Mount Fuji in December: weather, what to wear and what's on
Kawaguchiko is the lake town at the northern foot of Mount Fuji, and the JMA's station there stands 860 m above sea level. In December, Kawaguchiko averages a high of 8.5°C (47°F) and a low of −2.9°C (27°F), with 49.8 mm of rain or snow on about 4.6 days (JMA, 1991–2020). It is Kawaguchiko's driest month.
Cold
Mount Fuji weather in December
Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Kawaguchiko station (860 m above sea level).
- High
- 8.5°C (47°F)
- Low
- −2.9°C (27°F)
- Precipitation
- 49.8 mm
- Wet days
- 4.6 days
- Sunshine
- 200 hours
- Snow on ground
- 2.6 days
Highs fall 5.3°C from November and drop another 3.0°C into January.
That is 8.3°C below Kawaguchiko's yearly average high of 16.8°C.
Of our 14 places with temperature records, Kawaguchiko is the 5th coldest in December: 1.7°C cooler than Kanazawa and level with Nikko.
Of our 15 places, Kawaguchiko has the 2nd lowest precipitation in December: 4.2 mm less than Hiroshima and 4.5 mm more than Nikko.
Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 4.6 days, and 10 mm or more on 1.7 days.
The temperature drops below 0°C on 25.9 nights.
7 cm of snow falls in an average December; snow lies on the ground on 2.6 days.
The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 24.0 days, and 2.2 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.
On the summit of Mt Fuji (3,775 m), the average high is −12.2°C (10°F) and the low −18.3°C (−1°F).
- Average temperature
- 2.3°C (36°F)
- Humidity
- 66%
- Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest)
- 6 cm
Early, mid and late December
| Days | High | Low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 December | 10.0°C | −1.3°C | 18.6 mm |
| 11–20 December | 8.4°C | −3.0°C | 12.0 mm |
| 21–31 December | 7.2°C | −4.3°C | 19.2 mm |
By the last ten days of December the average high in Kawaguchiko is 2.8°C lower than in the first ten.
By ten-day totals, 21–31 December is the wettest (19.2 mm) and 11–20 December the driest (12.0 mm).
What to wear at Mount Fuji in December
Cold: highs around 8.5°C
This is for Kawaguchiko (860 m above sea level).
- A winter coat over layers, and a scarf.
- Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 25.9 nights.
- Rain or snow is less common (on 4.6 days); a compact umbrella is enough.
Shoes
- Shoes with good grip: snow or sleet falls on 5.1 days.
Pack
- Compact umbrella
- Gloves and a warm hat
- Scarf
December records at Mount Fuji
The extremes the JMA has measured in December at its Kawaguchiko station.
- Hottest December day
- 21.2°C (70°F) on 4 December 2018 (records since 1933)
- Coldest December night
- −15.5°C (4°F) on 30 December 1976 (records since 1933)
- Wettest December day
- 107.0 mm on 26 December 2006 (records since 1933)
- Deepest December snow
- 52 cm on 29 December 1934 (records since 1933)
- Most snow in one December day
- 30 cm on 19 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 Yamanashi Prefecture were 37.7% full on average (10th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 214,820 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 45.6% in November and 33.0% in January.
What's on at Mount Fuji in December
| Event | When | Where and what |
|---|---|---|
| Mt. Fuji International Marathon富士山マラソン | Two days in mid-December (12 and 13 December in 2026) | Around Lake Kawaguchi, Fujikawaguchiko Town. The 15th Mt. Fuji International Marathon, held over two days from 2026. The races are the full marathon, the 17 km Around Kawaguchiko run, the 10.5 km charity fun run, and the new Fuji View Run (4 km and 8 km) and Fuji View Walk. The organizer's traffic regulation page says that the roads around Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Saiko used by the course are closed to vehicles, with times differing by area; pedestrians may pass but should take care when crossing. Official page |
Mount Fuji before and after December
Other places in December
| Place | High | Against Kawaguchiko | Wet days | Against Kawaguchiko |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 12.0°C | +3.5°C | 5.2 days | +0.6 days |
| Kyoto | 11.6°C | +3.1°C | 6.6 days | +2.0 days |
| Osaka | 12.3°C | +3.8°C | 6.1 days | +1.5 days |
| Sapporo | 2.0°C | −6.5°C | 16.0 days | +11.4 days |
| OkinawaNaha | 21.5°C | +13.0°C | 9.3 days | +4.7 days |
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like at Mount Fuji in December?
The average high is 8.5°C (47°F) and the average low −2.9°C (27°F). 49.8 mm of rain or snow falls on about 4.6 days (JMA, 1991–2020).
What should I wear at Mount Fuji in December?
A winter coat over layers, and a scarf. Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 25.9 nights. Rain or snow is less common (on 4.6 days); a compact umbrella is enough.
Does it snow at Mount Fuji in December?
Yes. 7 cm of snow falls in an average December, and snow lies on the ground on 2.6 days (JMA, 1991–2020).
Is Mount Fuji busy in December?
In December 2025, hotels and inns across Yamanashi Prefecture were 37.7% full on average (10th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 214,820 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).
What are the record temperatures for December at Mount Fuji?
The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Kawaguchiko in December is 21.2°C (70°F), on 4 December 2018. The lowest is −15.5°C (4°F), on 30 December 1976.
What events are on at Mount Fuji in December?
Mt. Fuji International Marathon: Two days in mid-December (12 and 13 December in 2026).
Related items
Sources for this page
- Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Normals for 1991–2020: Kawaguchiko (河口湖), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Normals for 1991–2020: Kawaguchiko (河口湖), rain days, temperature days and snow (詳細)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Normals for 1991–2020: Mt Fuji summit (富士山), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Kawaguchiko (河口湖) (平年値 旬ごとの値)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Records for December: Kawaguchiko (河口湖) (観測史上1〜10位の値)checked October 2, 2026
- Cabinet Office National holidays (国民の祝日について)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Tourism Agency Overnight Travel Statistics Survey, 2025 final figures (宿泊旅行統計調査 2025年 年の確定値)checked October 2, 2026
- Mt. Fuji International Marathon organizers (Nikkan Sports Holdings, Fujikawaguchiko Town and others) Mt. Fuji International Marathon (富士山マラソン)checked October 2, 2026
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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026