Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, has a humid continental climate with dramatic seasonal contrasts. Summers are mild to warm and humid, while winters are long, cold, and extremely snowy. The city is famous for its heavy snowfall, vibrant festivals, and beautiful cherry blossoms and autumn foliage, making it a year-round destination for outdoor and cultural experiences.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Sapporo’s climate is defined by its northern location and continental influences, resulting in four distinct seasons. Winters (December–March) are long, cold, and snowy, with average highs from -4°C to 1°C and lows often below -7°C. Annual snowfall averages around 4.8 meters, transforming the city into a winter wonderland ideal for snow sports and festivals like the Sapporo Snow Festival. Sunshine is limited in winter, with only about 3 hours per day, and strong Siberian winds can make it feel even colder.
Spring (April–May) is short and cool, with cherry blossoms blooming in late April or early May. Temperatures rise from 3–8°C in April to 12–17°C in May, and rainfall is relatively low. Summers (June–August) are mild to warm and humid, with average highs of 22–26°C and lows around 13–19°C. Rainfall increases in August and September, but Sapporo remains cooler and less humid than most Japanese cities. Autumn (September–November) brings comfortable, crisp weather (10–21°C), stunning foliage, and lower humidity. Sapporo receives about 1,100–1,150 mm of precipitation annually and around 1,700–1,800 hours of sunshine. Sea temperatures are only suitable for swimming in August and September, when they reach 20–21°C.
| Average climate data for Sapporo, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°F) | 25 | 26 | 33 | 47 | 61 | 67 | 74 | 76 | 69 | 56 | 42 | 30 | 76 |
| Average minimum temperature (°F) | 14 | 14 | 21 | 33 | 44 | 51 | 60 | 61 | 54 | 42 | 32 | 20 | 14 |
| Average precipitation (inch) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 33 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 6 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 167 |
| Average snowfall (inch) | 17 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 68 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 28 | 23 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 25 | 112 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 90 | 90 | 86 | 76 | 76 | 84 | 86 | 87 | 84 | 79 | 83 | 87 | 84 |
| Average wind speed (mph) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 78 | 75 | 62 | 46 | 44 | 51 | 53 | 48 | 41 | 43 | 59 | 72 | 56 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
The best times to visit Sapporo are from June to August for mild, comfortable summer weather and lively festivals, and from December to February for winter sports and the famous Sapporo Snow Festival. Spring (late April–May) and autumn (September–October) are also excellent for cherry blossoms and colorful foliage with fewer crowds.
The least favorable time to visit Sapporo is from late November to early March if you dislike cold and snow. Winters are long, with heavy snowfall, icy roads, and limited daylight. While magical for snow lovers, travel disruptions and severe cold can be challenging for some visitors.
Sapporo has a humid continental climate with mild summers and long, cold, snowy winters. The city experiences dramatic seasonal contrasts, abundant precipitation, and is famous for heavy snowfall and winter festivals.
Snowfall in Sapporo is frequent and heavy from late November to March, with the city averaging nearly 5 meters of snow each winter. January and February are the snowiest months.
Winter temperatures in Sapporo often drop below freezing, with average highs between –4°C and 1°C and lows frequently below –7°C. Strong winds and limited sunshine make it feel even colder.
Cherry blossoms in Sapporo typically bloom from late April to early May, later than in most of Japan due to the northern location and cooler spring temperatures.
Yes, Sapporo is one of Japan’s top destinations for winter sports, with many ski resorts nearby and excellent conditions for skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing from December to March.
Summer in Sapporo is mild to warm, with average highs of 22–26°C and lows around 13–19°C. Humidity is present but less oppressive than in other Japanese cities.
Sapporo receives about 1,100–1,150 mm of precipitation each year, with the wettest months being August and September. Spring is the driest season, and rain is frequent year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (75.8 °F). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (25.4 °F). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 50.4 °F.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (61.2 °F). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (14 °F). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 37.2 °F.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (4.4 inch). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (2 inch). Over the whole year there are 33.2 inch of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is August (19.6 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (5.3 days). Over the whole year there are 166.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (16.9 inch). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August and September (0 inch). Over the whole year there are 67.8 inch of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (27.9 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May, June, July and August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 111.9 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (90.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (76 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 84 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (8 mph). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (5.4 mph). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 7.1 mph.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (78.3 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is September (40.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 55.9 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 8.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 2 h). Over the whole year there are 5.6 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, March, November and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 2.8.
