December in Kyoto averages highs of 11 °C (51 °F) and lows of 1 °C (35 °F), with about 6 rainy days and 9 h 49 min of daylight.
December weather in Kyoto at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is December a good time to visit Kyoto?
Tough month: cold and some rain. December is usually shoulder season in Kyoto: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in December 2026
No public holidays fall in December 2026 in Japan, so opening hours should be normal.
Things to do in Kyoto in December
December's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Fushimi Inari shrine — climb past the first gates to lose the crowds outdoors
- Kiyomizu-dera and Higashiyama — early morning outdoors
- Arashiyama bamboo grove — before 8am outdoors
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) outdoors
- Gion at dusk — teahouse streets outdoors
- Nishiki Market — lunch on the go indoors
Where to stay: Near Kyoto Station for transport; Gion or Higashiyama for old streets; Nakagyo for food.
What to pack for Kyoto in December
- A warm jacket and layers; evenings drop to around 1 °C (35 °F).
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Kyoto costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €60–130 | €160–330 |
Excluding flights. December is usually shoulder season in Kyoto: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
December in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 11° / 2° | 5 | Tough month |
| Bangkok | 31° / 22° | 2 | Good time to go |
| Singapore | 29° / 24° | 25 | Tough month |
Plan your Kyoto trip
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is December a good time to visit Kyoto?
By the numbers, December is a tough month: cold and some rain, with average highs of 11 °C (51 °F) and about 6 rainy days. December is usually shoulder season in Kyoto: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower. The best months for weather are April, May, October.
How warm is Kyoto in December?
Average highs are 11 °C (51 °F) and lows 1 °C (35 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Kyoto in December?
Expect about 6 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 64 mm in total. It is the 3rd driest month of the year in Kyoto.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.