Your December weather guide
CoolWeather in Tokyo in December
December is a sensible time to visit Tokyo if you want a city break and are comfortable with cold evenings, rather than looking for winter warmth. Average highs of 10.5°C make daytime exploring manageable with a proper coat, but nights average 2.5°C. With about 8 rainy days, you should allow for wet weather without planning the whole trip around it. The main trade-off is limited daylight, so put outdoor plans earlier in the day.
Long-term climate averages for Tokyo, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Tokyo, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Tokyo.
- Average daytime high
- 10.5°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 14°C
- Average night-time low
- 2.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -1°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +2.8°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 15.6°C
- year to year: 15°C to 17°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.5h
- 57% of 9.6 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 60 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 72%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 22.3°C
- 2004-12-05
- Record low 1991-2020
- -5.6°C
- 1991-12-30
- Flight from London
- ≈ 12 h 42 min
- 9595 km, long-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How December compares
December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Tokyo and ranks 116th of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Tokyo is 2.8°C warmer by day and 0.2°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Tokyo peaks at 10.5°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 14.4°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 2.5°C; one night in ten drops to -1.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 22.3°C (2004-12-05) and the coldest night -5.6°C (1991-12-30).
Rain in December
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 60 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2006 with 122 mm, the driest 2005 with 4 mm. Humidity averages 72%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 15.6°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.5°C to 16.9°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.6 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:44 and sets about 16:29 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 43%.
Is December a good time to visit Tokyo?
December is not the strongest month here: cool days. The best months for Tokyo on our scoring are August, September, July; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Comfortable for walking, cold after dark
Tokyo is a little milder by day than London in December, where the average high is 7.7°C, but that does not make it warm. Pack layers beneath a winter coat, with gloves and a scarf for time outdoors after dark. The warmer days can reach 14.4°C or more, so being able to remove a layer is useful when walking. At the colder end, nights can fall to -1.2°C or lower; do not judge your evening clothing by how it felt at lunchtime. This month suits travellers who are happy exploring in cool conditions and taking indoor breaks, rather than lingering outside late into the evening.
Make the daylight count and keep rain plans flexible
December brings about 5.5 hours of sunshine a day within 9.6 hours of daylight, giving you useful bright periods but a fairly short window for outdoor plans. Start those earlier and leave indoor activities for later, rather than relying on a long afternoon. Rain is enough of a possibility to justify a compact umbrella and shoes that cope with wet pavements, but it need not dictate every day. Keep the order of your plans flexible so you can move an outdoor outing when rain arrives. The appeal here is cool-weather exploring with some sunshine, not warmth or guaranteed dry skies.
A little perspective
Tokyo through the year
December is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.1°C | -0.4°C | 13.6°C | 5.9 | 67 | 7 | 0% |
| February | 9.0°C | 0.1°C | 13.2°C | 5.5 | 63 | 8 | 0% |
| March | 12.4°C | 3.5°C | 13.6°C | 4.9 | 114 | 12 | 0% |
| April | 17.2°C | 8.6°C | 15.2°C | 5.0 | 113 | 11 | 0% |
| May | 21.7°C | 14.0°C | 18.4°C | 4.4 | 131 | 12 | 13% |
| June | 24.5°C | 18.0°C | 21.3°C | 2.8 | 164 | 14 | 44% |
| Julybest | 28.1°C | 22.0°C | 24.7°C | 3.5 | 151 | 13 | 84% |
| Augustbest | 29.7°C | 23.4°C | 26.7°C | 4.7 | 114 | 11 | 93% |
| Septemberbest | 26.0°C | 20.0°C | 25.1°C | 4.0 | 185 | 14 | 64% |
| October | 20.6°C | 14.1°C | 21.6°C | 4.2 | 211 | 13 | 8% |
| November | 15.5°C | 8.0°C | 18.7°C | 4.7 | 90 | 10 | 0% |
| DecemberSelected | 10.5°C | 2.5°C | 15.6°C | 5.5 | 60 | 8 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Tokyo in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Tokyo hot in December?
Tokyo is cool in December: the average daytime high is 10.5°C and nights average 2.5°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Tokyo in December?
The sea around Tokyo averages 15.6°C in December, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 15°C to 17°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Tokyo in December?
Tokyo sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 60 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2006 (122 mm) and the driest was 2005 (4 mm).
How sunny is Tokyo in December?
Tokyo gets around 5.5 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.6 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Tokyo compare with the UK in December?
Tokyo is on average 2.8°C warmer than London by day in December (10.5°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Tokyo?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Tokyo reached 22.3°C on 2004-12-05, and the coldest night dropped to -5.6°C on 1991-12-30.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
No, not for a comfortable holiday swim. The sea averages 15.6°C in December, which is cold. If swimming is central to your trip, Tokyo in December is a poor fit; treat time by the water as an outing in warm clothes instead.
Is it worth the long flight for December weather?
The flight from London takes about 12 h 42 min, so this is a long-haul choice for cool weather, not a winter-sun trip. Go if Tokyo itself is the priority and you are comfortable wearing winter layers; warmer days alone would not justify the journey.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Tokyo. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 14.8 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C