When to go · Hakuba
Hakuba in December
Good month. Outside the best window (Jan–Feb for snow; Jul–Aug for hiking and lakes). Across Japan: Cold and clear until the New Year shutdown from 29 Dec.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Temperature
- 4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) / −4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 14
- Crowds
- Medium
- Japan overall
- Prices
- Medium
- Japan overall
Verdict
Outside the best window (Jan–Feb for snow; Jul–Aug for hiking and lakes). Across Japan: Cold and clear until the New Year shutdown from 29 Dec.
Is another month better than December?
December is rated good. These months rate higher:
- JanuaryGreatInside Hakuba's best window: Jan–Feb for snow; Jul–Aug for hiking and lakes.
- FebruaryGreatInside Hakuba's best window: Jan–Feb for snow; Jul–Aug for hiking and lakes.
- JulyGreatInside Hakuba's best window: Jan–Feb for snow; Jul–Aug for hiking and lakes.
- AugustGreatInside Hakuba's best window: Jan–Feb for snow; Jul–Aug for hiking and lakes.
Weather in December
- HakubaHighs around 4 °C (39 °F), lows around -4 °C (25 °F), rain on about 14 daysHighs around 39 °F (4 °C), lows around 25 °F (-4 °C), rain on about 14 days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
New Year (Shōgatsu) big impact
29 Dec – 3 Jan · Japan
Shops, museums and many restaurants close; shrines packed on 1–3 Jan; trains full on 29–30 Dec and 2–3 Jan.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Japan overall
- Medium
- Prices · Japan overall
- Medium
Japan overall: Cold and clear until the New Year shutdown from 29 Dec.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Hakuba, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Good
Jan: Great (better)
Daytime high
Dec: 4 °C (39 °F)39 °F (4 °C)
Jan: 1 °C (34 °F)34 °F (1 °C)
Night low
Dec: -4 °C (25 °F)25 °F (-4 °C)
Jan: -7 °C (19 °F)19 °F (-7 °C)
Rain days
Dec: 14 (better)
Jan: 15
Crowds
Dec: Medium
Jan: Low
Prices
Dec: Medium
Jan: Low
Festivals listed
Dec: 1
Jan: 1
December: Outside the best window (Jan–Feb for snow; Jul–Aug for hiking and lakes). Across Japan: Cold and clear until the New Year shutdown from 29 Dec.
January: Inside Hakuba's best window: Jan–Feb for snow; Jul–Aug for hiking and lakes.
Hakuba: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast