Niigata weather in December
Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Niigata station (4 m above sea level).
- High
- 8.7°C (48°F)
- Low
- 2.4°C (36°F)
- Precipitation
- 225.9 mm
- Wet days
- 21.5 days
- Sunshine
- 63 hours
- Snow on ground
- 6.0 days
- Highs fall 5.6°C from November and drop another 3.4°C into January.
- That is 9.1°C below Niigata's yearly average high of 17.8°C.
- Of our 34 places with temperature records, Niigata is the 13th coldest in December: 0.8°C cooler than Toyama and 0.2°C warmer than Kawaguchiko.
- Of our 35 places, Niigata has the 5th highest precipitation in December: 55.7 mm less than Toyama and 70.7 mm more than Ishigaki.
- Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 21.5 days, and 10 mm or more on 8.5 days.
- Rain or snow of 30 mm or more in one day falls on 1.2 days.
- The temperature drops below 0°C on 4.1 nights.
- 19 cm of snow falls in an average December; snow lies on the ground on 6.0 days.
- The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 5.8 days, and 7.8 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.
- By the JMA's cloud records, 0.2 days are clear and 22.2 are overcast.
- On 15 December 2026 the sun rises at 6:52 and sets at 16:26 in Niigata, giving 9 hours 34 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).
- Average temperature
- 5.3°C (42°F)
- Humidity
- 74%
- Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest)
- 8 cm
Early, mid and late December
| Days | High | Low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 December | 10.2°C | 3.6°C | 81.8 mm |
| 11–20 December | 8.4°C | 2.2°C | 78.9 mm |
| 21–31 December | 7.6°C | 1.4°C | 65.2 mm |
By the last ten days of December the average high in Niigata is 2.6°C lower than in the first ten.
By ten-day totals, 1–10 December is the wettest (81.8 mm) and 21–31 December the driest (65.2 mm).
What to wear in Niigata in December
Is Niigata cold in December?
Yes, it is cold. Niigata averages 8.7°C (48°F) by day and 2.4°C (36°F) at night in December. It gets colder still: 21–31 January has highs of 4.9°C.
- A winter coat over layers, and a scarf.
- Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 4.1 nights.
- A waterproof jacket with a hood: rain or snow falls on 21.5 days.
Shoes
- Waterproof boots with good grip: snow lies on the ground on 6.0 days (deepest 8 cm on average).
Pack
- Waterproof jacket with a hood
- Gloves and a warm hat
- Scarf
- Waterproof boots with grip
Holidays and crowds in December
There are no national holidays in December 2026.
In December 2025, hotels and inns across Niigata Prefecture were 42.3% full on average (10th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 95,810 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 48.0% in November and 41.7% in January.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Niigata in December?
The average high is 8.7°C (48°F) and the average low 2.4°C (36°F). 225.9 mm of rain or snow falls on about 21.5 days (JMA, 1991–2020).
What should I wear in Niigata 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 4.1 nights. A waterproof jacket with a hood: rain or snow falls on 21.5 days.
Is Niigata cold in December?
Yes, it is cold. Niigata averages 8.7°C (48°F) by day and 2.4°C (36°F) at night in December. It gets colder still: 21–31 January has highs of 4.9°C.
Does it snow in Niigata in December?
Yes. 19 cm of snow falls in an average December, and snow lies on the ground on 6.0 days (JMA, 1991–2020).
Is Niigata busy in December?
In December 2025, hotels and inns across Niigata Prefecture were 42.3% full on average (10th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 95,810 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).
What are the record temperatures for December in Niigata?
The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Niigata in December is 23.6°C (74°F), on 17 December 1929. The lowest is −9.5°C (15°F), on 31 December 1969.
What events are on in Niigata in December?
Toki Messe Winter Illumination: Late November to 25 December (2025: 27 November to 25 December, 16:00-22:00; 2026 dates not yet published on the page).
December records in Niigata
The extremes the JMA has measured in December at its Niigata station.
- Hottest December day
- 23.6°C (74°F) on 17 December 1929 (records since 1881)
- Coldest December night
- −9.5°C (15°F) on 31 December 1969 (records since 1881)
- Wettest December day
- 77.9 mm on 23 December 1962 (records since 1881)
- Deepest December snow
- 79 cm on 31 December 1960 (records since 1890)
- Most snow in one December day
- 52 cm on 30 December 1960 (records since 1953)
What's on in Niigata in December
| Event | When | Where and what |
|---|---|---|
| Toki Messe Winter Illumination朱鷺メッセ ウィンターイルミネーション | Late November to 25 December (2025: 27 November to 25 December, 16:00-22:00; 2026 dates not yet published on the page) | Toki Messe 2F atrium and Esplanade, Chuo Ward, Niigata. Blue illumination in the atrium. A 7 m Christmas tree appears from 18 December (2025). Official page |
Niigata before and after December
Other places in December
| Place | High | Against Niigata | Wet days | Against Niigata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NasuNasu Kogen | 5.1°C | −3.6°C | 9.1 days | −12.4 days |
| NikkoImaichi | 8.5°C | −0.2°C | 4.8 days | −16.7 days |
| Kusatsu Onsen | 2.9°C | −5.8°C | 10.9 days | −10.6 days |
| Nagano | 6.9°C | −1.8°C | 8.9 days | −12.6 days |
| Sendai | 8.3°C | −0.4°C | 5.6 days | −15.9 days |
Read more
Sources for this page
- Normals for 1991–2020: Niigata (新潟), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Niigata (新潟), rain days, temperature days and snow (詳細)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Niigata (新潟) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for December: Niigata (新潟) (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)
- 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
- Toki Messe Winter Illumination (朱鷺メッセ ウィンターイルミネーション)Niigata Prefecture tourism information site (Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association)