Forget the snowy winter wonderland. December in Tokyo is all about crisp, dry, brilliantly sunny days. Having spent six Decembers here, it's my favorite month to explore on foot. You'll enjoy clear blue skies, virtually no rain, and stunning nighttime illuminations.
Expect comfortable daytime highs around 54°F (12°C) and brisk nights near 39°F (4°C). Snow in the city center is incredibly rare.
*If you're craving a white winter, hop on a bullet train to Nagano's high country or head straight to Hokkaido!
Table of Contents
Tokyo in December: What the Weather Actually Feels Like on the Ground
Temperature & Climate Data in December
What to Wear in Tokyo in December: Master the "Onion Style" Layering
Best Things to Do in Tokyo in December: Illuminations, Markets & Year-End Traditions
Sparkling Nights: Winter Illuminations & Holiday Markets
Festive Christmas Markets
Cultural Traditions: Shrines, Markets
The Great Japanese KFC Christmas Dinner
Visit Tokyo in December with UME Travel: Suggested Itineraries
Tokyo December Crowds, Costs & Booking Timing
Tokyo in December Weather: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Tokyo in December: What the Weather Actually Feels Like on the Ground
December in Tokyo is crisp, bone-dry, and intensely luminous. If you’re checking the forecast, you’ll see average daytime highs hovering around 12°C (54°F), with nights dropping to a brisk 4°C (39°F) and humidity sitting at a comfortable 55%.
But what does that actually mean for your day-to-day sightseeing?
The "Fuji-Viewing" Clarity: Because the winter air is so dry and free of summer haze, the atmosphere is incredibly clear. This is the absolute best time of year to head up to Shibuya Sky or the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. On most sunny mornings, Mount Fuji stands out in razor-sharp, snow-capped detail against a brilliant blue skyline.
The Sun-vs-Shade Temperature Drop: Walking in the direct December sunlight feels amazing—like a gentle, warm hug. However, the second you cross the street into the shadow of a skyscraper, the winter chill hits you instantly. Keep your scarf handy for these sudden micro-climate shifts!
The Lip Balm Alert: Tokyo’s winter wind is notoriously drying. Within a day or two of walking outdoors, your skin and lips will feel it. Do yourself a favor and hit up a local Japanese convenience store (konbini) or drugstore early on to grab a heavy-duty lip balm and moisturizer.
No Slush, No Stress: Snow in Tokyo proper in December is practically a myth. If the city gets any flurries at all, they almost always melt midair. This is a massive win for travelers: you can explore the city on foot without worrying about icy sidewalks, wet socks, or dragging your suitcases through dirty slush. If you're craving a true winter wonderland, simply hop on the Shinkansen (bullet train) to the high country of Nagano or head straight up to Hokkaido.
Temperature & Climate Data in Decemeber
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), December is officially one of Tokyo’s driest months. You can confidently leave your heavy rain gear at home, as the city sees under 60mm of total rainfall spread across just 4 to 5 rainy days the entire month.
Here is how the month breaks down so you can plan your daily itineraries:
December Period
| High (°C/°F) | Low (°C/°F) | Notes |
|---|
Early Dec (1–10) | 13°C / 55°F | 6°C / 43°F | Mildest days; some autumn color lingers |
Early Dec (1–10) | 12°C / 54°F | 4°C / 39°F | Typical winter feel; illumination peak |
Late Dec (21–31) | 12°C / 54°F | 3°C / 37°F | Coldest stretch; New Year's Eve near freezing |
Climate averages (JMA 30-year normals, Tokyo station):
Rain days: 4–5 (driest month after January)
Sunshine: 6+ hours/day (one of the sunniest months)
Humidity: 52–55% average
Snow days: 0–1 (statistically near zero)
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) flags late December as a domestic travel spike. Japanese offices close Dec 29–Jan 3, and locals flood shrines for hatsumode. Visit Japan's event calendar confirms December illumination festivals draw millions of visitors across Tokyo venues.
JR East covers all Shinkansen routes from Tokyo Station, which you'll want for day trips to Nagano or Sendai. My first December here, I underestimated the wind chill. Tokyo's grid streets funnel cold air between buildings, and it feels 2–3 degrees colder than the JMA reading on paper.
2. What to Wear in Tokyo in December: Master the "Onion Style" Layering
Don’t let the chilly outdoor temperatures fool you. Japan takes its indoor climate control very seriously. The moment you step into a Tokyo subway car, a department store, or a restaurant, you will be hit with a wall of intense, cozy heat. If you wear one massive, heavy sweater over a T-shirt, you will roast indoors.
Instead, use the onion strategy (layering):
Base Layer: A high-quality thermal undergarment (like Uniqlo's Heattech) to trap body heat.
Middle Layer: A light sweater, cardigan, or flannel that is easy to slip off.
Outer Layer: A solid, windproof winter coat or down jacket to tackle the crisp outdoor air.
Accessories: A beanie, scarf, and gloves are essentials for late-night strolls when the temperature drops fast.
3. Best Things to Do in Tokyo in December: Illuminations, Markets & Year-End Traditions
December transforms Tokyo into a city of light. Illumination displays, Christmas markets, and year-end temple rituals stack the calendar. Here's what's worth your time.
Sparkling Nights: Winter Illuminations & Holiday Markets
As soon as the sun sets (which happens early, around 4:30 PM), Tokyo transforms into a glittering sea of LED lights. The city’s winter illuminations are legendary, and most are completely free to enjoy.
↓Must-See Light Displays:
Marunouchi Illumination:
Walk down Nakadori Avenue right next to Tokyo Station, where over 200 trees are draped in a signature "champagne gold" glow.
Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Illumination
Head to Keyakizaka Street for a spectacular view of trees lit up in brilliant blue and silver, perfectly framing a glowing Tokyo Tower in the distance.
About 930,000 blue-and-white LEDs blanket the 400-meter Keyakizaka corridor from early November through December 25. The view from the Mori Tower overlook is the shot every Instagram account steals. Go on weeknights after 8 PM when crowds thin.
Location: Roppongi Hills, Minato, Tokyo
Meguro River Winter Sakura Illumination — [Couples]
Roughly 390,000 pink LEDs strung along 2.2 kilometers of the Meguro River mimic cherry blossoms in winter, running December 5 through January 31. Walk from Gotanda Station toward the water; the reflection on the river is the frame everyone wants. The whole thing is powered by recycled cooking oil collected from local restaurants.
Location: Gotanda Fureai Waterside Plaza, Shinagawa, Tokyo
Tokyo Midtown:
Known for its artistic light installations and an open-air ice skating rink right in the middle of Roppongi.
Festive Christmas Markets
Azabudai Hills Christmas Market [Families & Couples]
You don’t have to fly to Europe for an authentic, high-end holiday market experience. From late November through December 25, Tokyo’s newest architectural landmark hosts a gorgeous, European-style Christmas market centered around a breathtakingly illuminated, towering Christmas tree.
Set in the stunning Central Green, this premium market features beautifully decorated wooden chalets and artistic light installations designed to create a cozy, magical winter wonderland in the heart of the city.
What to Eat & Drink:
Spiced hot mulled wine (glühwein) and premium hot cocoa
Gourmet German sausages and decadent warm cheese fondue
Freshly baked artisanal gingerbread and holiday pastries
Pro Tip: Since this is one of Tokyo's trendiest urban spaces, visit on a weekday afternoon to enjoy the festive treats and capture stunning photos of the tree before the massive evening date-night crowds arrive.
Location: Azabudai Hills Central Green, Minato City, Tokyo
Know more about this event on "Japan Travel"
Roppongi Hills Christmas Market [Families]
Now in its 19th year, this market recreates a Stuttgart Christkindlmarkt with 10 shops including Käthe Wohlfahrt German ornaments, mulled wine, and roasted sausages. The smell of cinnamon and hot cider hits you halfway across the plaza. Open daily November 22 through Christmas Day.
Location: O-Yane Plaza, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo
Cultural Traditions: Shrines, Markets
While Tokyo embraces the commercial fun of Christmas, December is deeply rooted in traditional end-of-year preparations for Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year).
Senso-ji Hagoita-Ichi (Dec 17–19):
Held at Tokyo’s oldest temple in Asakusa, this historic market sells hagoita: ornate, rectangular wooden paddles used in the traditional New Year’s hanetsuki game, decorated with faces of Kabuki actors or pop culture icons. They serve as good luck charms to “bat away” bad luck for the coming year. Vendors line the Nakamise-dori approach from 10 AM. I bought my first hagoita here in 2019; the lacquerwork is genuinely art.
Setagaya Boro-ichi (Dec 15–16):
Year-End Shrines:
Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘) — Temples Citywide, Dec 31 [All]
The Great Japanese KFC Christmas Dinner
Yes, you read that right. In Japan, Christmas Eve is traditionally celebrated not with a home-cooked turkey, but with a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Since KFC Japan launched the wildly successful “Kentucky for Christmas” campaign in 1974, fried chicken on December 24–25 has become a deeply ingrained national holiday ritual. Locals pre-order party buckets weeks ahead; walk-ins on Christmas Eve face two-hour lines. If you want to grab a bucket on December 24th or 25th, you actually have to reserve your meal weeks in advance.
Related Reading: Things to Do in Japan in December
4. Visit Tokyo in December with UME Travel: Suggested Itineraries
Warm Up: Best Open-Air Onsen Near Tokyo
After a long day of walking the streets of Tokyo, nothing beats soaking in a rotenburo (an outdoor hot spring bath) with crisp winter air on your face. While central Tokyo has modern bathhouses, the ultimate onsen experience lies just a short train ride outside the city.
| Onsen Destination | Travel Time from Tokyo | Why It’s Worth It |
Hakone | ~85 mins (Romancecar) | The ultimate hot spring town. Offers breathtaking mountain views, historic ryokans, and stunning private outdoor baths. |
Yugawara | ~75 mins (JR Acty/Shinkansen) | A quieter, coastal canyon retreat loved by historic writers. Perfect for an authentic, peaceful soak away from major tourist crowds. |
Hakone Onsen Day Trip — Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture [Couples / Seniors]
Eighty-five minutes from Shinjuku on the Odakyu Romancecar, Hakone delivers outdoor rotenburo baths with Mount Fuji views on clear December days. Tenzan Tohji-kyo in Hakone-Yumoto has eight gender-separated open-air baths fed by a single hot spring source (¥1,500 entry, free shuttle from the station). Cold air on your face, hot water on your shoulders — that's the winter onsen experience people fly across the world for.
Itinerary A: Classic December Tokyo (2 Days)
Day 1
Morning (9 AM–12 PM): Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori shopping street in Asakusa. Arrive before 9 AM to beat tour buses. (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Asakusa Station)
Afternoon (12 PM–5 PM): Tokyo Christmas Market at Meiji Jingu Gaien for lunch and browsing, then walk through the outer garden. (JR Sobu Line to Shinanomachi Station)
Evening (5 PM onward): Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Illumination and Christmas Market. Dinner at an izakaya on Roppongi's Gyoza Street for yakitori and hot sake. (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line to Roppongi Station)
Day 2
Morning (9 AM–12 PM): Meiji Jingu Shrine forest walk and Omotesando browsing. (JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station)
Afternoon (12 PM–5 PM): Meguro River Winter Sakura illumination (installations are visible in daylight), then Daikanyama cafe hopping. (JR Yamanote Line to Gotanda Station)
Evening (5 PM onward): Marunouchi Illumination along Naka-dori (free, running through February), then dinner in nearby Tokyo Station Character Street. (JR Yamanote Line to Tokyo Station)
Itinerary B: Winter Wellness and Temple Traditions (2 Days)
Day 1
Morning (8 AM–1 PM): Hakone day trip via Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku. Open-air onsen at Tenzan Tohji-kyo, then Hakone Open-Air Museum. (Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku Station, 85 min)
Afternoon (1 PM–5 PM): Lake Ashi pirate ship cruise with Mount Fuji views on a clear day. Return to Shinjuku by evening. (Hakone Tozan Railway + Romancecar return)
Evening (5 PM onward): Dinner at Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku. Grilled skewers in a narrow lantern-lit alley behind the station.
Day 2
Morning (9 AM–12 PM): Zojo-ji Temple near Tokyo Tower, then walk through Shiba Park. (Toei Oedo Line to Shibakoen Station)
Afternoon (12 PM–5 PM): TeamLab Planets digital art museum in Toyosu (book two weeks ahead), then Tsukiji Outer Market for fresh seafood lunch. (Yurikamome Line to Toyosu Station)
Evening (5 PM onward): If December 31, attend Joya no Kane bell-ringing at Zojo-ji. Otherwise, Odaiba Marine Park illumination display with Tokyo Bay views.
Recommended tour packages from our site:
7 Days Tokyo -Osaka - Kyoto - Nara Tour
7 days | From $ 3359
12 Days Tokyo - Mt.Fuji - Ngoya - Suzuka - Kyoto - Osaka Tour
12 days | From $ 7846
8 Days Tokyo - Mt.Fuji - Hakone - Kamakura - Yokohama - Tokyo
8 days | From $ 4689
12 Days Tokyo - Mt.Fuji - Kyoto- Osaka Tour
12 days | From $ 6483
Want someone to handle the Romancecar reservations, onsen schedules, and illumination route-planning? Ume Travel's local guides sort out the train bookings, match an onsen to your group, and chart an illumination route that hits three neighborhoods without backtracking. Contact us now.
5. Tokyo December Crowds, Costs & Booking Timing
December splits into two halves. The first three weeks are shoulder season — flight and hotel prices dip from November's foliage peak, and crowds are manageable. The last week (Dec 26–Jan 3) is peak domestic travel: offices close, families travel, and Tokyo hotel rates jump 40–60%.
JNTO data shows hatsumode draws roughly 3 million visitors to Meiji Jingu alone over January 1–3. I learned this the hard way. Showed up on December 28 my first year and paid double for a Shibuya hotel half the size of a parking space.
Booking lead times:
Flights: Book by late October for late-December travel.
Hotels: Reserve by mid-November for late December; first three weeks are fine 2–3 weeks ahead.
TeamLab Planets: Book 10–14 days ahead; sells out daily.
Christmas Eve dinner: Reserve 3–4 weeks ahead.
Hakone Romancecar: Reserve a week ahead for weekends.
Stacking New Year's temple visits, a Hakone onsen trip, and restaurant reservations into one December itinerary? Miss one booking and you're standing in a two-hour line on Christmas Eve. Ume Travel locks in every reservation, transfer, and ticket before you land, with guides who live in Tokyo and handle the details most travelers don't even know exist. umetravel.com
6. Tokyo in December Weather: Frequently Asked Questions
Does it snow in Tokyo in December?
Almost never. JMA records show December snowfall in Tokyo at statistically near zero. I've seen light flurries twice in six years, and both melted before reaching the ground. For guaranteed snow, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano (90 minutes) or fly to Sapporo, where snow cover starts in November.
How cold is Tokyo in December?
Daytime highs average 12°C (54°F), nighttime lows around 4°C (39°F), with late December dipping to 3°C (37°F) overnight. The cold is dry; humidity sits near 55%, so it bites exposed skin but doesn't chill you to the bone. Wind between buildings makes it feel 2–3 degrees colder than the thermometer reads.
What should I pack for Tokyo in December?
Pack in layers. Uniqlo Heattech as a base, a thin merino or fleece mid-layer, and a packable down jacket on top. Tokyo's indoor heating runs at 22–25°C, so you'll strip layers on and off all day. Bring a scarf, light gloves, and comfortable walking shoes. Skip heavy coats.
Is December a good time to visit Tokyo?
Yes, it's one of the best months. December is Tokyo's driest, sunniest month, with only 4–5 rainy days and 6+ hours of sunshine daily. Illuminations, Christmas markets, and New Year temple events fill the calendar. Avoid the last week if you dislike crowds; the first three weeks are golden.
Are there Christmas markets in Tokyo?
Yes. Tokyo Christmas Market at Meiji Jingu Gaien runs late November through December 25 with German-style stalls, glühwein, and a large tree. Roppongi Hills hosts a Stuttgart-style market adjacent to its illumination. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market, 40 minutes by train, is the largest in the region.
Why do Japanese people eat KFC at Christmas?
In 1974, KFC Japan launched a "Kentucky for Christmas" campaign, and it stuck. Fried chicken became the default Christmas dinner in Japan, where the holiday isn't a national observance. Locals pre-order party buckets weeks ahead. Walk into any KFC on December 24 without a reservation, and you'll wait an hour.
Can you visit an onsen near Tokyo in December?
Yes. Hakone is 85 minutes from Shinjuku via the Odakyu Romancecar and offers outdoor rotenburo baths with Mount Fuji views on clear winter days. Tenzan Tohji-kyo charges ¥1,500 for day-use access to eight open-air baths. Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma is 2.5 hours away with some of Japan's most famous hot springs.
What New Year events happen in Tokyo in December?
Joya no Kane on December 31 — temples ring bells 108 times at midnight to cleanse the year's desires. Senso-ji and Zojo-ji are the biggest venues. The Hagoita Market at Senso-ji runs December 17–19, selling ornate New Year paddles. Hatsumode starts January 1 but is worth planning for if you're in Tokyo over New Year.
Travel to Tokyo in December with UME Travel
December is undoubtedly the best time to experience Tokyo, but it requires meticulous planning and does not lend itself to spontaneity. From hotel rates soaring to popular attractions such as teamLab selling out weeks in advance, the year-end logistics can quickly turn a dream holiday into a stressful ordeal.
That’s where UME Travel comes in. Our Japan-based experts craft fully customised, all-inclusive December itineraries designed entirely around your pace and style.
Every UME Travel journey includes:
Private car and driver-guide: Skip the crowded platforms and train maps. Move seamlessly through Tokyo's holiday lights and take day trips to Hakone.
Four- and five-star accommodation: Hand-picked luxury city hotels and boutique ryokans featuring private outdoor hot springs.
Curated reservations: Every booking is secured before you land, from TeamLab tickets and holiday dinners to culturally iconic KFC holiday buckets.
On-trip concierge: Real-time, English-speaking support via WhatsApp for any last-minute adjustments.
Let us take care of everything so that you can simply show up and fall in love with winter in Japan. Contact a senior travel designer today.
Read other monthly guides for Tokyo weather: