Shikoku in December: 4 places compared
Averages for 1991–2020 from the JMA station in each place. Tap a heading to sort.
| Place (JMA station) | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Wet days | Sun (hours) | Clothes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Takamatsu | 12.1 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 143 | Chilly |
| Matsuyama | 12.6 | 4.8 | 7.5 | 130 | Chilly |
| Kochi | 14.4 | 4.2 | 5.5 | 185 | Chilly |
| Tokushima | 12.5 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 160 | Chilly |
- The most wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) are in Matsuyama (7.5 days), the fewest in Tokushima (5.4 days).
- Precipitation ranges from 46.7 mm in Takamatsu to 83.1 mm in Kochi.
- Kochi gets the most sunshine (185 hours in the month) and Matsuyama the least (130 hours).
Early, mid and late December in Shikoku
Average high and low for each ten days of December (JMA ten-day normals, 1991–2020).
| Place (JMA station) | 1–10 (°C) | 11–20 (°C) | 21–31 (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takamatsu | 13.6low 5.4 | 11.7low 4.1 | 11.1low 3.3 |
| Matsuyama | 14.1low 5.9 | 12.2low 4.6 | 11.6low 3.9 |
| Kochi | 15.8low 5.7 | 14.0low 4.0 | 13.4low 3.2 |
| Tokushima | 14.0low 6.4 | 12.1low 4.9 | 11.5low 4.2 |
In Takamatsu, the average high is 13.6°C in the first ten days of December, 11.7°C in the middle ten and 11.1°C in the last ten.
Every place here is at least 2°C colder by the end of December than at the start.
What to wear in Shikoku in December
How we choose: from the JMA's average high and low for December, by our own rules.
Is Shikoku cold in December?
Yes, it is chilly. Takamatsu, the main city, averages 12.1°C (54°F) by day and 4.3°C (40°F) at night in December. It gets colder still: 21–31 January has highs of 9.2°C.
All 4 places are at the same level in December: Chilly.
| Level | Average high | What to wear | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chilly | 10 to 15°C | A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater. | Takamatsu 12.1°C, Matsuyama 12.6°C, Kochi 14.4°C and Tokushima 12.5°C |
Flowers and autumn colour in Shikoku in December
| Place (JMA station) | What | Average date | Latest year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takamatsu | Maple leaves fall | 4 December | 23 December 2025 |
| Takamatsu | Ginkgo leaves fall | 5 December | 11 December 2025 |
| Matsuyama | Maple leaves turn red | 5 December | 8 December 2025 |
| Matsuyama | Maple leaves fall | 24 December | 26 December 2025 |
| Matsuyama | Ginkgo leaves fall | 2 December | 8 December 2025 |
| Kochi | Maple leaves turn red | 2 December | 10 December 2025 |
| Kochi | Maple leaves fall | 23 December | 28 December 2025 |
| Kochi | Ginkgo leaves fall | 2 December | 8 December 2025 |
| Tokushima | Maple leaves fall | 11 December | 14 December 2025 |
| Tokushima | Ginkgo turns yellow | 8 December | 9 December 2025 |
| Tokushima | Ginkgo leaves fall | 21 December | 19 December 2025 |
The first red maple leaves in Shikoku in an average year is in Kochi on 2 December.
The first yellow ginkgo leaves in Shikoku in an average year is in Tokushima on 8 December.
Dates are for one sample tree at or near the JMA observatory, not for every park in the city.
Holidays and crowds in Shikoku in December
There are no national holidays in December 2026.
- Ehime Prefecture55.0%
- Kagawa Prefecture54.1%
- Tokushima Prefecture46.0%
- Kochi Prefecture42.3%
More on Shikoku and December
Shikoku in other months
- Shikoku in January
- Shikoku in February
- Shikoku in March
- Shikoku in April
- Shikoku in November
- Shikoku by month
Other regions in December
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Shikoku in December?
In December, average highs across 4 places in Shikoku run from 12.1°C (54°F) in Takamatsu to 14.4°C (58°F) in Kochi (JMA, 1991–2020). Takamatsu, the main city, averages 12.1°C by day and 4.3°C at night. Snow is rare on the ground, but snow or sleet falls on 4.1 days in Matsuyama.
What should I wear in Shikoku in December?
Chilly (Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Kochi and Tokushima): A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.
Is Shikoku cold in December?
Yes, it is chilly. Takamatsu, the main city, averages 12.1°C (54°F) by day and 4.3°C (40°F) at night in December. It gets colder still: 21–31 January has highs of 9.2°C.
Is there snow in Shikoku in December?
Not much on the ground. Snow or sleet falls on 4.1 days in Matsuyama in an average December, but no place here has snow lying for 5 days or more (JMA, 1991–2020).
Where is the warmest place in Shikoku in December?
Kochi, with an average high of 14.4°C (58°F). Next are Matsuyama (12.6°C) and Tokushima (12.5°C). The coldest is Takamatsu (12.1°C).
December records in Shikoku
The highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in December at each JMA station, with the date.
| Place (JMA station) | Highest (°C) | Lowest (°C) | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takamatsu | 21.27 December 1992 | −5.327 December 1956 | 1941 |
| Matsuyama | 25.24 December 2018 | −5.828 December 1917 | 1890 |
| Kochi | 23.53 December 1968 | −6.627 December 1917 | 1886 |
| Tokushima | 26.74 December 2018 | −4.331 December 1967 | 1891 |
The hottest December day on record here was 26.7°C (80°F) in Tokushima on 4 December 2018.
The coldest was −6.6°C (20°F) in Kochi on 27 December 1917.
Read more
- Hokkaido Jingu Shrine: Free Entry and Hatsumode 2027 HoursHokkaido Jingu Shrine is free and a 15-minute walk from Maruyama-koen Station. Hatsumod…
- Japan Ski Season 2026-27: 1-Day Lift Tickets From 7,000 YenJapan ski season 2026-27: Sapporo Kokusai opens on 20 November, Niseko and Furano on 28…
- Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2027: Weekends Now ¥3,000Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2027 runs Jan 30 to Feb 23. Entry is ¥1,000 on weekdays but …
- Hakuba Happoone Winter Resort: January Snow Averages 216 cmHakuba Happoone Winter Resort 2026-27: Hakuba averages 216 cm of snowfall in January, a…
Sources for this page
Show all 17
- Normals for 1991–2020: Takamatsu (高松), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Matsuyama (松山), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Kochi (高知), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Tokushima (徳島), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Takamatsu (高松) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Matsuyama (松山) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Kochi (高知) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Tokushima (徳島) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for December: Takamatsu (高松) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for December: Matsuyama (松山) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for December: Kochi (高知) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for December: Tokushima (徳島) (観測史上1〜10位の値)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
- 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)
- Ginkgo leaves turning yellow, 2025–2026 (いちょうの黄葉日)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)