Sendai City (Miyagi Prefecture), the largest city in Japan’s Tohoku region, is colder in December than Tokyo or Osaka. If you are going to Sendai in December, a coat is a must, and a scarf and gloves are also recommended. However, there is significantly less snow in Sendai than in other major cities in the Tohoku region, such as Morioka, Aomori, Akita, and Yamagata, etc. In late December, “SENDAI PAGEANT OF STARLIGHT”, one of the best winter illuminations in Japan, will be held on the main street in Sendai. This event is a must-see!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see autumn leaves in December?
In Sendai City, the fall foliage begins in late October and reaches its peak in mid-November. At this time of year, areas such as Kotodai Park, Jozenji Street, and Nishi Park are truly beautiful. In December, you can enjoy some autumn leaves in early December, and in late December, “SENDAI PAGEANT OF STARLIGHT,” one of the best winter illuminations in Japan, will be held on Jozenji-dori Avenue. This is also recommended in December.
Does it snow in Sendai in December?
In Sendai, the first snow will be observed from late November to early December. After mid-December, there will be more snowy days. Compared to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Sendai has more snowy days. However, Sendai has far less snow than other cities in the Tohoku region, such as Morioka and Aomori, except along the mountains. In December, there are basically many sunny days in Sendai. However, please be careful as it is colder than Tokyo and Kyoto.
Weather in Sendai in early December
Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, December 4, 2021. View of the east exit of Sendai Station = Shutterstock
| Average temperature Highest temperature (Lowest temperature) |
Total precipitation (Total snowfall depth) |
|
| Sendai | 5.9℃ (42.6°F) 9.9℃ (49.8°F) 2.2℃ (36.0°F) |
15.9mm (0.63inch) 1 cm (0.39 inch) |
※ Source: All figures are the average for 30 years of 1991-2020 announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency
>> Click here for a [quick reference] converted from Celsius to Fahrenheit.
Weather in Sendai in mid-December
| Average temperature Highest temperature (Lowest temperature) |
Total precipitation (Total snowfall depth) |
|
| Sendai | 6.9℃ (44.4°F) 8.0℃ (46.4°F) 0.7 ℃ (33.3°F) |
11.5 mm (0.45 inch) 4 cm (1.57 inch) |
※Source: All figures are the average for 30 years of 1991-2020 announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency
Weather in Sendai in late December
Sendai; Japan – 31 Dec 2019: People are traveling the Jozenji street in Sendai for New Year light up Celebration
Sendai; Japan – 25 Dec 2019: People are traveling the Jozenji of Sendai for New Year light up Celebration = Shutterstock
| Average temperature Highest temperature (Lowest temperature) |
Total precipitation (Total snowfall depth) |
|
| Sendai | 3.5℃ (38.3°F) 7.2℃ (45.0°F) 0.0℃ (32.0°F) |
16.7 mm (0.66 inch) 5 cm (1.97 inch) |
※ Source: All figures are the average for 30 years of 1991-2020 announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency
What to wear in Japan during winter
For winter clothes, please refer to the following articles.
Monthly weather in Sendai
Below are articles about the weather in Sendai. Click on the month of interest to see articles about that month.
| January | February | March |
| April | May | June |
| July | August | September |
| October | November | December |
Weather in tourist destinations around Japan
Below are pages showing the climates of various regions in Japan at the same time of the year.
| Tokyo | Osaka | Kyoto |
| Hokkaido | Sendai | Nagano |
| Nagoya | Hiroshima | Fukuoka |
| Okinawa |
Now, let’s plan to make your vacation in Japan the best experience ever!
