Tokyo events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Shibuya Crossing, Imperial Palace East Gardens, plus Tokyo Skytree & Sumida River. December in Tokyo averages 11°C / 52°F highs, 4°C / 38°F nights, and about 11 rainy days.
Expect 11°C/52°F days and about 11 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Shibuya Crossing★ 4.5 · 21.0k reviewsThe scramble crossing outside Shibuya Station is a rail-node spectacle rather than a long sight.
- Imperial Palace East Gardens★ 4.4 · 10.0k reviewsThe former Edo Castle site sits in Chiyoda inside the Yamanote loop, with moats, stone walls, and garden paths near Tokyo Station.
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Tokyo in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
52°F / 38°F
11.2°C / 3.6°C
RainPrecipitation
11d
2.4in · 61mm
LightDaylight
9.9h
Sea
56.1°F
13.4°C
December is dry and bright, good for illuminations in Shinjuku, Roppongi, and Marunouchi with a warm layer after dark.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1 – Dec 25
Roppongi Hills Artelligent Christmas 2026
Seasonal illumination and art installations combined with Christmas-themed events in the Roppongi Hills complex.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination 2026
A spectacular winter illumination event with millions of LED lights decorating Tokyo Dome City.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Shinjuku Terrace City Illumination 2026
Winter illumination event featuring light displays and seasonal decorations in the Shinjuku Terrace City area.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
Show all 7 events for December
- Dec 11 – Dec 25
Tokyo Christmas Market 2026
A traditional German-style Christmas market held in Hibiya Park featuring festive stalls, food, and entertainment.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 17 – Dec 19
Asakusa Hagoita-Ichi Fair 2026
Traditional fair selling decorative battledores (hagoita) used in a New Year’s game, held at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 20 – Dec 24
Tokyo Opera City Christmas Concert 2026
A series of classical music concerts celebrating the Christmas season at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 31 – Jan 1
Associated occasion: New Year / winter observance.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival calendar
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 31New Year's EveBank holiday
- Dec 31-Jan 3Long weekend with bridge day
About Tokyo
City overview
Tokyo is a rail-shaped metropolis where the JR Yamanote loop frames the old shogun centre, while Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Asakusa, Ginza, and Odaiba pull visitors into separate city-centres. The Sumida River, Tokyo Bay, and the former Edo castle grounds still organize the first-timer map even when the subway makes the city feel borderless.
Food & drink
Tokyo is one of the world's densest restaurant cities, with Edo-mae sushi, tempura, unagi, soba, ramen, tonkatsu, and Tsukishima monjayaki all tied to specific districts. Tsukiji Outer Market is the breakfast anchor, Ginza and Nihonbashi handle high-end sushi counters, Shinjuku and Ebisu cover izakaya nights, and the city has held more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in several guide years while still rewarding cheap station-counter meals.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Tokyo Skytree & Sumida River
- 2Ginza & Tsukiji Outer Market
- 3Toyosu Market
- 4Meiji Jingu & Harajuku
- 5Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum & Ameyoko
- 6Senso-ji & Nakamise-dori
- 7Akihabara Electric Town
- 8Odaiba & the Yurikamome
1Tokyo Skytree & Sumida River
4.4★ · 114,578outdoorOpen dailyThe 634-metre Skytree rises on the east side near Oshiage, giving the clearest aerial read of the Sumida River and central Tokyo spread. Combine it with Asakusa by walking or taking a short train hop.
2Ginza & Tsukiji Outer Market
4.2★ · 55,646outdoorGinza is Tokyo's high-end shopping grid, while Tsukiji Outer Market still feeds visitors with breakfast sushi, tamagoyaki, and knife shops after the wholesale fish market moved to Toyosu.
3Toyosu Market
3.6★ · 12,309outdoorClosed Wed/SunToyosu replaced Tsukiji as Tokyo's wholesale fish-market complex and keeps the tuna auction behind observation areas. It pairs with teamLab Planets, Ariake, or Odaiba by rail and foot.
WikipediaAuction viewing windows are early; apply for lottery-style close viewing when that program is open.
Show 3 more sights
- 4Meiji Jingu & Harajuku
- 5Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum & Ameyoko
- 6Senso-ji & Nakamise-dori
Neighborhoods
1Shinjuku
Shinjuku is a transport machine, nightlife district, and hotel base in one: the station, Tokyo Metropolitan Government towers, Kabukichō, Golden Gai, and department-store basements all stack together.
2Shibuya, Harajuku & Ebisu
This west-side belt is youth fashion, crossings, music shops, cafes, and shrine forest. Shibuya and Harajuku bring the crowds; Ebisu is the calmer dinner-and-bar release valve.
3Ueno, Asakusa & Taito
Taito keeps the old-town Tokyo feeling with Senso-ji, Ueno museums, Ameyoko, kitchenware streets, and Sumida River access. It is better for temples and markets than late-night skyscraper views.
Day trips
50km / about 1h by JR from Tokyo or Shinjuku
Kamakura
Kamakura gives Tokyo visitors temples, beach air, and the Kotoku-in Great Buddha in a manageable day. It is the best first temple-town escape from the capital.
85km / about 90m by Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto
Hakone
Hakone is the onsen and Fuji-view circuit, with Lake Ashi, the ropeway, and the Open-Air Museum. It works as a long day, but ryokan nights make the transport loop less rushed.
140km / about 2h by Tobu limited express from Asakusa
Nikko
Nikko is a full-day shrine and forest trip north of Tokyo, anchored by Tokugawa mausoleums and mountain air. Start early because the rail ride and bus transfers consume real time.
Getting around
Tokyo runs on JR, Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and private railways; Suica and PASMO IC cards remove fare math across almost all of them, while the Yamanote loop is the mental map for first-timers. Haneda is the closer airport, Narita is about 70km east, and subway fares in 2026 start around 180 yen with Tokyo Metro/Toei passes useful only on heavy subway-only days.
Planning a Tokyo trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Tokyo in December
- What to pack for Tokyo in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Tokyo checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 11°C / 52°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 4°C / 38°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 11 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in Tokyo
- 4 days covers the main Tokyo highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Tokyo worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Tokyo averages 11°C / 52°F highs, 4°C / 38°F nights, and about 11 rainy days.
Ready to plan Tokyo?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Tokyo plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.