Seoul in December
Cold and wintry
- Temperature
- -5–4°C
- Crowds
- Low
- Prices
- $$
+Lower visitor numbers and prices
–Cold temperatures and short daylight hours
December is cold and generally dry, with short days and occasional snowfall.
Seoul vs Tokyo in December
Tokyo edges it in December. Seoul averages -5–4°C with low crowds; Tokyo 4–12°C with low-moderate crowds.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
Seoul and Tokyo
The verdict for December
- WeatherTokyo has the better weather3.5/10 vs 7/10
- CrowdsTokyo is quieterLow vs Low-Moderate
- PricesTokyo is cheaper$$ vs $$$
- OverallTokyo comes out ahead4.4/10 vs 7/10
Tokyo in December
Clear skies, festive city, late spike
- Temperature
- 4–12°C
- Crowds
- Low-Moderate
- Prices
- $$$
+Bright, dry weather and illuminations across the city.
–Everything closes and prices jump in the final week.
Early December is underrated — clear skies, no crowds, full city.
Scores and crowd levels are my own judgement; temperatures are monthly averages. Higher scores are better: quieter, cheaper and more pleasant.
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