Japan
Kagoshima in December
❄️ WinterCool and some showers.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why December scores 8.8What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.2
- !Cool (15°C highs / 7°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 6.9°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~93 mm rain)
- Air quality9.2
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~10 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | Nov | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.8 Excellent | 9.1 Excellent |
| Season | ❄️ Winter | 🍁 Autumn (koyo) |
| High / low | 15° / 7° | 21° / 12° |
| Rain | 93 mm | 103 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 7° | dew pt 12° |
| PM2.5 | 10 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Kagoshima weather-station normals. Rainfall: Kagoshima weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Holiday weekA long local holiday falls this month. Expect crowds at sights, fuller trains and flights, and higher hotel prices on those dates. Book ahead.
- Year-end & New Year break 29 Dec – 3 Jan
Most businesses and some attractions close; trains and flights are busy around the start and end. Source: Japan National Tourism Organization
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Kagoshima
- Autumn leavesIn DecemberTypical datesMaples turn red ~15 Dec
Typical date the JMA observatory's maple turns red (1991–2020 normal); city parks are usually close to this.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Cherry blossom 2026 (what actually happened)2026 actualFirst blooms 27 Mar 2026, full bloom 5 Apr 2026
Observed by JMA at the city's official sample tree. The 2027 forecast isn't out yet: Japanese weather companies such as the Japan Weather Association usually publish the first one in January, and we add it then.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Cherry blossomTypical datesFirst blooms ~26 Mar, full bloom ~5 Apr
Typical dates (1991–2020 normal). In 2021–2026 first blooms came between 17 Mar and 29 Mar (27 Mar in 2026). Blossoms last about a week after full bloom.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
Explore KagoshimaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyKagoshima is the southern Kyushu city facing the active Sakurajima volcano across the bay, known for black pork, sweet potato shōchū and samurai history.
Autumn Foliage SeasonAcross Japan
Koyo maple viewing, especially in Kyoto, Nikko and the Japanese Alps.
Christmas & New Year IlluminationsAcross Japan
City light displays and year-end temple bell-ringing.
Coming up later
Myōen-ji MairiDate variesUsually late October
A procession in armour commemorating Shimazu Yoshihiro and the Battle of Sekigahara.
Why go: A chance to see samurai traditions associated with the region.
Where: From central Kagoshima to Myōen-ji in Hioki
Ohara MatsuriDate variesUsually 2-3 November
Kagoshima's largest festival, with thousands of people dancing the Ohara-bushi folk dance through the streets.
Why go: Visitors can watch freely along the main avenues.
Where: Tenmonkan and central streets
Sakurajima
An active volcano reached by a short, frequent ferry, with lava fields and observation points.
💡 Ash falls are common; check wind direction and carry a mask or umbrella.
Sengan-en
A former Shimazu clan garden with Sakurajima as a borrowed backdrop.
Shiroyama Observatory
A hilltop viewpoint over the city and Sakurajima.
Kagoshima City Aquarium
An aquarium by the ferry terminal focused on the waters of southern Kyushu.
Ibusuki sand baths
Hot sand baths heated by geothermal springs, south of the city.
Chiran samurai district
Preserved samurai residences and gardens south of the city, near a museum about wartime kamikaze pilots.
Kurobuta pork
Black Berkshire pork, often eaten as shabu-shabu or tonkatsu.
💡 Restaurants around Tenmonkan
Satsuma-age
Deep-fried fish cakes, sometimes mixed with vegetables.
💡 Shops in the city and Kagoshima-Chūō station
Shirokuma
Shaved ice with condensed milk and fruit, invented in Kagoshima.
💡 Tenmonkan
Kagoshima ramen
Ramen with a pork-based broth, typically served with pickled radish.
💡 Ramen shops
Imo shōchū
Distilled spirit made from local sweet potatoes.
💡 Izakaya across the city
Imo shōchū
Sweet potato shōchū from the many local distilleries.
💡 Liquor shops and Kagoshima-Chūō station
Satsuma kiriko
Cut glass with deep colour gradients, a revived local craft.
💡 Sengan-en shops and craft stores
Karukan
A white steamed cake made with yam and rice flour.
💡 Confectionery shops
Satsuma ware
Traditional ceramics in white or black styles.
💡 Craft shops