Month guide · Kyoto · Japan
Kyoto in December
What December is really like in Kyoto: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Minseong Kim, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 9.8 hours of daylight. Late foliage lingers in early December, then the city turns quiet and cold before the New Year rush.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Kyoto: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with November (17°C (63°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 9°C (48°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:58
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:47
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and quiet, with low prices, occasional snow on the temples and New Year rituals at shrines.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in April). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Joya no Kane — temple bells rung 108 times on New Year's Eve at Chion-in and other temples (31 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.
Museum · Kyoto Station area
Kyoto Railway Museum
Japan's largest railway museum displays more than 50 trains, from steam locomotives in a working roundhouse to early shinkansen, with driving simulators and a short steam-train ride.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Higashiyama
Kyoto National Museum
Major special exhibitions draw long queues; the permanent collection is calmer and well labelled in English.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Religious site · Higashiyama
Kiyomizu-dera
Founded in 778, this UNESCO-listed temple is known for its wooden main hall stage, built without nails and projecting 13 metres above the hillside, with views across Kyoto.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Street · Northern Higashiyama
Philosopher's Path and Ginkaku-ji
Walk north to south, from Ginkaku-ji to Nanzen-ji, and detour to the moss-covered gate of Honen-in.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- History
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 3°C and 7 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 Kyoto?
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.
Kyoto in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Kyoto?
It is a shoulder-season month. Late foliage lingers in early December, then the city turns quiet and cold before the New Year rush.
+How warm is Kyoto in December?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Kyoto in December?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.