Hiroshima · Month comparison
December vs October
October ranks #1 overall vs December at #7. Miyajima Fire Festival in October and early autumn colour makes this a genuinely great month without April's price spike.
December
#7 of 12 months
Strong option
Quiet and cold — the Peace Museum at Christmas week is sobering but uncrowded, and Miyajima's oyster season is at its peak.
- ↑Miyajima oyster grilling stalls open all month — best oysters of the year
- ↑Peace Museum and Children's Peace Monument almost visitor-free on weekdays
October
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Miyajima Fire Festival in October and early autumn colour makes this a genuinely great month without April's price spike.
- ↑Miyajima Fire Festival (Taimatsu Shinji) — torchlit procession to the shrine
- ↑Early autumn maple colour on Mount Misen and Shukkeien Garden
| Factor | December | October |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 4 | 8 |
| Value score | 8 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 8 | 5 |
| Events score | 3 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 6 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 11°C | 23°C |
| Monthly rain | 50mm | 90mm |
| Daily sunshine | 4.5hrs | 6.5hrs |
December trade-offs
- ↓Cold 3C nights make evening walks along the river uncomfortable
- ↓Miyajima ferry timetable reduces after dusk in winter
October trade-offs
- ↓Miyajima Fire Festival weekend books hotels weeks ahead
- ↓Autumn koyo (foliage) season draws crowds back to near-spring levels
Scores compare months within Hiroshima. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →