Month guide · Tokyo · Japan
Tokyo in December
What December is really like in Tokyo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Akonnchiroll, CC0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 5 rainy days and roughly 9.8 hours of daylight. Cold, dry and sunny, with winter illuminations across the city; many businesses close from about 29 December for the New Year holidays.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 5
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Tokyo: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 5 of its 31 days. Compared with November (17°C (63°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around 10°C (50°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:44
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:30
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F)
Winter (December–February). Cold, dry and sunny, with illuminations, New Year traditions, plum blossom in February and clear views of Mount Fuji.
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
- Winter illuminations in Marunouchi, Roppongi and elsewhere (usually mid-November to December)
- New Year's Eve temple bells (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.
Neighbourhood · Akihabara
Akihabara
Akihabara's electronics stores now share the streets with multi-storey shops for anime, manga, figures and retro video games, plus arcades full of crane games and themed cafés.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Kids
- After dark
Neighbourhood · Shinjuku
Golden Gai
Go after 9pm, check the cover charge posted by the door, and ask before taking photos inside a bar.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Off the beaten path
- Food
Neighbourhood · Yanaka
Yanaka
One of the few districts to come through the 1923 earthquake and wartime bombing largely intact, Yanaka has wooden houses, dozens of small temples, the tree-lined Yanaka Cemetery and the Yanaka Ginza shopping street with its snack stalls and neighbourhood cats.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Museum · Mitaka
Ghibli Museum
Walk to the museum through Inokashira Park from Kichijoji Station, about 15 minutes.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Art
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 4°C and 5 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Tokyo?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Tokyo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Tokyo?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cold, dry and sunny, with winter illuminations across the city; many businesses close from about 29 December for the New Year holidays.
+How warm is Tokyo in December?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Tokyo in December?
Expect rain on about 5 days of the month.