When to go · Shimabara
Shimabara in December
Avoid month. Listed as a month to avoid: Jul–Aug (typhoon risk), Dec–Feb (cold).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Avoid
- Temperature
- 11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C) / 4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 8
- Crowds
- Medium
- Japan overall
- Prices
- Medium
- Japan overall
Verdict
Listed as a month to avoid: Jul–Aug (typhoon risk), Dec–Feb (cold).
Is another month better than December?
December is rated avoid. These months rate higher:
Weather in December
- ShimabaraHighs around 11 °C (52 °F), lows around 4 °C (39 °F), rain on about 8 daysHighs around 52 °F (11 °C), lows around 39 °F (4 °C), rain on about 8 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 Shimabara, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Avoid
Mar: Great (better)
Daytime high
Dec: 11 °C (52 °F)52 °F (11 °C)
Mar: 13 °C (55 °F)55 °F (13 °C)
Night low
Dec: 4 °C (39 °F)39 °F (4 °C)
Mar: 5 °C (41 °F)41 °F (5 °C)
Rain days
Dec: 8
Mar: 7 (better)
Crowds
Dec: Medium
Mar: High
Prices
Dec: Medium
Mar: High
Festivals listed
Dec: 1
Mar: 1
December: Listed as a month to avoid: Jul–Aug (typhoon risk), Dec–Feb (cold).
March: Inside Shimabara's best window: Mar–May, Sep–Nov.
Shimabara: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings