Hiroshima in December: weather, what to wear and events

Hiroshima weather in December

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Hiroshima station (4 m above sea level).

High: 12.1°C (54°F)
Low: 4.0°C (39°F)
Precipitation: 54.0 mm
Wet days: 5.7 days
Sunshine: 141 hours
Snow on ground: 0.7 days

Highs fall 5.6°C from November and drop another 2.2°C into January.

That is 9.0°C below Hiroshima's yearly average high of 21.1°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Hiroshima is the 4th warmest in December: 0.2°C cooler than Osaka and 0.1°C warmer than Tokyo.

December is Hiroshima's 2nd driest month (54.0 mm).

Of our 15 places, Hiroshima has the 3rd lowest precipitation in December: 1.5 mm less than Osaka and 4.2 mm more than Kawaguchiko.

Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 5.7 days, and 10 mm or more on 2.1 days.

The temperature drops below 0°C on 1.5 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 18.1 days, and 2.7 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

By the JMA's cloud records, 2.1 days are clear and 8.3 are overcast.

On 15 December 2026 the sun rises at 7:09 and sets at 17:01 in Hiroshima, giving 9 hours 52 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).

Average temperature: 7.5°C (46°F)
Humidity: 68%
Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest): 2 cm

Early, mid and late December

Hiroshima in December by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Days	High	Low	Precipitation
1–10 December	13.6°C	5.2°C	22.5 mm
11–20 December	11.7°C	3.9°C	14.5 mm
21–31 December	11.1°C	3.0°C	17.0 mm

By the last ten days of December the average high in Hiroshima is 2.5°C lower than in the first ten.

By ten-day totals, 1–10 December is the wettest (22.5 mm) and 11–20 December the driest (14.5 mm).

What to wear in Hiroshima in December

Chilly: highs around 12.1°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 1.5 nights.
A folding umbrella: rain or snow falls on 5.7 days.

Shoes

Shoes with good grip: snow or sleet falls on 7.6 days.

Pack

Folding umbrella
Gloves and a warm hat

Our clothing rules

Flowers and autumn colour in Hiroshima in December

Autumn leaves (maple)

The JMA's sample maple in Hiroshima turns red around 22 November and has lost most of its leaves by 9 December in an average year (1991–2020). In 2025: 27 November.

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

Hiroshima autumn leaves: every year since 2016

December records in Hiroshima

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

Hottest December day: 22.3°C (72°F) on 6 December 1890 (records since 1879)
Coldest December night: −8.6°C (17°F) on 28 December 1917 (records since 1879)
Wettest December day: 83.5 mm on 4 December 2004 (records since 1879)
Deepest December snow: 17 cm on 18 December 2005 (records since 1883)
Most snow in one December day: 12 cm on 18 December 2005 (records since 1953)

Holidays and crowds in December

There are no national holidays in December 2026.

In December 2025, hotels and inns across Hiroshima Prefecture were 60.6% full on average (9th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 144,510 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 72.3% in November and 51.9% in January.

What's on in Hiroshima in December

Events in Hiroshima in December: dates from each organizer's official page
Event	When	Where and what
Hiroshima Dreaminationひろしまドリミネーション	Early December to late January (4 December 2026 to 24 January 2027)	Peace Boulevard and other parts of central Hiroshima. A winter illumination event in central Hiroshima, lit from 17:30 to 22:30. On the first day the lights come on at around 18:00 because of the opening ceremony. Official page

Hiroshima before and after December

Hiroshima: November, December and January (JMA, 1991–2020)
Month	High	Low	Precipitation	Wet days
November	17.7°C (+5.6°C)	8.9°C (+4.9°C)	69.3 mm (+15.3 mm)	6.1 days (+0.4 days)
December	12.1°C	4.0°C	54.0 mm	5.7 days
January	9.9°C (−2.2°C)	2.0°C (−2.0°C)	46.2 mm (−7.8 mm)	5.5 days (−0.2 days)

Other places in December

December: Hiroshima against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
Place	High	Against Hiroshima	Wet days	Against Hiroshima
Tokyo	12.0°C	−0.1°C	5.2 days	−0.5 days
Kyoto	11.6°C	−0.5°C	6.6 days	+0.9 days
Osaka	12.3°C	+0.2°C	6.1 days	+0.4 days
Sapporo	2.0°C	−10.1°C	16.0 days	+10.3 days
OkinawaNaha	21.5°C	+9.4°C	9.3 days	+3.6 days

All 15 places in December

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Hiroshima in December?

The average high is 12.1°C (54°F) and the average low 4.0°C (39°F). 54.0 mm of rain or snow falls on about 5.7 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Hiroshima 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 1.5 nights. A folding umbrella: rain or snow falls on 5.7 days.

Does it snow in Hiroshima in December?

Sometimes. Snow or sleet falls on 7.6 days in an average December, but snow rarely stays on the ground (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is Hiroshima busy in December?

In December 2025, hotels and inns across Hiroshima Prefecture were 60.6% full on average (9th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 144,510 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for December in Hiroshima?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Hiroshima in December is 22.3°C (72°F), on 6 December 1890. The lowest is −8.6°C (17°F), on 28 December 1917.

What events are on in Hiroshima in December?

Hiroshima Dreamination: Early December to late January (4 December 2026 to 24 January 2027).

When do the leaves turn red in Hiroshima?