Tokyo in December 2026: Weather, Lights and Year-End Events

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Researched guide · Checked on Nov 5, 2026

December in Tokyo is cool, dry and usually sunny, with winter illuminations, Christmas markets and traditional year-end fairs. It ends with the New Year holidays, when many places close for a few days. Here is the weather, what’s on in December 2026, and how the year-end affects your trip.

Tokyo weather in December

December is cool, dry and sunny, with an average high of 12°C (54°F), a low of 4°C (39°F) and 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain. Wear layers: it is cold outside, but trains, shops and restaurants are warm. Clear winter days are also the best time to see Mt. Fuji from Tokyo. Average humidity is 56%. These are 1991–2020 averages, not a forecast for 2026. See Tokyo weather by month.

Date	Average high	Average low	Average sunshine
December 1	14.1°C (57°F)	6.2°C (43°F)	5.0 hours
December 15	12.0°C (54°F)	3.8°C (39°F)	5.6 hours
December 31	10.6°C (51°F)	1.9°C (35°F)	6.3 hours

Winter illuminations

Most illuminations are free and best seen after dark. Dates for 2026:

• Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Illumination: until December 25.
• Midtown Christmas (Tokyo Midtown): until December 25, 17:00–23:00.
• Marunouchi Illumination near Tokyo Station: until February 14, 2027.
• Tokyo Dome City: until February 28, 2027.
• Omotesando Illumination: December 1–27, sunset to 22:00.
• Ebisu Garden Place: the Baccarat chandelier until January 11, 2027, and the illumination until February 28, 2027.
• Tokyo Skytree Town: until December 25.
• Yoyogi Forest of Lights (ticket needed): until January 11, 2027.
• Details and more: Christmas in Tokyo.

Christmas markets

The Tokyo Christmas Market, a German-style market with food stalls and Christmas goods, runs at two venues in 2026. Entry is charged.

• Shin-Toyosu: November 20 – December 25, 11:00–21:30.
• Shiba Park (by Onarimon Station): December 4 – December 25, 11:00–22:00 (from 16:00 on December 4).
• Tokyo Tower: a separate market with free entry runs until December 25, 12:00–22:00, by the tower’s main entrance.

Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan: December 24 and 25 are normal working days, so shops, restaurants and trains run as usual.

Hagoita-ichi at Senso-ji (December 17–19)

Every year on December 17, 18 and 19, the grounds of Senso-ji in Asakusa hold the Hagoita-ichi, a fair selling decorated hagoita (battledores), timed with the temple’s last festival day of the year for Kannon on December 18, according to the temple. Combine it with the rest of Asakusa.

New Year’s Eve and the year-end

• New Year’s Eve bell: on December 31, Senso-ji rings its year-end bell (joya no kane) at Bentenyama, according to the temple.
• Closures: the New Year holidays run around December 29 to January 3. Many museums, gardens and small restaurants close for a few days, often from around December 28 or 29.
• Still open: convenience stores, many chain restaurants and big department stores stay open, though some close early on New Year’s Eve.
• Trains run on a holiday timetable, and some lines run extra late-night trains on New Year’s Eve. Check each railway.
• Free night view: the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories are closed December 29–31.
• For the first shrine visit of the year (hatsumode) and the New Year greeting at the Imperial Palace, see winter in Tokyo.

A day trip: Chichibu Night Festival (December 2–3)

The Chichibu Night Festival, held every year on December 2 and 3, is one of Japan’s three great float festivals, with more than 350 years of history. Chichibu is about 77 minutes from Ikebukuro on the Seibu Laview limited express. See our Chichibu day trip.

Tips for December

• Book hotels early. Hotels are busy and expensive around Christmas and New Year. See where to stay in Tokyo.
• Check opening days if you travel in late December or early January.
• Warm up in a hot bath. See our onsen and sento etiquette guide.

Month by month: ← Tokyo in November · Tokyo in January → · All 12 months

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