Hakone · Month comparison
September vs December
December ranks #1 overall vs September at #10. Crisp and clear — winter onsen season opens with excellent Fuji visibility and low crowds.
September
#10 of 12 months
Worth considering
Typhoon season peaks — 250mm of rain, fog, and the chance of serious weather disruption.
- ↑Summer crowds abruptly thin after Obon: Hakone returns to manageable visitor levels from mid-September
- ↑Prices drop sharply from August peak; affordable window before the autumn foliage surge
December
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Crisp and clear — winter onsen season opens with excellent Fuji visibility and low crowds.
- ↑Excellent Mt Fuji clarity: December air is dry and clean, producing sharp sightlines from Lake Ashi and the ropeway
- ↑Lowest crowds of the post-autumn period: accommodation rates drop sharply after the foliage rush
| Factor | September | December |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 3 | 7 |
| Value score | 6 | 7 |
| Crowd score | 6 | 7 |
| Events score | 5 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 5 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 25°C | 9°C |
| Monthly rain | 250mm | 65mm |
| Daily sunshine | 4.5hrs | 6hrs |
September trade-offs
- ↓250mm of rainfall — hard cap applies; typhoon risk can force ropeway closures and transport disruption
- ↓Mt Fuji virtually invisible for most of the month under rain and cloud
- ↓Only 4.5 sunshine hours daily; the combination of heat, fog, and rain makes sightseeing frustrating
December trade-offs
- ↓Cold: 2°C lows require proper layering for all outdoor activities including ropeway and lake walks
- ↓Christmas and New Year week (Dec 28–Jan 3) sees a brief price and crowd spike
- ↓Short daylight hours limit afternoon photography windows; the golden hour arrives before 4:30pm
Scores compare months within Hakone. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →