Kyoto Prefecture · Japan

Kyoto in December

In December, Kyoto averages a daytime high of 9 °C and a night-time low of 2 °C, with about 120 mm of rain over the month. Kyoto has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here.

Average high
9 °C
Average low
2 °C
Rain in the month
120 mm
Daylight on 15 Dec
9 h 50 min
Comfortable month
No
Places to stay
214

When to go

How December compares with the rest of the year in Kyoto

December is the 10th warmest month in Kyoto by average daytime high; across the year the highs run from 6 °C to 31 °C and the lows from -1 °C to 22 °C. By day, December is 6 °C cooler than November, and January is 3 °C cooler than December.

December brings 120 mm of rain, less than the monthly average of 139 mm (1669 mm a year); it is the 8th wettest month.

On 15 December the sun is up for about 9 h 50 min, against 9 h 50 min at the shortest and 14 h 30 min at the longest point of the year (calculated from the latitude, sunrise to sunset).

-1°15°31°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec220 mm
Average highAverage lowRain per monthComfortable months
MonthHighLowRainDaylightComfortable
January6 °C-1 °C116 mm10 h
February7 °C-1 °C98 mm11 h
March11 °C2 °C127 mm12 h
April17 °C7 °C119 mm13 h
May22 °C12 °C135 mm14 h
June25 °C17 °C199 mm14 h 30 min
July29 °C21 °C220 mm14 h 20 min
August31 °C22 °C127 mm13 h 20 min
September26 °C18 °C188 mm12 h 20 min
October21 °C12 °C129 mm11 h 10 min
November15 °C6 °C93 mm10 h 10 min
December9 °C2 °C120 mm9 h 50 min

Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).

When to go

Is December a good time to visit Kyoto?

Not by the measure used here: the average high of 9 °C is below 18 °C and about 120 mm of rain is 80 mm or more. No month in Kyoto meets it.

The measure is about weather for a city stay only; it says nothing about events, school holidays or prices.

Where to stay

Where to stay in Kyoto

This guide lists 214 places to stay in Kyoto: 5 chain properties with their details and own websites, and 209 hotels recorded in Wikidata. By straight-line distance from the centre: under 1 km, 42; 1–3 km, 124; 3–10 km, 43.

← Kyoto in NovemberKyoto in January →

Sources: climate from CRU TS v4.10 (Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia; Open Database License), 1991–2020 averages; day length calculated from the latitude; places to stay from each operator's own public pages and Wikidata. How this guide is made.