Month guide · Fukuoka · Japan
Fukuoka in December
What December is really like in Fukuoka: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jojimuke, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 5°C (41°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 9.9 hours of daylight. Cool and festive, with illuminations at Hakata Station and hotpot season in full swing.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 5°C (41°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 9.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Fukuoka: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 5°C (41°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with November (18°C (64°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 10°C (50°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:16
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:12
- Daylight
- About 9.9 hours
- Sea
- 16°C (61°F)
Winter (December–February). Cool, sometimes grey days, illuminations, hotpots and plum blossom at Dazaifu in February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in April). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Hakata Station illuminations (usually mid-November to December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Beach · Momochi
Momochi Seaside Park
An artificial sandy beach in front of Fukuoka Tower, with the wedding-chapel-style Marizon complex on a pier, a boardwalk and sunset views over Hakata Bay.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Views
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Experience · Nakasu
Yatai food stalls
Go early in the evening to get seats, order a drink plus one or two dishes per stall, and move on to try several.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
Religious site · Gion and Hakata Old Town
Kushida Shrine
Hakata's guardian shrine, founded in the 8th century, is the home of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Iconic
Religious site · Gion and Hakata Old Town
Tocho-ji
Walk the short pitch-dark tunnel behind the Buddha with one hand on the wall, as visitors are asked to do.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 5°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Fukuoka?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Fukuoka in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Fukuoka?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cool and festive, with illuminations at Hakata Station and hotpot season in full swing.
+How warm is Fukuoka in December?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Fukuoka in December?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.