Winter
Dec → Feb-3 to 0°
nights -10 to -7°
- 14 rainy days · 67 mm
- sea 5°
When is the best time to visit Hokkaido?
- Jan-3°fair
- Feb-2°recommended
- Mar4°fair
- Apr12°not recommended
- May17°fair
- Jun20°recommended
- Jul25°recommended
- Aug25°recommended
- Sep22°recommended
- Oct15°fair
- Nov8°not recommended
- Dec0°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Hokkaido, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -3° | -10° | 65 mm | 14 d | 5° | |
| February | -2° | -9° | 65 mm | 14 d | 4° | ✓ |
| March | 4° | -4° | 77 mm | 12 d | 4° | |
| April | 12° | 2° | 83 mm | 11 d | 8° | |
| May | 17° | 7° | 94 mm | 13 d | 12° | |
| June | 20° | 12° | 122 mm | 13 d | 17° | ✓ |
| July | 25° | 17° | 128 mm | 13 d | 22° | ✓ |
| August | 25° | 18° | 181 mm | 16 d | 24° | ✓ |
| September | 22° | 14° | 126 mm | 12 d | 23° | ✓ |
| October | 15° | 6° | 119 mm | 13 d | 19° | |
| November | 8° | 0° | 107 mm | 16 d | 13° | |
| December | 0° | -7° | 70 mm | 15 d | 7° |
The four seasons in Hokkaido, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Sapporo) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May4 to 17°
nights -4 to 7°
- 12 rainy days · 85 mm
- sea 8°
Summer
Jun → Aug20 to 25°
nights 12 to 18°
- 14 rainy days · 144 mm
- sea 21°
Autumn
Sep → Nov8 to 22°
nights 0 to 14°
- 14 rainy days · 117 mm
- sea 18°
Book early for February and June to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Hokkaido, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 15h21 of daylight, in December 9h01, a difference of 6h20.
9h20Jan
10h28Feb
11h48Mar
13h21Apr
14h38May
15h21Jun
15h03Jul
13h56Aug
12h26Sep
10h57Oct
9h39Nov
9h01Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Sapporo" (43.06°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Hokkaido, month by month
EventsSapporo Snow FestivalFebruaryAbashiri drift iceFebruary to MarchCherry blossomMayFurano lavender fieldsJulyDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Beach & swimming: July, August
- Sightseeing & walks: April, September
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Hokkaido, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- FebruarySapporo Snow Festival big crowds
Monumental ice and snow sculptures fill Odori Park for a week in early February.
- February to MarchAbashiri drift ice
Pack ice from the Sea of Okhotsk reaches the north coast in February, and icebreakers head out to cut through it.
- MayCherry blossom big crowds
The sakura bloom a month later than in Tokyo, around early May, notably in Goryokaku Park.
- JulyFurano lavender fields big crowds
The purple rows of Farm Tomita and the hills of Biei colour the plateau throughout July.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Fair-3°-10° at night
- 65 mm · 14 d
- sea 5°
Low season, lower prices
February
Recommended-2°-9° at night
- 65 mm · 14 d
- sea 4°
High season, book early
March
Fair4°-4° at night
- 77 mm · 12 d
- sea 4°
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended12°2° at night
- 83 mm · 11 d
- sea 8°
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair17°7° at night
- 94 mm · 13 d
- sea 12°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended20°12° at night
- 122 mm · 13 d
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended25°17° at night
- 128 mm · 13 d
- sea 22°
High season, book early
August
Recommended25°18° at night
- 181 mm · 16 d
- sea 24°
High season, book early
September
Recommended22°14° at night
- 126 mm · 12 d
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair15°6° at night
- 119 mm · 13 d
- sea 19°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended8°0° at night
- 107 mm · 16 d
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended0°-7° at night
- 70 mm · 15 d
- sea 7°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: -3 °C at the warmest of the day, -10 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 65 mm over 14 days. Sea at 5 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: -2 °C at the warmest of the day, -9 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 65 mm over 14 days. Sea at 4 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
March. Deep winter: 4 °C at the warmest of the day, -4 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (77 mm). Sea at 4 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 12 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (83 mm). Sea at 8 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 17 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (94 mm). Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (122 mm). Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 25 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (128 mm). The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
August. 25 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Frequent rain: 181 mm over 16 days. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (126 mm). The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 15 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (119 mm). Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 8 °C at best, 0 °C at night. A very wet month, 107 mm of rain over 16 days. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 0 °C at the warmest of the day, -7 °C at night. A very wet month, 70 mm of rain over 15 days. Sea at 7 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Hokkaido?
February and June to September: over these months, recorded highs range from -2 to 25 °C, with 14 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Sapporo).
Which month should you avoid in Hokkaido?
November: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 107 mm over 16 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Sapporo).
What is the hottest month in Hokkaido?
July, with 25 °C on average in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Sapporo).
What is the coldest month in Hokkaido?
January, with -3 °C at best during the day and -10 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Sapporo).
What is the driest month in Hokkaido?
January: 65 mm over 14 days of rain, against 181 mm in August, the wettest month.
When can you swim in Hokkaido?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in July, August, September (warmest 24 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Sapporo).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Hokkaido guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Japan: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Afifi Zakaria / Pexels · Zukiman Mohamad / Pexels · Travis Kerkvliet / Pexels · 貴彦 佐藤 / Pexels · Jatin Chadha / Pexels