December’s Charm in Japan | Weather, Events & Attractions Guide

December in Japan marks the complete transition from autumn to winter, a season when regional climate differences and distinctive cultural events are prominently displayed. The Sea of Japan side tends to have snowfall, while the Pacific Ocean side tends to have dry, sunny weather.

Urban areas are adorned with illuminations, while snow-covered regions showcase mystical scenery at hot springs and shrines and temples, spreading winter’s unique charm. Furthermore, in addition to Christmas and New Year’s Eve events, folk traditions like Akita’s “Namahage” are performed in various locations, making it a time to experience Japanese culture.

This article introduces the highlights of December in Japan, so prepare for the cold while enjoying December’s Japan woven with light, snow, food, and tradition.

銀山温泉の千年廻廊のイベントにまたおじゃましたっけ！
雪もいろとりどりになっていたのがとっても良かったっけな♪
千年廻廊のイベントは事前予約が必要で今日までだけど、いつ行ってもステキな雰囲気なんだよ〜♪#山形県#山形県DC推進監きてけろくん#千年廻廊#尾花沢市#銀山温泉#大正ロマンpic.twitter.com/smMqd0F5sN

— 山形県おもてなし局長きてけろくん【公式】 (@kitekero_kun) December 16, 2020

December in Japan is the time when autumn completely transitions to winter. The Sea of Japan side tends to have snowfall, while the Pacific Ocean side often experiences dry, sunny weather. Snow accumulates in the plains of Hokkaido and Tohoku, and even in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, mornings and evenings become severely cold. Particularly in late December, strong cold air masses called “Christmas cold wave” or “year-end cold wave” move in, requiring vigilance for heavy snow and strong winds.

Around December 22, the “winter solstice” arrives, marking the shortest daylight hours of the year. After the winter solstice, daylight hours gradually increase, but the cold actually becomes more severe from January to February.

December can be described as the entrance to winter while marking the beginning of genuine cold. For travelers, it’s a time to enjoy winter-like scenery such as illuminations and snowy landscapes, but since there can be significant temperature differences and variations by region, preparing warm clothing is key to comfortable sightseeing.

12/31(土)14:30～、大晦日の恒例行事「男鹿市役所職員によるなまはげ行事」が男鹿市役所で開催！なまはげに今年一年の厄を払ってもらい、良い新年をお迎えください。
※写真はなまはげ行事のイメージです pic.twitter.com/NJJRVvGJLL

— あきたびじょん (@akitavision) December 30, 2016

In December Japan, Western celebrations like Christmas coexist with traditional year-end and New Year events, creating a unique cultural tapestry. Additionally, there are regionally rooted folk traditions like Akita Prefecture’s “Namahage,” making it an attractive time for tourists to experience diverse aspects of Japanese culture.

Here, we introduce each of these events.

Christmas in Japan is widely embraced more as a seasonal event than for its religious significance. Large trees and illuminations are decorated in homes and commercial facilities, and particularly in urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka, the entire city is enveloped in light, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

Christmas is also a special day for couples, with customs of dining at restaurants on Christmas Eve and exchanging gifts becoming established. For tourists, it’s a valuable opportunity to experience Japan’s unique way of celebrating Christmas.

As late December arrives, Japanese people become busy preparing to welcome the New Year. First, “major cleaning” is performed in homes and workplaces, a custom of removing a year’s worth of dirt to welcome the new year with cleanliness. On New Year’s Eve, there’s a custom of eating “year-crossing soba,” which carries the meaning of wishing to live “long and thin” like soba noodles.

Additionally, at temples nationwide, “New Year’s Eve bells” are rung 108 times around midnight. This symbolizes the purification of the 108 worldly desires in Buddhism and is an important ritual for people to welcome the new year with pure hearts and bodies. Through these events, Japanese people prepare their hearts for the new year.

For tourists, visiting temples and shrines on New Year’s Eve and experiencing the year-crossing while listening to the sound of bells is a special experience that allows them to deeply feel Japan’s unique culture.

“Namahage” performed mainly in Oga City, Akita Prefecture, is a folk event where men dressed as demons visit houses on New Year’s Eve. The sight of them wearing frightening masks and shouting “Are there any bad children here?” as they visit is full of impact, but this carries the meaning of disciplining children and warding off disasters.

For tourists, it’s an opportunity not just to observe, but to glimpse the faith and living culture rooted in the region. When visiting winter Akita, experiencing this traditional event will allow you to feel the depth of Japan’s year-end culture.

神戸ルミナリエ
12/6(金)〜15(日) 10日間https://t.co/XADhxYsvKv

本日、金曜日の点灯時間は18時頃
(消灯時間は22:00)
※混雑状況により点灯時間を繰り上げることがあります。

昨日も点灯時間が繰り上げられました。点灯の瞬間をご覧になられたい方はご注意ください。#神戸ルミナリエpic.twitter.com/hj1pWfddoG

— 神戸観光局【公式】 (@feelkobe_jp) December 13, 2019

December in Japan is an attractive season where, while the cold becomes severe, you can enjoy winter-exclusive scenery and culture. In cities, illuminations light up the nights, while in snow-covered regions, hot springs and shrines and temples show mystical appearances. Furthermore, markets and streets become lively toward the year-end, and winter delicacies are abundantly available.

For tourists, it can be described as a special time to experience Japan’s diverse winter charms of light, snow, tradition, and food all at once. Here, we introduce the highlights of December in Japan.

In winter Japan, large-scale illuminations are held nationwide, entertaining people who visit the cities. In Tokyo, places like Roppongi Midtown and Caretta Shiodome in Shimbashi are famous, and you can enjoy multiple light destinations by touring along the Yamanote Line.

Additionally, Kobe’s “Luminarie” is a special event that began to pray for recovery from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and continues to illuminate many people’s hearts.Winter illuminations are a tourism highlight that provides such brilliance and emotion that they make you forget the cold.

Hot springs are popular for winter travel.

Particularly, Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture is known for its wooden inns from the Taisho period lining the riverside, creating scenery where snowy landscapes and gas lamps harmonize. At night, the gaslight illumination reflects beautifully in the snow, enveloping visitors in a mystical atmosphere and transporting them to another world. Tourists can enjoy the experience of strolling through the streets wearing yukata or Taisho-style clothing.

Additionally, foot baths, local street food, Obanazawa beef, and soba are among the attractions. The experience of soaking in outdoor baths at snow-covered hot spring destinations can be described as a luxurious way to enjoy Japan’s winter. Because of the harsh cold season, hot springs are an exceptional presence that heals both mind and body.

Winter shrines and temples are enveloped in silence and crisp air, radiating a charm different from other seasons. Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, while located in the center of the city, is surrounded by deep forest, and winter’s clear air and light filtering through bare trees create a mystical atmosphere.

From the latter half of December, New Year decorations such as kadomatsu and shimenawa are arranged in the precincts to prepare for welcoming the New Year. On New Year’s Eve, many people visit for New Year’s Eve bells and year-crossing visits, and the subsequent New Year’s first shrine visits see shrines and temples nationwide bustling with millions of visitors.

Winter temple and shrine visits, where silence and solemnity stand out, are an excellent opportunity to deeply understand Japanese culture.

Winter Japan is one of the seasons when food culture can be enjoyed most richly. Markets and shopping streets are lined with fresh seafood and auspicious foods for the year-end and New Year period, bustling with many people.

In homes and izakaya, hot pot dishes that warm both heart and body are standard, allowing you to enjoy diverse flavors unique to each region and household, such as yose-nabe, sukiyaki, and shabu-shabu. At food stalls and restaurants, winter staples like oden and roasted sweet potatoes are also popular.

At year-end, year-crossing soba and shopping for New Year’s osechi cuisine become active, allowing you to feel the depth of Japanese food culture.Winter cuisine is an essential element for experiencing Japan’s seasonality and will be a major enjoyment for tourism.

December in Japan is a special season with diverse attractions in both climate and cultural aspects. Temperatures drop nationwide, with snowy landscapes spreading in Hokkaido and Tohoku, while Kanto and Kansai experience more dry winter clear days. In this cold, tourism experiences like illuminations, hot springs, and shrine visits become even more striking and captivating to travelers.

Additionally, it’s characterized by being able to experience the year-end busyness and splendor unique to Christmas, New Year’s Eve events, and New Year preparations. Experience food culture such as hot pot dishes, year-crossing soba, and osechi preparations, and feel the winter lifestyle rooted in Japanese people’s lives.

*This article is based on information available as of September 2025.