When to go · Kyoto
Kyoto in December
Good month. Cold; many closures Dec 29–Jan 3.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Temperature
- 12° / 3°
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 8
- Crowds
- Medium
- Japan overall
- Prices
- Medium
- Japan overall
Verdict
Cold; many closures Dec 29–Jan 3.
Weather in December
- KyotoHighs around 12 °C, lows around 3 °C, rain on about 8 days
- Honshū cities, Japan · Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshimacool
Rainy season June to mid-July; humid heat July–August; typhoon risk peaks in September.
Winter season
Quietest temples, rare snow on Kinkaku-ji, New Year shrine visits, special winter openings of closed halls.
Watch: Cold wooden halls; many close 29 Dec–3 Jan.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
New Year
Dec 31–Jan 3
Huge shrine crowds (Yasaka, Fushimi Inari); many shops and restaurants closed.
Autumn leaves (kōyō)
Mid-Nov – early Dec · Japan
Kyoto temples crowded and hotels at peak prices; night illuminations add evening crowds.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Japan overall
- Medium
- Prices · Japan overall
- Medium
- Room rates · Kyoto
- Normal
- Early December is still leaf season; 28–31 Dec high.
Japan overall: Cold and clear until the New Year shutdown from 29 Dec.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket