Tokyo Weather in December

Cool, clear days

December feels crisp in Tokyo, with highs around 12°C and lows near 4°C. Rain falls on about seven days, so most days suit walking between sights. You'll get less daylight than in autumn, but the skies are often clear.

Spend the brighter hours around Asakusa's Senso-ji temple or strolling the Imperial Palace grounds. Evenings work well for ramen in Shinjuku, but long outdoor plans can feel cold after dark. Skip beach time; this is a better month for city walks and indoor stops such as the Tokyo National Museum.

Lights and year-end

You'll find winter illuminations around Marunouchi and Roppongi, where streets and buildings glow after sunset. Christmas isn't a public holiday in Japan, but shops and restaurants often mark it with decorations and special meals.

New Year is a bigger deal. Many people visit shrines for hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, and some shops and restaurants close around the holiday. If you want to see Meiji Jingu's New Year crowds, expect a very different visit from a quiet weekday stroll.

Crowds and handy tips

December is a good month for sightseeing, but it isn't uniformly quiet. Early December is generally calmer than cherry blossom season. Around New Year, domestic travel and shrine visits bring crowds, and hotel prices can rise.

If you hate crowds, visit Meiji Jingu before the New Year rush, not during it. For a practical cold-weather stop, duck into Tokyo Station's underground Gransta shops for a hot ekiben, a boxed meal for the train. It's also a useful place to wait out a rainy spell without losing time outdoors.