Monthly climate guide
Kyoto weather in December
Expect cool weather in Kyoto in December: afternoons reach about 9°C (48°F), while nights drop to around 1°C (34°F). Around 106 mm of rain falls over the month (wet), and skies are often cloudy. Daytime highs are 6°C cooler than November and 3°C warmer than January.
What stands out in December
- Just 60 km apart, but Kyoto runs about 2°C cooler than Kobe this month.
- Check the hourly forecast before heading to Fushimi Inari Shrine — showers are likely.
- In Kyoto, December is early winter.
- Only 2 months are cooler in Kyoto than December.
Avg high
9°C
48°F
Avg low
1°C
34°F
Rainfall
106 mm
wet
Humidity
84%
relative
Sky
80%
cloud · often cloudy
Kyoto weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C / 43°F | -1°C / 31°F | 91 mm | 84% | 83% |
| February | 7°C / 45°F | -1°C / 31°F | 85 mm | 82% | 80% |
| March | 12°C / 53°F | 2°C / 35°F | 104 mm | 80% | 71% |
| April | 17°C / 62°F | 6°C / 43°F | 129 mm | 79% | 67% |
| May | 22°C / 72°F | 12°C / 53°F | 132 mm | 79% | 66% |
| June | 25°C / 77°F | 17°C / 62°F | 193 mm | 84% | 80% |
| July | 29°C / 84°F | 22°C / 71°F | 226 mm | 85% | 77% |
| August | 30°C / 86°F | 23°C / 73°F | 163 mm | 84% | 66% |
| September | 26°C / 79°F | 19°C / 65°F | 227 mm | 84% | 73% |
| October | 21°C / 69°F | 12°C / 54°F | 174 mm | 83% | 67% |
| November | 15°C / 59°F | 7°C / 44°F | 85 mm | 84% | 70% |
| December | 9°C / 48°F | 1°C / 34°F | 106 mm | 84% | 80% |
What to pack for December
- A proper insulated winter coat
- A hat, scarf and gloves
- A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Water-resistant shoes
Is December a good time to visit Kyoto?
Our Kyoto guide recommends: March to April for cherry blossoms or November for autumn foliage — both are peak season, so book well ahead.
Visit the most famous sites (Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji) at opening time — both get extremely crowded by mid-morning.
Best time to visit Kyoto →Other Japan cities in December
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Kyoto weather in December. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/japan/kyoto/december
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/japan/kyoto/december">Kyoto weather in December</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/japan/kyoto" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Kyoto weather in December"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/japan/kyoto/december">Kyoto weather in December</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Kyoto in December: quick answers
Is December a good time to visit Kyoto?
December is cool in Kyoto, with highs around 9°C. Better for museums and city walks than the beach, and usually quieter.
How warm is Kyoto in December?
Average highs are about 9°C (48°F) and average lows about 1°C (34°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Kyoto in December?
Kyoto typically gets around 106 mm of rain in December — wet.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
March to April for cherry blossoms or November for autumn foliage — both are peak season, so book well ahead.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Kyoto (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.