Niseko weather in December

In December, Niseko sees average daytime highs of -1°C and overnight lows near -7°C, with 76 mm of precipitation across 14.5 wet days and about 8.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 1°C in the first days to -2°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 6% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Niseko's 9th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Niseko's year-round climate.

Daytime high
-1°
10th warmest
Overnight low
-7°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
76 mm
14.5 wet days
Daylight
8 h 54 min
7:08 AM – 3:59 PM
Cloud cover
73%
9th clearest
Wind
9 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
1.68 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 1°C in the first days to -2°C by the end.

A typical December day in Niseko reaches about -1°C in the afternoon and slips back to -7°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -5°C and 4°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 7°C cooler than November and about 3°C warmer than January.

-15°-10°-5°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12-5
22-5
31-5
41-5
51-6
61-6
70-6
80-6
90-6
100-7
110-7
120-7
13-1-7
14-1-7
15-1-8
16-1-8
17-1-8
18-1-8
19-1-8
20-1-8
21-1-8
22-1-8
23-2-8
24-2-8
25-2-8
26-2-9
27-2-9
28-2-9
29-2-9
30-2-9
31-2-9

How December really feels in Niseko

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 31 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
31
26 feel bitter (≤ -10°C)

The story in December is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Niseko weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan-3° / -10°5812.618.59.20.0
Feb-2° / -9°5110.415.610.30.0
Mar / -6°7113.213.911.60.0
Apr / 7511.95.213.11.7
May15° / 9412.60.314.44.3
Jun19° / 11°7710.6015.15.8
Jul23° / 16°13613.9014.86.0
Aug24° / 17°18213.8013.76.1
Sep20° / 12°14113.9012.35.6
Oct14° / 9913.70.610.83.7
Nov / -1°9214.810.19.60.6
Dec-1° / -7°7614.518.88.90.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 6% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 75%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12377
22377
32278
42278
52377
62377
72476
82476
92476
102476
112575
122575
132575
142575
152674
162674
172773
182773
192773
202773
212674
222674
232674
242674
252575
262674
272674
282674
292674
302575
312575

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Niseko gets around 76 mm of rain and snow over 14.5 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 47% and peaks near 50% on the wettest days, and about 19 days bring snow.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
15056
25057
35058
45058
54959
64959
74960
84860
94860
104861
114761
124761
134761
144661
154660
164560
174560
184561
194561
204561
214662
224662
234662
244662
254662
264662
274762
284762
294762
304762
314762

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in December

Winds average 9 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm
319calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:55 AM to 7:14 AM, and sunset from 3:59 PM to 4:07 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.16:553:59
29.16:563:59
39.06:573:59
49.06:583:59
59.06:593:59
69.07:003:58
79.07:003:58
89.07:013:58
98.97:023:58
108.97:033:58
118.97:043:58
128.97:053:59
138.97:053:59
148.97:063:59
158.97:073:59
168.97:083:59
178.97:084:00
188.97:094:00
198.87:094:00
208.87:104:01
218.87:104:01
228.87:114:02
238.87:114:02
248.87:124:03
258.87:124:03
268.97:134:04
278.97:134:04
288.97:134:05
298.97:134:06
308.97:144:06
318.97:144:07

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.68 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.68 kWh/m² to a high of 5.48 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 1.68 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.7Dim
21.7Dim
31.7Dim
41.7Dim
51.7Dim
61.7Dim
71.7Dim
81.7Dim
91.7Dim
101.7Dim
111.7Dim
121.7Dim
131.7Dim
141.7Dim
151.7Dim
161.7Dim
171.7Dim
181.7Dim
191.7Dim
201.7Dim
211.7Dim
221.7Dim
231.7Dim
241.7Dim
251.8Dim
261.8Dim
271.8Dim
281.8Dim
291.8Dim
301.8Dim
311.8Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Niseko

In seasonPeak

In December, Niseko sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Niseko sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Pacific typhoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Niseko?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.0
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Niseko.

What to pack for Niseko in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Niseko sees daytime highs around -1°C and nights near -7°C. Pack a warm layer, a heavy coat and rain gear. About 15 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Niseko in December

The nearest coast averages about 10°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 26 km away) is warmest in August at about 22°C and coldest in February near 6°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 29 to Sep 25 — about 1.9 months when the water holds above 20°C.

5°10°15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan8Bracing
Feb6Bracing
Mar6Bracing
Apr8Bracing
May11Bracing
Jun15Bracing
Jul19Cool
Aug22Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct17Cool
Nov13Bracing
Dec10Bracing

UV index in Niseko in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Niseko peaks around August 18 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighVery highHighModerateLowAug 18UV 8Dec 20UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar3Moderate
Apr5High
May8Very high
Jun7High
Jul5Moderate
Aug9Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low

Air quality in Niseko in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Niseko is worst in April — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodApr 1219 µg/m³Dec 158 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb14Moderate
Mar19Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May18Moderate
Jun12Moderate
Jul11Good
Aug10Good
Sep9Good
Oct11Good
Nov9Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Niseko?

Niseko sits at 42.8°N, 140.7°E, 0 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Kutchan, 11 km away.

Topography around Niseko

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Niseko.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Niseko has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 199 m around an average of 161 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,881 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,867 m.

The land around Niseko is covered by trees (56%) and cropland (31%) within 3 km, trees (80%) within 16 km, and water (47%) and trees (44%) within 80 km.

3 km
199 m
16 km
1,881 m
80 km
1,867 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Kutchan 11 km · Date 41 km · Yoichi 44 km · Otaru 50 km · Noboribetsu 57 km · Muroran 60 km · Sapporo 61 km · Shiraoi 61 km

Japan travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type A / B
100 V · 50 / 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 65% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$35,951
2025
Happiness
6.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
99%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.2
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
3.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 446
Religion
Shintoism 49%Buddhism 46%other 4%Christianity 1%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Niseko (42.8089°, 140.686°, elevation 0 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).