.

By ten-day totals, 21–31 December is the wettest (22.9 mm) and 11–20 December the driest (15.7 mm).

What to wear in Kyoto in December

Chilly: highs around 11.6°C

A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.
Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 2.2 nights.
A folding umbrella: rain or snow falls on 6.6 days.

Shoes

Shoes with good grip: snow or sleet falls on 6.9 days.

Pack

Folding umbrella
Gloves and a warm hat

Our clothing rules

Flowers and autumn colour in Kyoto in December

Autumn leaves (maple)

The JMA's sample maple in Kyoto turns red around 5 December and has lost most of its leaves by 18 December in an average year (1991–2020). In 2025: 10 December.

Ginkgo turns yellow

The JMA's sample ginkgo in Kyoto turns yellow around 24 November and has lost most of its leaves by 4 December in an average year (1991–2020). In 2025: 25 November.

Dates are for one sample tree at or near the JMA observatory, not for every park in the city.

Kyoto autumn leaves: every year since 2016

December records in Kyoto

The extremes the JMA has measured in December at its Kyoto station.

Hottest December day: 22.8°C (73°F) on 4 December 1890 (records since 1880)
Coldest December night: −9.4°C (15°F) on 27 December 1917 (records since 1880)
Wettest December day: 53.9 mm on 13 December 1890 (records since 1880)
Deepest December snow: 22 cm on 28 December 1916 (records since 1886)
Most snow in one December day: 13 cm on 25 December 1995 (records since 1953)

Holidays and crowds in December

There are no national holidays in December 2026.

In December 2025, hotels and inns across Kyoto Prefecture were 67.0% full on average (6th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 1.37 million nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 74.3% in November and 52.8% in January.

What's on in Kyoto in December

Events in Kyoto in December: dates from each organizer's official page
Event	When	Where and what
Okera Mairi at Yasaka Shrineをけら詣り（八坂神社）	From about 19:30 on 31 December until about 5:00 on 1 January	Yasaka Shrine, Gion, Kyoto. After the New Year's Eve service (Joya-sai), the sacred fire is placed in lanterns hung in the grounds and burned through the night together with 'okera' wood bearing worshippers' prayers. Visitors carry the flame home on a rope. A limited rope for carrying the flame (kake-hinawa) is offered for 1,000 yen. Official page

Kyoto before and after December

Kyoto: November, December and January (JMA, 1991–2020)
Month	High	Low	Precipitation	Wet days
November	17.3°C (+5.7°C)	8.4°C (+4.9°C)	73.9 mm (+16.6 mm)	6.3 days (−0.3 days)
December	11.6°C	3.5°C	57.3 mm	6.6 days
January	9.1°C (−2.5°C)	1.5°C (−2.0°C)	53.3 mm (−4.0 mm)	6.4 days (−0.2 days)

Other places in December

December: Kyoto against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
Place	High	Against Kyoto	Wet days	Against Kyoto
Tokyo	12.0°C	+0.4°C	5.2 days	−1.4 days
Osaka	12.3°C	+0.7°C	6.1 days	−0.5 days
Sapporo	2.0°C	−9.6°C	16.0 days	+9.4 days
OkinawaNaha	21.5°C	+9.9°C	9.3 days	+2.7 days
Fukuoka	12.6°C	+1.0°C	8.5 days	+1.9 days

All 15 places in December

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Kyoto in December?

The average high is 11.6°C (53°F) and the average low 3.5°C (38°F). 57.3 mm of rain or snow falls on about 6.6 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Kyoto in December?

A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater. Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 2.2 nights. A folding umbrella: rain or snow falls on 6.6 days.

Does it snow in Kyoto in December?

Sometimes. Snow or sleet falls on 6.9 days in an average December, but snow rarely stays on the ground (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is Kyoto busy in December?

In December 2025, hotels and inns across Kyoto Prefecture were 67.0% full on average (6th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 1.37 million nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for December in Kyoto?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Kyoto in December is 22.8°C (73°F), on 4 December 1890. The lowest is −9.4°C (15°F), on 27 December 1917.

What events are on in Kyoto in December?

Okera Mairi at Yasaka Shrine: From about 19:30 on 31 December until about 5:00 on 1 January.

When do the leaves turn red in Kyoto?