The best times to visit Sapporo for ideal weather are

May 14th to October 14th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Sapporo Travel Info

Weather in Sapporo

Temperature

Average temperatures in Sapporo vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 27th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Sapporo, the hottest months are August, July, and then September. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid August where highs are regularly around 83.1°F (28.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 69.3°F (20.7°C) at night.

Sapporo Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Sapporo Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Sapporo Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Sapporo Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Sapporo Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 31.4 26.3 20.1
Feb 32.7 27.2 19.8
Mar 40.1 34.2 27.4
Apr 53.2 45.2 37.1
May 63.7 55 47.4
Jun 72.7 64.1 57.1
Jul 78.3 70.6 64.4
Aug 80.6 73.1 66.6
Sep 74.3 66.4 58.8
Oct 61.4 53.7 45.5
Nov 48 41.6 34.4
Dec 36.2 31.2 25.1

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan -0.3 -3.2 -6.6
Feb 0.4 -2.7 -6.8
Mar 4.5 1.2 -2.6
Apr 11.8 7.3 2.8
May 17.6 12.8 8.6
Jun 22.6 17.8 13.9
Jul 25.7 21.4 18
Aug 27 22.8 19.2
Sep 23.5 19.1 14.9
Oct 16.3 12.1 7.5
Nov 8.9 5.3 1.3
Dec 2.3 -0.4 -3.8

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Sapporo are June, April, and then May. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around late June. For example, on the week of June 25th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early to mid February with an average of 4 days of significant precipitation the week of February 12th.

When can you find snow in Sapporo? Weather stations report very large amounts of snow likely to be deepest around February, especially close to mid February. The best time to ski (if at all) in Sapporo is often around around February 12th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Sapporo.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Sapporo (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 39% 20.9 4.5
Feb 40% 27.8 3.7
Mar 28% 19.3 3
Apr 16% 4.4 3
May 21% 0 2.4
Jun 16% 0 2.4
Jul 22% 0 3.8
Aug 26% 0 5.2
Sep 26% 0 5.9
Oct 31% 0 4.8
Nov 35% 5.4 5.5
Dec 39% 6.9 5.9

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 39 53.1 11.4
Feb 40 70.6 9.4
Mar 28 49 7.6
Apr 16 11.2 7.6
May 21 0 6.1
Jun 16 0 6.1
Jul 22 0 9.7
Aug 26 0 13.2
Sep 26 0 15
Oct 31 0 12.2
Nov 35 13.7 14
Dec 39 17.5 15

 

Humidity and Wind

Sapporo has some slightly muggy months, with moderately humid months on the other side of the year. The least humid month is April (49.1% relative humidity), and the most humid month is July (68.2%).

Wind in Sapporo is usually calm. The windiest month is May, followed by April and February. May’s average wind speed of around 8.2 knots (9.4 MPH or 15.2 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late April where average top sustained speeds reach 16.6 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Sapporo.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 6.4 Light breeze 12.7 Significant breeze
Feb 7 Gentle breeze 13.7 Significant breeze
Mar 7 Gentle breeze 14 Significant breeze
Apr 7.9 Gentle breeze 15.7 Significant breeze
May 8.2 Gentle breeze 15.5 Significant breeze
Jun 6.7 Light breeze 12.5 Significant breeze
Jul 6.6 Light breeze 12.5 Significant breeze
Aug 6 Light breeze 11.6 Significant breeze
Sep 6.2 Light breeze 12.8 Significant breeze
Oct 6.6 Light breeze 13.4 Significant breeze
Nov 6.1 Light breeze 12.7 Significant breeze
Dec 6.1 Light breeze 12.7 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 56.9%
Feb 56.7%
Mar 54.4%
Apr 49.1%
May 56.9%
Jun 64.8%
Jul 68.2%
Aug 66.8%
Sep 61.7%
Oct 56.9%
Nov 57.5%
Dec 57.7%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Sapporo?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for Japan; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 14, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Sapporo, Japan is January, followed by March and April. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Sapporo in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 73.3 in December means 73.3% of the tourists vs. January.

 

 

Overall Sapporo Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 70°F (21.1°C) and 35.2°F (1.8°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 5 to 9 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 5 to 8 days of precipitation per month. June – August is fairly slow season for tourism in Sapporo, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly less.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 77.5°F (25.3°C) and 41.5°F (5.3°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 8 to 11 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Sapporo to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 39.1°F (3.9°C) and 29.3°F (-1.5°C). On average, it rains or snows a great amount: 11 to 12 times per month. These times of year are the second busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Japan › Sapporo, Japan