Otaru, located on Hokkaido’s northern coast, features a humid continental climate with dramatic seasonal contrasts. Summers are mild to warm, humid, and wet, while winters are long, cold, and snowy. The city experiences significant precipitation and sunshine variation, making it a picturesque destination for both summer and winter activities.
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 colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour 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 grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Otaru’s climate is defined by big temperature swings and abundant precipitation throughout the year. Winters (December–March) are long, cold, and snowy, with average highs of -2°C to 1°C and lows often dipping below -7°C. Snow blankets the city from late December to mid-March, creating a winter wonderland ideal for snow festivals and skiing at nearby resorts. January and February are the coldest months, with frequent snow and limited sunshine, but the city’s winter charm is enhanced by events like the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival.
Summers (June–August) are mild to warm, humid, and wet, with average highs of 22–25°C and lows around 15–19°C. August is typically the warmest and wettest month, with up to 169 mm of rainfall and 14 rainy days. Spring and autumn are transitional, with spring starting late (April–May) and bringing cool temperatures and cherry blossoms, while autumn (September–November) is crisp and colourful, with vibrant foliage and comfortable weather. Otaru receives about 1,400 mm of precipitation annually, spread over 200 rainy or snowy days, and enjoys nearly 2,900 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are generally moderate, but can be brisk in winter and during storms. Daylight ranges from 9 hours in winter to over 15 hours in summer.
| Average climate data for Otaru, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | -3 | -3 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 13 | 5 | -1 | 23 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -8 | -8 | -5 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 1 | -5 | -8 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 61 | 51 | 53 | 43 | 54 | 70 | 93 | 121 | 86 | 63 | 72 | 86 | 853 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 3 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 152 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 371 | 302 | 219 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 154 | 350 | 1,446 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 26 | 21 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 22 | 103 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 86 | 85 | 85 | 80 | 79 | 85 | 87 | 87 | 83 | 78 | 83 | 86 | 84 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 14 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 88 | 84 | 69 | 49 | 47 | 55 | 54 | 50 | 43 | 48 | 71 | 86 | 62 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
The best times to visit Otaru are June, July, and September, when temperatures are mild, rainfall is moderate, and the city is vibrant with festivals and outdoor activities. Late spring (May) and early autumn (September) are especially pleasant for sightseeing, hiking, and enjoying the scenic coastline without the summer crowds.
The least favourable time to visit Otaru is from December to 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.
Otaru has a humid continental climate with mild, humid summers and long, cold, snowy winters. The city experiences significant precipitation year-round, with dramatic seasonal temperature swings.
The best months for good weather in Otaru are June, July, and September. These periods offer mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and are ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Yes, Otaru receives heavy snowfall from late December to mid-March. Winters are cold, with average lows below –7°C, making it ideal for snow activities and winter festivals.
Summer temperatures in Otaru typically range from 15°C at night to 25°C during the day. Humidity is high, and August is the warmest and wettest month.
Sea swimming is only comfortable in August and September, when water temperatures reach 20–22°C. The rest of the year, the sea is too cold for swimming.
Otaru enjoys about 2,900 hours of sunshine per year. The sunniest months are May, June, and July, with up to 10 hours of daily sunshine.
Yes, Otaru hosts the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival in early February, when snow candles and sculptures illuminate the city, creating a magical winter atmosphere.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (22.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (-3.4 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 9.6 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (16.8 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (-8.1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 3.8 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (21.6 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (5.2 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 12.3 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (120.6 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (42.6 mm). Over the whole year there are 853 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (20.2 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (2.4 days). Over the whole year there are 151.6 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (370.6 mm). The months with the least snowfall are June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,445.8 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (26 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are June, August and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 103.3 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is July (87.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is October (78.1 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 83.6 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (19 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (9.1 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 14.3 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (88.4 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is September (42.6 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 61.9 %.
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 May (Average sunshine: 8.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 0.9 h). Over the whole year there are 5 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.
