Kyoto · Japan
December
Quiet and cold — early December still has foliage; after that, Kyoto at its most contemplative.
Best match
#6 of 12 months
There are better months for Kyoto — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
11.3°C
Low
3.8°C
Rain
38mm
Sun
5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How December scores in Kyoto
Weather
Above average
Value
Excellent
Crowds
Very good
Events
Above average
Atmosphere
Very good
What you gain in December
- ↑Early December (1–10): late foliage colour still visible at Tofukuji and Eikan-do without November crowds
- ↑Driest month of the year: 38mm rainfall — the clearest skies for temple photography
- ↑Budget hotel rates from mid-December; one of the best value windows in the calendar
What you sacrifice
- ↓Cold: 4°C lows from mid-December require serious layering for full-day outdoor visits
- ↓New Year spike: Dec 28–Jan 3 sees prices surge and Fushimi Inari hatsumode crowds become enormous
- ↓Winter garden closures at some temples reduce the total itinerary available
How December compares to October (best month)
| Factor | December | October ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 5 | 8 |
| Value | 8 | 6 |
| Crowds | 7 | 5 |
December in other destinations
Lisbon (14.4°C)Barcelona (13.8°C)Tokyo (12°C)Bali (30.3°C)Santorini (14.5°C)Paris (6.9°C)New York (5.1°C)Marrakech (18.1°C)Amsterdam (6.4°C)Maldives (30°C)Rome (11.7°C)Bangkok (30.4°C)Istanbul (9.4°C)Vienna (3°C)Seoul (3.7°C)Dubrovnik (11.6°C)Rio de Janeiro (29.5°C)Phuket (31.8°C)Cape Town (25.6°C)Prague (3°C)Amalfi Coast (13°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Kyoto, not across destinations. Methodology →