Kobe weather in December
Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Kobe station (5 m above sea level).
- High
- 12.0°C (54°F)
- Low
- 5.7°C (42°F)
- Precipitation
- 48.7 mm
- Wet days
- 5.7 days
- Sunshine
- 153 hours
- Highs fall 5.5°C from November and drop another 2.6°C into January.
- That is 8.5°C below Kobe's yearly average high of 20.5°C.
- Of our 34 places with temperature records, Kobe is the 14th warmest in December: level with Tokyo and 0.1°C warmer than Ise.
- December is Kobe's 2nd driest month (48.7 mm).
- Of our 35 places, Kobe has the 4th lowest precipitation in December: 0.7 mm less than Nagano and 3.4 mm more than Nikko.
- Rain of 1 mm or more falls on 5.7 days, and 10 mm or more on 1.6 days.
- Snow or sleet falls on 4.1 days.
- The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 20.1 days, and 2.5 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.
- On 15 December 2026 the sun rises at 6:59 and sets at 16:50 in Kobe, giving 9 hours 51 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).
- Average temperature
- 8.8°C (48°F)
- Humidity
- 62%
Early, mid and late December
| Days | High | Low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 December | 13.6°C | 7.1°C | 17.9 mm |
| 11–20 December | 11.7°C | 5.5°C | 15.1 mm |
| 21–31 December | 10.9°C | 4.6°C | 15.7 mm |
By the last ten days of December the average high in Kobe is 2.7°C lower than in the first ten.
What to wear in Kobe in December
Is Kobe cold in December?
Yes, it is chilly. Kobe averages 12.0°C (54°F) by day and 5.7°C (42°F) at night in December. It gets colder still: 21–31 January has highs of 8.9°C.
- A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.
- A folding umbrella: rain falls on 5.7 days.
Shoes
- Shoes with good grip: snow or sleet falls on 4.1 days.
Pack
- Folding umbrella
Flowers and autumn colour in Kobe in December
Autumn leaves (maple)
The JMA's sample maple in Kobe turns red around 1 December and has lost most of its leaves by 16 December in an average year (1991–2020). In 2025: 26 November.
Dates are for one sample tree at or near the JMA observatory, not for every park in the city.
Holidays and crowds in December
There are no national holidays in December 2026.
In December 2025, hotels and inns across Hyogo Prefecture were 60.3% full on average (7th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 166,410 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 66.6% in November and 52.9% in January.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Kobe in December?
The average high is 12.0°C (54°F) and the average low 5.7°C (42°F). 48.7 mm of rain falls on about 5.7 days (JMA, 1991–2020).
What should I wear in Kobe in December?
A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater. A folding umbrella: rain falls on 5.7 days.
Is Kobe cold in December?
Yes, it is chilly. Kobe averages 12.0°C (54°F) by day and 5.7°C (42°F) at night in December. It gets colder still: 21–31 January has highs of 8.9°C.
Does it snow in Kobe in December?
Sometimes. Snow or sleet falls on 4.1 days in an average December, but snow rarely stays on the ground (JMA, 1991–2020).
Is Kobe busy in December?
In December 2025, hotels and inns across Hyogo Prefecture were 60.3% full on average (7th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 166,410 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).
What are the record temperatures for December in Kobe?
The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Kobe in December is 23.7°C (75°F), on 5 December 2004. The lowest is −4.3°C (24°F), on 20 December 1947.
What events are on in Kobe in December?
Momiji Viewing and Lumiere 2026, Suma Rikyu Park: Early November to early December. Kobe Meriken Christmas: Late December, six days (20-25 December in 2025).
When do the leaves turn red in Kobe?
The JMA's sample maple in Kobe turns red around 1 December and has lost most of its leaves by 16 December in an average year (1991–2020). In 2025: 26 November.
December records in Kobe
The extremes the JMA has measured in December at its Kobe station.
- Hottest December day
- 23.7°C (75°F) on 5 December 2004 (records since 1896)
- Coldest December night
- −4.3°C (24°F) on 20 December 1947 (records since 1896); also on 29 December 1901
- Wettest December day
- 60.0 mm on 11 December 2015 (records since 1896)
- Deepest December snow
- 9 cm on 28 December 1916 (records since 1897)
- Most snow in one December day
- 2 cm on 22 December 2005 (records since 1953)
What's on in Kobe in December
| Event | When | Where and what |
|---|---|---|
| Momiji Viewing and Lumiere 2026, Suma Rikyu Parkもみじ観賞会＆ルミエール2026（須磨離宮公園） | Early November to early December. 7 November – 6 December 2026. | Suma Rikyu Park: maple path and Japanese garden in the botanical garden area, and the fountain square in the main garden area. Maple viewing in the botanical garden area and a lighting display (Lumiere) in the main garden area. Open 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30). Open until 20:00 (last entry 19:30) on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; also open on Thursday 19 and 26 November. Official page |
| Kobe Meriken Christmas神戸メリケンクリスマス | Late December, six days (20-25 December in 2025) | Meriken Park. A Christmas event at Meriken Park with a drone show twice a day, a food market with kitchen cars, street performances and special lighting of Kobe Port Tower. The 2025 edition ran 20-25 December, 16:00-21:00; 2026 dates not yet published. Official page |
Kobe before and after December
Other places in December
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Sources for this page
- Normals for 1991–2020: Kobe (神戸), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Kobe (神戸), rain days, temperature days and snow (詳細)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Kobe (神戸) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for December: Kobe (神戸) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Sunrise and sunset by prefectural capital (各地のこよみ)National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)
- Maple leaves turning red, 2025–2026 (かえでの紅葉日)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Yearly records of flowering and leaf colour since 1953 (生物季節観測累年値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- National holidays (国民の祝日について)Cabinet Office
- Overnight Travel Statistics Survey, 2025 final figures (宿泊旅行統計調査 2025年 年の確定値)Japan Tourism Agency
- Momiji Viewing and Lumiere 2026, Suma Rikyu Park (もみじ観賞会＆ルミエール2026（須磨離宮公園）)Kobe Municipal Parks and Greenery Association
- Kobe Meriken Christmas (神戸メリケンクリスマス)Feel KOBE (Kobe Tourism Bureau)