Shimonoseki weather in December

In December, Shimonoseki sees average daytime highs of 11°C and overnight lows near 9°C, with 90 mm of precipitation across 12.8 wet days and about 9.8 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 13°C in the first days to 10°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 20% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 54 min at the start of December to 9 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Shimonoseki's 8th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Shimonoseki's year-round climate.

Daytime high
11°
10th warmest
Overnight low
4th coldest
Precipitation
90 mm
12.8 wet days
Daylight
9 h 48 min
7:20 AM – 5:05 PM
Cloud cover
64%
8th clearest
Wind
19 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
2.12 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.7
out of 10

Shimonoseki is city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

Density
371/km²
people per km²
Founded
1889

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 13°C in the first days to 10°C by the end.

A typical December day in Shimonoseki reaches about 11°C in the afternoon and slips back to 9°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 8°C and 15°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 5°C cooler than November and about 3°C warmer than January.

10°15°20°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
11411
21311
31310
41310
51310
61310
71210
8129
9129
10129
11129
12129
13129
14119
15119
16118
17118
18118
19118
20118
21118
22118
23118
24118
25108
26108
27107
28107
29107
30107
31107

How December really feels in Shimonoseki

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 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
0
wind chill below the day's low

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Shimonoseki weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / 9213.91.5101.6
Feb / 91121.210.71.8
Mar12° / 14412.40.211.73.0
Apr16° / 12°15311012.84.8
May20° / 17°17010.4013.76.2
Jun23° / 20°27313.8014.25.9
Jul27° / 24°25513.50145.8
Aug28° / 26°13911.4013.35.7
Sep26° / 23°16311.5012.26.5
Oct21° / 18°1048.4011.16.9
Nov16° / 13°9510.2010.25.2
Dec11° / 9012.80.59.82.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 20% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 20% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 60%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24753
34753
44654
54555
64456
74357
84258
94258
104060
114060
123961
133961
143862
153862
163862
173763
183664
193664
203664
213664
223664
233664
243664
253763
263763
273862
283862
293862
303862
313862

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Shimonoseki gets around 90 mm of rain and snow over 12.8 wet days in December, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 41% and peaks near 42% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1390
2400
3400
4400
5410
6410
7410
8410
9411
10411
11411
12411
13421
14421
15421
16421
17421
18421
19422
20422
21422
22422
23422
24412
25412
26413
27413
28403
29403
30403
31403

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 99% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19541
29541
39631
49730
59730
69820
79820
89820
99910
109910
119910
129910
139910
149910
159910
169910
179910
1810000
1910000
2010000
2110000
2210000
2310000
2410000
2510000
2610000
2710000
2810000
2910000
3010000
3110000

Wind in December

Winds average 19 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 18 km/h on the calmest days to 20 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
118light breeze
218light breeze
318light breeze
418light breeze
518light breeze
618light 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
1920light breeze
2020light breeze
2120light breeze
2220light breeze
2320light breeze
2420light breeze
2520light breeze
2620light breeze
2720light breeze
2820light breeze
2920light breeze
3020light breeze
3120light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 54 min at the start of December to 9 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:09 AM to 7:26 AM, and sunset from 5:03 PM to 5:12 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.97:095:03
29.97:105:03
39.97:115:03
49.97:115:03
59.87:125:03
69.87:135:03
79.87:145:03
89.87:145:03
99.87:155:03
109.87:165:03
119.87:175:04
129.87:175:04
139.87:185:04
149.87:195:04
159.87:195:05
169.87:205:05
179.77:205:05
189.77:215:06
199.77:225:06
209.77:225:06
219.77:235:07
229.77:235:07
239.77:245:08
249.77:245:08
259.77:245:09
269.77:255:09
279.77:255:10
289.87:265:11
299.87:265:11
309.87:265:12
319.87:265:12

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.12 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.12 kWh/m² to a high of 5.54 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.12 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.3Moderate
22.3Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.2Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.2Moderate
92.1Moderate
102.1Moderate
112.1Moderate
122.1Moderate
132.1Moderate
142.1Moderate
152.1Moderate
162.1Moderate
172.1Moderate
182.1Moderate
192.1Moderate
202.1Moderate
212.1Moderate
222.1Moderate
232.1Moderate
242.1Moderate
252.1Moderate
262.2Moderate
272.2Moderate
282.2Moderate
292.2Moderate
302.2Moderate
312.2Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Shimonoseki

In seasonPeak

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

Shimonoseki 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 Shimonoseki?

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

2.7
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Shimonoseki.

What to pack for Shimonoseki in December

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

In December, Shimonoseki sees daytime highs around 11°C and nights near 9°C. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 13 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Shimonoseki in December

The nearest coast averages about 16°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 20 km away) is warmest in August at about 27°C and coldest in February near 12°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 6 to Nov 10 — about 5.2 months when the water holds above 20°C.

10°15°20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan13Bracing
Feb12Bracing
Mar12Bracing
Apr14Bracing
May17Cool
Jun21Refreshing
Jul25Warm
Aug27Warm
Sep26Warm
Oct23Refreshing
Nov19Cool
Dec16Cool

UV index in Shimonoseki in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 3. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Shimonoseki peaks around July 17 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highModerateJul 17UV 9Dec 22UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5High
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Shimonoseki 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 Shimonoseki is worst in March — around 27 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 12 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateMar 2026 µg/m³Oct 1212 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan17Moderate
Feb20Moderate
Mar27Moderate
Apr24Moderate
May21Moderate
Jun18Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug19Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct12Good
Nov14Moderate
Dec13Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Shimonoseki?

Shimonoseki sits at 34.0°N, 130.9°E, 10 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Kitakyushu, 14 km away.

Topography around Shimonoseki

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Shimonoseki has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 291 m around an average of 26 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 658 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,205 m.

The land around Shimonoseki is covered by artificial surfaces (42%), water (34%) and trees (22%) within 3 km, water (53%), trees (22%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 16 km, and water (50%) and trees (38%) within 80 km.

3 km
291 m
16 km
658 m
80 km
1,205 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Kitakyushu 14 km · Kanda 20 km · Sanyōonoda 22 km · Onoda 23 km · Miyaodai 24 km · Yukuhashi 26 km · Nakama 26 km · Miyako 29 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 Shimonoseki (33.9555°, 130.9371°, elevation 10 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).