I’m going to Japan in December. What is weather is in Tokyo at this time? What to buy in Japan?

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Answer 1

You may or may not get snow, but you almost certainly will get cold rain. Tokyo weather is more like Baltimore's than New York's.

As to what to buy, the best thing to do is go to the nearest Sanrio store and get a Hello Kitty toaster. It has internal plates shaped like you-know-who that prevent the bread from toasting that area, so you see her little face on every slice.

Another must-have can be had in any convenience store: packets of dried squid and octopus. They are meant as snacks to have with one's evening beer or sake. The dried shredded squid is not bad, actually.

Go to Akihabara (it's a stop on Yamanote-sen) and buy tons of dojenshi. Just ask for it, they'll show you what it is.

Be sure to get lots of bizzare-o telephone cards, and also, if you walk the five minutes between Chuo-sen and JR in Funabashi, any public phone booth will offer a wealth of (full color!) cheesy prostitute calling cards.

I could go on for some time...ah, memories of the weirdness that is Japan.

Answer 2

From the weather channel it looks like a low of 37 F to a high of 57 F depending on that length of the day. As for buying stuff there, everybody buys electronic devices. Be sure they are genuine and compatible with you equipment back home.

Daily Averages for Tokyo, Japan In December

Day Sunrise Sunset Avg. High Avg. Low Mean Record High Record Low
1 6:31 AM 4:28 PM 57°F 43°F 50°F N/A N/A
2 6:32 AM 4:28 PM 57°F 43°F 50°F N/A N/A
3 6:33 AM 4:28 PM 57°F 42°F 50°F N/A N/A
4 6:34 AM 4:27 PM 56°F 42°F 49°F N/A N/A
5 6:35 AM 4:27 PM 56°F 42°F 49°F N/A N/A
6 6:35 AM 4:27 PM 56°F 41°F 49°F N/A N/A
7 6:36 AM 4:27 PM 56°F 41°F 49°F N/A N/A
8 6:37 AM 4:27 PM 55°F 41°F 48°F N/A N/A
9 6:38 AM 4:28 PM 55°F 40°F 48°F N/A N/A
10 6:39 AM 4:28 PM 55°F 40°F 48°F N/A N/A
11 6:40 AM 4:28 PM 54°F 40°F 47°F N/A N/A
12 6:40 AM 4:28 PM 54°F 39°F 47°F N/A N/A
13 6:41 AM 4:28 PM 54°F 39°F 47°F N/A N/A
14 6:42 AM 4:29 PM 54°F 39°F 47°F N/A N/A
15 6:42 AM 4:29 PM 53°F 39°F 46°F N/A N/A
16 6:43 AM 4:29 PM 53°F 38°F 46°F N/A N/A
17 6:44 AM 4:29 PM 53°F 38°F 46°F N/A N/A
18 6:44 AM 4:30 PM 53°F 38°F 45°F N/A N/A
19 6:45 AM 4:30 PM 52°F 37°F 45°F N/A N/A
20 6:45 AM 4:31 PM 52°F 37°F 45°F N/A N/A
21 6:46 AM 4:31 PM 52°F 37°F 45°F N/A N/A
22 6:47 AM 4:32 PM 51°F 36°F 44°F N/A N/A
23 6:47 AM 4:32 PM 51°F 36°F 44°F N/A N/A
24 6:48 AM 4:33 PM 51°F 36°F 44°F N/A N/A
25 6:48 AM 4:33 PM 51°F 36°F 43°F N/A N/A
26 6:48 AM 4:34 PM 50°F 35°F 43°F N/A N/A
27 6:49 AM 4:35 PM 50°F 35°F 43°F N/A N/A
28 6:49 AM 4:35 PM 50°F 35°F 43°F N/A N/A
29 6:49 AM 4:36 PM 49°F 34°F 42°F N/A N/A
30 6:50 AM 4:37 PM 49°F 34°F 42°F N/A N/A
31 6:50 AM 4:37 PM 49°F 34°F 42°F N/A N/A

Answer 3

In general, Japan's winters are relatively mild and dry. In the subtropical Ryukyu Islands, winters are cool and sunny. Central Japan, around Tokyo, experiences short winters with cold and sunny days and occasional snowfall. Northern Japan (northern Honshu and Hokkaido) experiences long, cold winters with bitterly cold temperatures that help keep snow on the ground for up to four months a year. The sparkling, beautiful winter is perfect for skiing, skating, and the annual snow festival in Sapporo with its world-famous ice sculptures.

Winter is a remarkably dry, bright season across the Kansai area, which includes the Seto Inland Sea, Ise Bay, and the central lowlands on Honshu. This region experiences a mild climate due to the mountains along its northern and southern extent blocking most of the northwesterly seasonal winds. This situation also reduces the annual average rainfall to less than 1,200 mm (47.2 in). The cold winds blowing out of East Asia pick up moisture across the Sea of Japan and dump relatively heavy snowfall along the coastal regions facing the Sea of Japan. On the Pacific side of Japan there is very little snow and the temperature rarely drops much below freezing. Tokyo has an average January high temperature of 4.7°C (41°F). To the north, Sapporo, on the Sea of Japan side of Hokkaido, has an average January high temperature of -4.9°C (23°F).

Further south and along the Ryukyu Island chain enjoys mild winters. Even in January, Naha,Okinawa, averages a moderate high temperature of 16°C (60.8°F). Nighttime temperatures hover around 14°C (58°F).