Fukuoka in December: weather, what to wear and events

Fukuoka weather in December

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Fukuoka station (2 m above sea level).

High: 12.6°C (55°F)
Low: 5.8°C (42°F)
Precipitation: 67.5 mm
Wet days: 8.5 days
Sunshine: 112 hours

Highs fall 5.6°C from November and drop another 2.4°C into January.

That is 8.7°C below Fukuoka's yearly average high of 21.3°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Fukuoka is the 2nd warmest in December: 8.9°C cooler than Naha and 0.3°C warmer than Osaka.

Of our 15 places, Fukuoka has the 7th highest precipitation in December: 36.9 mm less than Takayama and 9.6 mm more than Tokyo.

Rain of 1 mm or more falls on 8.5 days, and 10 mm or more on 2.3 days.

Snow or sleet falls on 6.1 days.

The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 12.7 days, and 3.6 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

By the JMA's cloud records, 1.6 days are clear and 11.0 are overcast.

On 15 December 2026 the sun rises at 7:15 and sets at 17:12 in Fukuoka, giving 9 hours 57 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).

Average temperature: 9.1°C (48°F)
Humidity: 63%

Early, mid and late December

Fukuoka in December by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Days	High	Low	Precipitation
1–10 December	14.0°C	7.0°C	26.4 mm
11–20 December	12.2°C	5.7°C	18.4 mm
21–31 December	11.7°C	4.8°C	22.7 mm

By the last ten days of December the average high in Fukuoka is 2.3°C lower than in the first ten.

By ten-day totals, 1–10 December is the wettest (26.4 mm) and 11–20 December the driest (18.4 mm).

What to wear in Fukuoka in December

Chilly: highs around 12.6°C

A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.
A folding umbrella: rain falls on 8.5 days.

Shoes

Shoes with good grip: snow or sleet falls on 6.1 days.

Pack

Folding umbrella

Our clothing rules

Flowers and autumn colour in Fukuoka in December

Autumn leaves (maple)

The JMA's sample maple in Fukuoka turns red around 1 December and has lost most of its leaves by 14 December in an average year (1991–2020). In 2025: 1 December.

Ginkgo turns yellow

The JMA's sample ginkgo in Fukuoka turns yellow around 20 November and has lost most of its leaves by 4 December in an average year (1991–2020). In 2025: 6 December.

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

Fukuoka autumn leaves: every year since 2016

December records in Fukuoka

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

Hottest December day: 26.0°C (79°F) on 4 December 2018 (records since 1890)
Coldest December night: −5.4°C (22°F) on 28 December 1917 (records since 1890)
Wettest December day: 79.0 mm on 4 December 2004 (records since 1890)
Deepest December snow: 30 cm on 30 December 1917 (records since 1894)
Most snow in one December day: 5 cm on 28 December 1967 (records since 1953)

Holidays and crowds in December

There are no national holidays in December 2026.

In December 2025, hotels and inns across Fukuoka Prefecture were 71.1% full on average (8th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 785,500 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 77.8% in November and 67.8% in January.

What's on in Fukuoka in December

Events in Fukuoka in December: dates from each organizer's official page
Event	When	Where and what
teamLab Fukuoka Castle Ruins: Festival of Light (one-time run)チームラボ福岡城跡光ノ祭	30 October 2026 to 11 January 2027 (not held every year)	Fukuoka Castle ruins, Maizuru Park, Chuo Ward. A night outdoor art exhibition by teamLab at the Fukuoka Castle ruins. It is the third time teamLab has held it there and the first in seven years. A ticket is required. Hours are 18:30 to 22:00 until 6 November, 18:15 to 22:00 from 7 November to 31 December, and 18:30 to 22:00 from 1 to 11 January, with last entry at 21:30. Weekends, holidays and 29 to 31 December require a reservation for a set date and time. Official page

Fukuoka before and after December

Fukuoka: November, December and January (JMA, 1991–2020)
Month	High	Low	Precipitation	Wet days
November	18.2°C (+5.6°C)	10.6°C (+4.8°C)	91.4 mm (+23.9 mm)	8.5 days (same)
December	12.6°C	5.8°C	67.5 mm	8.5 days
January	10.2°C (−2.4°C)	3.9°C (−1.9°C)	74.4 mm (+6.9 mm)	9.3 days (+0.8 days)

Other places in December

December: Fukuoka against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
Place	High	Against Fukuoka	Wet days	Against Fukuoka
Tokyo	12.0°C	−0.6°C	5.2 days	−3.3 days
Kyoto	11.6°C	−1.0°C	6.6 days	−1.9 days
Osaka	12.3°C	−0.3°C	6.1 days	−2.4 days
Sapporo	2.0°C	−10.6°C	16.0 days	+7.5 days
OkinawaNaha	21.5°C	+8.9°C	9.3 days	+0.8 days

All 15 places in December

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Fukuoka in December?

The average high is 12.6°C (55°F) and the average low 5.8°C (42°F). 67.5 mm of rain falls on about 8.5 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Fukuoka in December?

A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater. A folding umbrella: rain falls on 8.5 days.

Does it snow in Fukuoka in December?

Sometimes. Snow or sleet falls on 6.1 days in an average December, but snow rarely stays on the ground (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is Fukuoka busy in December?

In December 2025, hotels and inns across Fukuoka Prefecture were 71.1% full on average (8th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 785,500 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for December in Fukuoka?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Fukuoka in December is 26.0°C (79°F), on 4 December 2018. The lowest is −5.4°C (22°F), on 28 December 1917.

What events are on in Fukuoka in December?

teamLab Fukuoka Castle Ruins: Festival of Light (one-time run): 30 October 2026 to 11 January 2027 (not held every year).

When do the leaves turn red in Fukuoka?