十二月
December in Japan
The cities switch the lights on and the year winds down gently. Kyoto's maples hold into the second week; the snow country starts up.
Weather
Cold and dry: Tokyo 4-12°C with brilliant blue days. Ski resorts open through the month.
What's on
Illuminations everywhere: Marunouchi, Kobe's Luminarie. To-ji temple's Kobo-san market on December 21 is the year's biggest flea market.
Where to go
Kyoto before December 12 for the last burning maples, then an onsen town as the snow starts. Tokyo between Christmas and New Year is unusually calm.
On the table
Toshikoshi soba on New Year's Eve, oden from the konbini counter, strawberry Christmas cake, because Japan.
