Seasons and Winter Tips in Hokkaido
Part of the Hokkaido travel guide — see every topic in All Hokkaido Guides.
Hokkaido has four strong seasons. Winter is long and snowy, summer is short and mild, and spring and autumn are cool and quiet. Choose your month by what you want to do.
Winter (December to March)
Sapporo's January average is about -3°C, with highs near 0°C, and inland towns such as Asahikawa can fall below -20°C. The ski season runs from early December to early April, and the Sapporo Snow Festival is in early February. From about late January to early March, drift ice reaches the Okhotsk coast; icebreaker boats sail from Abashiri and Monbetsu.
Spring and summer
Snow melts in April, and cherry blossoms come late, usually in early May in Sapporo and Hakodate. Hokkaido has no real rainy season in June, so early summer is fresh and green. July is lavender month in Furano, and August is warm, about 19–27°C, with summer festivals and beer gardens in Odori Park.
Autumn
Autumn colours start in the Daisetsuzan mountains in mid-September, the earliest in Japan, and reach Sapporo and Jozankei in October. October and early November are quiet, clear and good value. The first snow often falls in Sapporo in late October or November.
Winter tips
Wear thermal layers, a down jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof boots with deep grip, and buy ice cleats for icy pavements. In Sapporo, use the underground walkways. Trains and flights can stop in heavy snow, so keep a spare day before an international flight. Days are short: in December the sun sets around 16:00.
Seasons and Winter Tips at a glance
| Sapporo in January | About -7 to 0°C |
|---|---|
| Ski season | Early December to early April |
| Snow Festival | Early February (2027: 4–11 Feb) |
| Drift ice | Late January to early March; Abashiri and Monbetsu |
| Cherry blossom | Early May |
| Lavender | July |
| Autumn colour | Mid-September in the mountains; October in Sapporo |
| Sapporo in August | About 19–27°C |