Sapporo weather: 7-day forecast 札幌
Snowy winters with about 4.8 m of snowfall a season, and dry, pleasant summers that rarely pass 27°C. Snow usually covers the city from December to March.
Forecast updated 23 October 2026
The next 7 days
Today
24 Oct
Sunny
High 19°CLow 7°C
Sun
25 Oct
Cloudy
High 17°CLow 10°C
Rain 10%
Mon
26 Oct
Sunny
High 13°CLow 5°C
Rain 20%
Tue
27 Oct
Cloudy
High 13°CLow 4°C
Rain 70%
Wed
28 Oct
Cloudy
High 8°CLow 4°C
Rain 70%
Thu
29 Oct
Cloudy
High 11°CLow 3°C
Rain 50%
Fri
30 Oct
Cloudy
High 16°CLow 6°C
Rain 50%
What to wear today
Mild: long sleeves or a light cardigan. Bring a thin jacket for the evening.
Rain is likely on at least one day this week: pack a compact umbrella or buy one at any convenience store.
Sapporo weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows and monthly rainfall (30-year averages, 1991–2020). Tap a month to see what's on.
Sapporo's climate at a glance
Sapporo has four sharp seasons. January and February stay around or below freezing all day (average high −0.4°C in January), and about 4.8 m of snow falls between November and April. The city is well prepared: main roads are cleared overnight, and the underground walkways around Odori and Sapporo Station let you move around without going outside.
Summer is the reason many Japanese travel here. July and August highs sit around 25–26°C with low humidity, and there is no proper rainy season in Hokkaido. September is still warm, but rain picks up from August to October.
Best time to visit Sapporo
For snow, come in early February: the Sapporo Snow Festival runs in the first half of the month and snow is at its deepest. For flowers and fresh food, late May to July is the sweet spot, with lilacs in late May and lavender around Furano in July. Cherry blossoms open late, around 1 May on average.
Autumn colour reaches the city's parks from late October, and the first snow usually follows in November.
Tips
- Pavements turn to packed ice in winter. Shoes with deep, soft rubber soles help, and convenience stores sell slip-on ice grips.
- Indoors is heated to 22–25°C in winter. Wear layers you can take off when you go into shops, trains and restaurants.
- Even in July, evenings can drop to 18°C. Bring a light jacket for night markets and rooftop beer gardens.
Questions travellers ask
When does it snow in Sapporo?
Snow usually starts in November and lies on the ground from December to late March. January and February are the snowiest months, each with more than 1 m of snowfall on average.
How cold is Sapporo in winter?
In January the average high is −0.4°C and the average low −6.4°C. Windy days feel colder, so a down coat, gloves and a hat are worth packing.
Is Sapporo hot in summer?
Not really. August is the warmest month with an average high of 26.4°C, and nights cool to around 19°C, much cooler than Tokyo or Osaka.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
- Japan Meteorological Agency気象庁JMA climate normals 1991–2020 (Japanese)(in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- Japan Meteorological Agency気象庁JMA rainy season start and end dates(in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- Japan Meteorological Agency気象庁JMA cherry blossom and autumn leaf normals(in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)