Avg High
Kyoto in December
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
10h
What to expect
Kyoto is in early winter during December, with the season well established by this point. It usually feels cool and fresh, and a gentle drop-off once the sun goes down. Conditions tend to feel steady, which makes planning simple. Shorter daylight windows make plan sequencing more important.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Kyoto.
Hottest (avg)
#10 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#12 / 12
Daylight Hours
#12 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#5 / 12
Highest UV
#12 / 12
Most Humid
#7 / 12
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 9.8 h
- UV index (max)
- 4
- Typical sun hours
- 06:56 - 16:46
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 9 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 49%
- Snowfall
-
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 78%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 10.4°C and low 1.7°C.
Typical disruptions in December
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in December.
Cold High impact
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 97% of days (30.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
30.0 days / month
~97% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 30.0 days / month
- Probability ~97% of days
- Intensity Up to ~3°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~30 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cold High impact
Freezing nights Measures: Freezing nights (min <=0C). Observed about 25% of days (7.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.9 days / month
~25% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.9 days / month
- Probability ~25% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-0°C (P95)
Freezing nights are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain High impact
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 11% of days (3.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.5 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.5 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~38mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 10% of days (3.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.2 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.2 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~40mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 4% of days (1.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.4 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.4 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~82km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wind High impact
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.7 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.7 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~83km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Show all disruptions (18 more)
Rain High impact
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 6% of days (1.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.8 days / month
~6% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.8 days / month
- Probability ~6% of days
- Intensity Up to ~44mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~54mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.5 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~48mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Snow Moderate
Snow days Measures: Snow days (>=0.1mm snowfall). Observed about 7% of days (2.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.2 days / month
~7% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.2 days / month
- Probability ~7% of days
- Intensity Up to ~2.2mm (P95)
Snowfall is possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold Moderate
Cold snap run Measures: Cold snap runs (>=3 cold days). Observed about 2.1 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.1 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.1 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold snap runs are possible on ~2 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cold Moderate
Hard freeze nights Measures: Hard freeze nights (min <=-2C). Observed about 6% of days (1.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.9 days / month
~6% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.9 days / month
- Probability ~6% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-2°C (P95)
Hard freeze conditions are possible on ~2 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cold Minor
Cold nights Measures: Cold nights (min <=5C). Observed about 87% of days (27.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
27.1 days / month
~87% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 27.1 days / month
- Probability ~87% of days
- Intensity Up to ~4°C (P95)
Cold nights are possible on ~27 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cold Minor
Cold days Measures: Cold days (max <=10C). Observed about 51% of days (15.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
15.7 days / month
~51% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 15.7 days / month
- Probability ~51% of days
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold daytime conditions are possible on ~16 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 43% of days (13.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.3 days / month
~43% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.3 days / month
- Probability ~43% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~13 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 41% of days (12.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.8 days / month
~41% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.8 days / month
- Probability ~41% of days
- Intensity Up to ~67km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~13 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 39% of days (12.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.1 days / month
~39% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.1 days / month
- Probability ~39% of days
- Intensity Up to ~93% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~12 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 35% of days (10.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.8 days / month
~35% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.8 days / month
- Probability ~35% of days
- Intensity Up to ~99% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~11 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 30% of days (9.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.3 days / month
~30% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.3 days / month
- Probability ~30% of days
- Intensity Up to ~17h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~9 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 19% of days (5.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.9 days / month
~19% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.9 days / month
- Probability ~19% of days
- Intensity Up to ~18h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 15% of days (4.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.7 days / month
~15% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.7 days / month
- Probability ~15% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~5 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 6% of days (1.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.7 days / month
~6% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.7 days / month
- Probability ~6% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Visibility Minor
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.7 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.7 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~97% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Other Minor
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.7 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.7 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~97 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Kyoto?
Typical December days in Kyoto reach highs of 10°C (50°F) with nights around 2°C (36°F). It usually feels cool by day and cold after dark. It is one of the drier months, which suits outdoor exploring and sightseeing.
What are temperatures like in December?
In December, you can usually expect highs of 10°C (50°F) and lows near 2°C (36°F). That means cool days and cold nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 58 mm (2.3 in) across roughly 9 days. Overall it is a quite rainy time of year, so showers are usually brief rather than all-day downpours.
How many hours of daylight are there in December?
You can expect about 10 hours of daylight in December. Sunrise is typically around 06:56 and sunset near 16:46. Days are on the shorter side, so plan activities around limited daylight.
How strong is the sun in December?
UV levels are moderate (around 4); sunscreen and sunglasses are still a good idea.
Is it windy in December?
In December, average wind speeds are around 9 km/h (6 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 50 km/h (31 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.