Otaru weather in December

In December, Otaru sees average daytime highs of -0°C and overnight lows near -3°C, with 126 mm of precipitation across 21.9 wet days and about 8.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 2°C in the first days to -2°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 4% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 hours at the start of December to 8 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Otaru's 11th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Otaru's year-round climate.

Daytime high
-0°
10th warmest
Overnight low
-3°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
126 mm
21.9 wet days
Daylight
8 h 48 min
7:08 AM – 3:57 PM
Cloud cover
75%
11th clearest
Wind
19 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
1.4 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 2°C in the first days to -2°C by the end.

A typical December day in Otaru reaches about -0°C in the afternoon and slips back to -3°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -4°C and 4°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 6°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

-10°-5°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12-1
22-1
32-2
42-2
51-2
61-2
71-2
81-3
91-3
100-3
110-3
120-3
130-3
140-3
150-4
160-4
170-4
18-1-4
19-1-4
20-1-4
21-1-4
22-1-4
23-1-4
24-1-4
25-1-4
26-1-4
27-1-5
28-1-5
29-1-5
30-2-5
31-2-5

How December really feels in Otaru

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
13 feel bitter (≤ -10°C)

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

Otaru weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan-3° / -6°9820.824.29.20.0
Feb-2° / -6°791820.210.20.0
Mar / -3°761515.411.60.0
Apr / 6611.2513.10.7
May12° / 8411.70.414.43.0
Jun17° / 12°7610.6015.15.1
Jul21° / 17°12712.8014.95.9
Aug23° / 19°16314.2013.86.0
Sep20° / 16°14913.9012.35.6
Oct14° / 11714.90.610.83.5
Nov / 12918.611.29.50.7
Dec-0° / -3°12621.922.58.90.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 4% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 79%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12575
22377
32377
42377
52377
62377
72278
82377
92377
102377
112377
122377
132377
142377
152278
162278
172278
182179
192179
202080
212080
222080
231981
241981
251981
261981
271981
281783
291783
301783
311783

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Otaru gets around 126 mm of rain and snow over 21.9 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 70% and peaks near 72% on the wettest days, and about 23 days bring snow.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
16862
26963
36965
47066
57067
67068
77169
87170
97170
107171
117171
127172
137172
147172
157072
167072
177072
187072
197073
207073
217074
227074
237075
247175
257176
267176
277177
287178
297178
307279
317279

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 19 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 19 km/h on the calmest days to 19 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
119light breeze
219light breeze
319light breeze
419light breeze
519light breeze
619light breeze
719light breeze
819light breeze
919light breeze
1019light breeze
1119light breeze
1219light breeze
1319light breeze
1419light breeze
1519light breeze
1619light breeze
1719light breeze
1819light breeze
1919light breeze
2019light breeze
2119light breeze
2219light breeze
2319light breeze
2419light breeze
2519light breeze
2619light breeze
2719light breeze
2819light breeze
2919light breeze
3019light breeze
3119light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 hours at the start of December to 8 h 48 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 3:57 PM to 4:04 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.06:553:57
29.06:563:57
39.06:573:56
49.06:583:56
59.06:593:56
68.97:003:56
78.97:003:56
88.97:013:56
98.97:023:56
108.97:033:56
118.97:043:56
128.97:053:56
138.87:053:56
148.87:063:56
158.87:073:56
168.87:083:57
178.87:083:57
188.87:093:57
198.87:093:58
208.87:103:58
218.87:113:58
228.87:113:59
238.87:113:59
248.87:124:00
258.87:124:00
268.87:134:01
278.87:134:02
288.87:134:02
298.87:134:03
308.87:144:04
318.87:144:04

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.4 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.4 kWh/m² to a high of 5.59 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 1.4 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.5Dim
21.5Dim
31.5Dim
41.5Dim
51.4Dim
61.4Dim
71.4Dim
81.4Dim
91.4Dim
101.4Dim
111.4Dim
121.4Dim
131.4Dim
141.4Dim
151.4Dim
161.4Dim
171.4Dim
181.4Dim
191.4Dim
201.4Dim
211.4Dim
221.4Dim
231.4Dim
241.4Dim
251.4Dim
261.4Dim
271.5Dim
281.5Dim
291.5Dim
301.5Dim
311.5Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Otaru

In seasonPeak

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

Otaru 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 Otaru?

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 Otaru.

What to pack for Otaru in December

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

In December, Otaru sees daytime highs around -0°C and nights near -3°C. Pack a warm layer, a heavy coat and rain gear. About 22 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Otaru in December

The nearest coast averages about 9°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 23 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 31 to Sep 22 — about 1.8 months when the water holds above 20°C.

10°20°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan7Bracing
Feb6Bracing
Mar6Bracing
Apr7Bracing
May10Bracing
Jun14Bracing
Jul19Cool
Aug22Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct17Cool
Nov13Bracing
Dec9Bracing

UV index in Otaru 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 Otaru peaks around August 18 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 1 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighHighVery highHighModerateLowAug 18UV 8Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar3Moderate
Apr5High
May7Very high
Jun7High
Jul5Moderate
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low

Air quality in Otaru 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 Otaru is worst in April — around 21 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodApr 1121 µg/m³Dec 169 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb15Moderate
Mar21Moderate
Apr21Moderate
May19Moderate
Jun13Moderate
Jul12Moderate
Aug11Good
Sep10Good
Oct12Good
Nov11Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Otaru?

Otaru sits at 43.2°N, 141.0°E, 30 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Yoichi, 19 km away.

Topography around Otaru

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Otaru has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 508 m around an average of 83 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,289 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,867 m.

The land around Otaru is covered by trees (44%), artificial surfaces (32%) and water (23%) within 3 km, water (49%) and trees (46%) within 16 km, and trees (48%) and water (37%) within 80 km.

3 km
508 m
16 km
1,289 m
80 km
1,867 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Yoichi 19 km · Ishikari 29 km · Sapporo 31 km · Kutchan 38 km · Tōbetsu 42 km · Ebetsu 45 km · Niseko 50 km · Kitahiroshima 52 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 Otaru (43.1894°, 141.0022°, elevation 30 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).