Japan Weather November & December 2026: How Cold, When It Snows
Checked 2026-09-08 · Updated 2026-10-30
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 17 October 2026 with source links (sections 1b and 1c added: November vs December in 10-day steps, first snow, when it gets dark). Updated 30 October 2026: this year's first snow in Sapporo (section 1c).
Short answer (JMA 1991–2020 normals, checked 17 Oct 2026). 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.
A 7-day Japan itinerary for a family of four, December 2026: real budget in RM, 4-person hotels, halal food and prayer on your route (a map sample), and a what-to-book-when calendar (PDF, BM & EN). Sign up & download →
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.
1b. November vs December in 10-day steps (1991–2020 averages)
"November" and "December" are not one temperature each. Early November in Tokyo is still 18–19°C in the afternoon; late December is 11°C in the afternoon and 2–3°C in the morning. The Japan Meteorological Agency publishes averages for every 10-day block — that is what to look at before you pack, not the monthly mean. Figures: mean / mean daily high / mean daily low (°C) · rainfall (mm) for that 10-day block. Sapporo adds total snowfall (cm).
| 10 days | Tokyo | Osaka | Sapporo (Hokkaido) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 Nov | 14.4 (18.6 / 10.6) · 26 mm | 15.8 (20.0 / 12.1) · 20 mm | 7.9 (11.8 / 4.0) · 39 mm · snow 3 cm |
| 11–20 Nov | 12.5 (16.6 / 8.8) · 40 mm | 13.7 (17.6 / 10.2) · 31 mm | 4.8 (8.4 / 1.3) · 40 mm · snow 11 cm |
| 21–30 Nov | 10.8 (14.9 / 7.1) · 31 mm | 12.0 (15.9 / 8.4) · 22 mm | 2.8 (6.0 / −0.4) · 35 mm · snow 17 cm |
| 1–10 Dec | 9.1 (13.3 / 5.3) · 23 mm | 10.1 (13.9 / 6.7) · 18 mm | 0.5 (3.5 / −2.4) · 34 mm · snow 28 cm |
| 11–20 Dec | 7.6 (11.9 / 3.6) · 15 mm | 8.4 (11.9 / 5.2) · 17 mm | −1.3 (1.6 / −4.4) · 36 mm · snow 37 cm |
| 21–31 Dec | 6.5 (11.0 / 2.5) · 19 mm | 7.5 (11.1 / 4.3) · 20 mm | −1.9 (0.9 / −5.0) · 44 mm · snow 48 cm |
What the table tells you:
- 1–10 November in Tokyo/Osaka is still "October" (19–20°C afternoons). A light jacket is enough; don't bring a down jacket for the first 10 days of November.
- 21–30 November mornings are already "December" (7–8°C at 6–7 am). If your trip is late November, pack from the December rows, not the November ones.
- December in Tokyo is the sunniest, driest block of the year: 15–23 mm of rain and 51–67 hours of sunshine per 10 days (same official normals). Cold, but you will rarely need an umbrella — which is also why Mt Fuji is easiest to see in December.
- Sapporo changes fastest: afternoons go from 11.8°C in early November to 0.9°C in late December, and snowfall rises from 3 cm to 48 cm per 10 days.
1c. Average first snow, and when it gets dark
The two December questions I get most: "will we see snow?" and "why is it dark so early?"
| City | First snowfall (1991–2020 average) | Snow staying on the ground |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 28 October | From 3 December (average) |
| Kyoto | 11 December | Rarely stays |
| Fukuoka | 16 December | Rarely stays |
| Osaka | 26 December | Rarely stays |
| Tokyo | 3 January | Rarely stays |
This year in Sapporo: snow fell on the night of 27 Oct into the morning of 28 Oct 2026, right on the average first-snow date of 28 Oct. JMA daily data for 28 Oct: high 6.5°C, low 1.4°C (preliminary), and no snow on the ground. Checked 29 Oct 2026. Full story: Sapporo's first snow, 27–28 Oct.
What it means: a December trip to Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto is not a snow trip. The average first snowfall is 26 December in Osaka and 3 January in Tokyo — and that is "a few flakes", not a snow cover. If the kids want to play in snow, pick Sapporo (snow stays from early December) or a day trip to the mountains from Tokyo/Osaka (see section 3).
Sunset in Tokyo (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2026 tables): 1 Nov 4:46 pm · 15 Nov 4:35 pm · 30 Nov 4:28 pm · 15 Dec 4:29 pm · 31 Dec 4:37 pm. Sunrise moves from 6:02 am (1 Nov) to 6:50 am (31 Dec). For Muslim families: Maghrib begins after sunset, so in November–December Maghrib in Tokyo is around 4:30–4:45 pm. Plan your sightseeing for 7 am–4 pm; most large gardens and temples close their gates around 4:30–5 pm in this season, and look for a prayer space before 2 pm, not after.
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 |
| 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 = RM2.58 (ECB, 16 Oct 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
| Source | For | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), monthly normals 1991–2020 — Tokyo · Osaka · Sapporo | Table 1: temperature, rain, monthly snowfall | 17 Oct 2026 |
| JMA, 10-day normals 1991–2020 — Tokyo · Osaka · Sapporo | Table 1b: November vs December, Tokyo sunshine hours | 17 Oct 2026 |
| JMA, average first-snow dates 1991–2020 — Tokyo · Osaka · Kyoto · Fukuoka · Sapporo | Table 1c: first snow and snow cover | 17 Oct 2026 |
| JMA, Sapporo station daily data, Oct 2026 (Japanese) — data.jma.go.jp | Snow on 27–28 Oct 2026; 28 Oct high 6.5°C / low 1.4°C (preliminary), no snow on the ground | 29 Oct 2026 |
| National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Tokyo sunrise/sunset 2026 — November · December | Sunset and sunrise times | 17 Oct 2026 |
| Japan Meteorological Corporation, autumn leaves forecast 2026 (2 Sept 2026) — n-kishou.com | Leaf season for Tokyo & Kyoto | Check date: not recorded |
| KAYAK, KUL–Tokyo fares by month — kayak.com.my | Average return: June RM1,557, December RM2,225 | 3 Sept 2026 |
| ECB reference rate (Frankfurter) — api.frankfurter.dev | ¥100 = RM2.58 | 16 Oct 2026 |
Book for this trip
Affiliate links may be used; your price doesn't change.
- September (typhoon season): cancellable rooms — filter "free cancellation" in the Tokyo hotel list on Trip.com
- Snow for the kids, Sapporo December–January: KUL–Sapporo flights on Trip.com · snow day trip from Sapporo on Klook · one-day ski with rental gear on Klook
- Mt Fuji is clearest in October–December (dry air): day trip from Tokyo on Klook
- Late October to early December (easiest weather): Trip.com KUL–Tokyo search — November is cheaper than December (KAYAK, checked 3 Sept 2026)
Before you fly: the map of 231 halal places & prayer rooms (US$6.99) — December Edition, 15 Nov.
A 7-day Japan itinerary for a family of four, December 2026: real budget in RM, 4-person hotels, halal food and prayer on your route (a map sample), and a what-to-book-when calendar (PDF, BM & EN). Sign up & download →