Month guide · Nara · Japan
Nara in December
What December is really like in Nara: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 11°C (52°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 9.8 hours of daylight. Cold, clear and quiet, with the ancient On-matsuri festival at Kasuga Wakamiya in mid-month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 11°C (52°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Nara: days average 11°C (52°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 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 06:57
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:48
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold, dry and the quietest season, with Wakakusa Yamayaki in January and lantern festivals in February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri — processions and performing arts (usually 15–18 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Nature · Nara Park
Kasugayama Primeval Forest
Hunting and logging have been banned in this sacred forest behind Kasuga Taisha for more than a thousand years, preserving old-growth trees.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Takabatake
Shin-Yakushi-ji
Combine it with a walk through Takabatake's lanes and the forest path back to Kasuga Taisha.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Nishinokyo
Heijo Palace site
The huge open site of the 8th-century imperial palace, west of the centre, has full-size reconstructions of the Daigokuden (Imperial Audience Hall) and the Suzakumon gate, plus free museums on the excavations.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Religious site · Nishinokyo
Yakushi-ji
Walk the 10 minutes north to Toshodai-ji afterwards; the two temples make a natural half-day.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Art
What to pack
For highs near 11°C, lows near 1°C and 6 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Nara?
A good-value 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.
Nara in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Nara?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Cold, clear and quiet, with the ancient On-matsuri festival at Kasuga Wakamiya in mid-month.
+How warm is Nara in December?
Average highs are around 11°C (52°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Nara in December?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.