Japan Weather in September, October, November, December: Real Temperatures (Official Data), What to Pack, and Which Month Is Worth It
Checked 2026-09-08
Written by Tanya Jepun — a Japanese guy living in Malaysia. The numbers below are 30-year averages (1991–2020) from the Japan Meteorological Agency, not forecasts. Checked on 8 September 2026 with source links.
Short answer. From September to December, Japan goes from "like KL" to "properly cold" in three months. September is still hot and humid (Tokyo average 23°C, Osaka 25°C) and it's typhoon season. October is the most comfortable (18–20°C, less rain after mid-month). November is cool and pleasant (12–14°C) and it's autumn-leaf season. December is cold (8–9°C in Tokyo/Osaka, below zero in Sapporo) but the driest. For a Malaysian's first trip: late October to early December.
1. Temperature table: 3 cities × 4 months (1991–2020 averages)
Figures: monthly mean / mean daily high / mean daily low / total rainfall. Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (links below).
| Month | Tokyo | Osaka | Sapporo (Hokkaido) |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | 23.3°C (27.5 / 20.3) · 225 mm | 25.2°C (29.5 / 21.9) · 153 mm | 18.6°C (22.8 / 14.8) · 142 mm |
| October | 18.0°C (22.0 / 14.8) · 235 mm | 19.5°C (23.7 / 16.0) · 136 mm | 12.1°C (16.4 / 8.0) · 110 mm |
| November | 12.5°C (16.7 / 8.8) · 96 mm | 13.8°C (17.8 / 10.2) · 73 mm | 5.2°C (8.7 / 1.6) · 114 mm · snow 30 cm |
| December | 7.7°C (12.0 / 3.8) · 58 mm | 8.7°C (12.3 / 5.3) · 56 mm | −0.9°C (2.0 / −4.0) · 115 mm · snow 113 cm |
| January (reference) | 5.4°C (9.8 / 1.2) · 60 mm | 6.2°C (9.7 / 3.0) · 47 mm | −3.2°C (−0.4 / −6.4) · 108 mm · snow 137 cm |
Three things the table doesn't show:
- September to early October is typhoon season. Tokyo's rain in Sept–Oct (225–235 mm a month) is higher than any other month here. Buy tickets you can change, and don't put Mt Fuji on day one.
- Monthly averages hide the mornings and nights. December in Tokyo: 12°C in the afternoon, 4°C in the morning. Pack layers, not one thick jacket.
- Kyoto follows Osaka, just a little colder in the morning. Nara and Kobe too.
2. What to pack (by temperature band, not by month name)
Malaysians usually get it wrong two ways: too warm for October, too thin for December. Go by the temperature, not the month:
| Temperature band | City & month | What's enough |
|---|---|---|
| 20–29°C (like KL, less humid after the rain) | Tokyo/Osaka September | Your normal KL clothes. A folding umbrella (typhoons). Shoes that can get wet |
| 15–22°C (the sweet spot) | Tokyo/Osaka October, Sapporo September | Thin long sleeves + a light jacket for the evening. Easiest month to pack for |
| 8–17°C (cool and pleasant) | Tokyo/Osaka November, Sapporo October | Base layer (Heattech or similar), a sweater, a medium jacket, closed shoes. Gloves for mornings |
| 0–12°C (properly cold) | Tokyo/Osaka December–January, Sapporo November | Base layer + sweater + thick (down) jacket, scarf, hat, gloves. Shoes with grip |
| Below 0°C (snow) | Sapporo December–January | All of the above + snow boots (or slip-on shoe grips, sold in shops in Sapporo). Face moisturiser |
Don't buy a thick jacket in Malaysia just for the trip. In Japan a proper winter jacket is cheaper and better suited. Buy it on day one, wear it all trip, bring it home for the next one.
3. So which month is worth it for Malaysians?
| If you want… | Pick | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First trip, easy weather | Late October – early November | 15–18°C, less rain, leaves starting to turn. Hotels not yet at peak |
| Autumn leaves | 25 Nov – 5 Dec (Tokyo & Kyoto) | This year's official forecast is late — see the [autumn leaves article](/japan-autumn-leaves-2026-forecast/) |
| Snow, kids want to play | Sapporo December–January | 113–137 cm of snow a month. Full winter kit needed. Snow without Hokkaido: the Kawaguchiko area near Mt Fuji, or Nagano |
| Cheapest | June – September | Cheaper flights (KAYAK: June average return RM1,557; checked 3 Sept 2026) but hot and typhoon season. If budget comes first, September still works — bring an umbrella |
| Avoid cold entirely | September – mid-October | After that, nights drop below 15°C |
Flights: November is cheaper than December (KAYAK, December average return RM2,225; checked 3 Sept 2026). Kyoto hotels rise 30–60% in leaf season (checked 3 Sept 2026). Today's rate: ¥100 = RM2.615 (ECB, 7 Sept 2026).
4. One piece of advice from a Japanese
The season Japanese people themselves like best is October–November. Clear skies, temperatures made for walking all day (and you will walk a lot), and autumn food (roasted sweet potato, persimmon, sanma fish). If you can only pick one window this year, pick that one.
I'll update this article when the Japan Meteorological Agency publishes its winter 2026/27 outlook (usually October) and when fares move.
Links in this article may be affiliate links (Klook, Trip.com, Airalo). The price you pay doesn't change; it helps me keep updating the numbers every month.
Sources
- Japan Meteorological Agency, 1991–2020 normals, Tokyo: https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=44&block_no=47662
- Osaka: https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=62&block_no=47772
- Sapporo: https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=14&block_no=47412
- Autumn leaves forecast 2026 (Japan Meteorological Corporation, 2 Sept 2026): https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/autumn/?lang=en
- KUL–Tokyo fares by month (KAYAK): https://www.kayak.com.my/flight-routes/Malaysia-MY0/Tokyo-TYO
- ECB exchange rate (Frankfurter): https://api.frankfurter.dev/v1/latest?base=JPY&symbols=MYR
Booking links
Affiliate links may be used; your price doesn't change.
- Flights and hotels (free cancellation for typhoon season): Trip.com
- Mt Fuji, snow and autumn-leaf tours: Klook
- Free: the "Read a Japanese food label in 60 seconds" sheet — sign up here
Who wrote this
Tanya Jepun — Japanese, living in Malaysia. I read Japanese labels and official pages, check prices, and cite sources with dates. I'm not Muslim; for halal, I tell you what's in the ingredients — you decide.
How this article was made
Prices were taken from the agencies' and operators' official pages on the date shown, re-checked by me, and drafted with AI assistance. Numbers that couldn't be confirmed are written as ranges. When a price changes, I update it here.