Sapporo, Japan Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Sapporo
Sapporo runs one of the wider annual swings in our dataset: 27°C separates the average August from the average January. Afternoons reach 78°F (25°C) at the peak of summer and 28°F (-2°C) at the depth of winter, with 167 days of measurable precipitation through the year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: August - highs near 78°F (25°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 28°F (-2°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 92°F (33°C) high · -6°F (-21°C) low
- Wettest month: August (15 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (10.4 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid continental
- Annual swing: 27°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 8°C
- Snow: about 56 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 4
- Average humidity: 77%
Temperatures through the year
At its warmest, in August, Sapporo runs to 78°F (25°C) in the afternoon and back to 65°F (18°C) by dawn. January bottoms out at 28°F (-2°C) in daylight, 16°F (-9°C) after dark. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 92°F (33°C) and the lowest daily minimum -6°F (-21°C). Between the average August and the average January lie 27°C, a wider spread than 91% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.
Rain, sun and snow
July is the brightest month at 10.4 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 8.3 - duller than about 75% of the cities we track. Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 4 months, December through March. Snow falls on roughly 56 days a year, mostly November through April. August is the wettest month at 7.3 inches (186 mm) over 15 days; February is the driest.
How Sapporo compares
- Sapporo averages 47°F (8°C) across the year - cooler than all but 4% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 16° | 16 | 2.7 in | 6.1 h/day | 9.3 h | 53% | 77% |
| February | 29° | 17° | 16 | 2.6 in | 7.3 h/day | 10.5 h | 55% | 76% |
| March | 39° | 24° | 12 | 2.9 in | 8.6 h/day | 11.8 h | 39% | 77% |
| April | 53° | 35° | 12 | 3.1 in | 9.6 h/day | 13.3 h | 38% | 71% |
| May | 63° | 46° | 12 | 3.6 in | 9.9 h/day | 14.6 h | 40% | 75% |
| June | 68° | 54° | 13 | 4.6 in | 10.0 h/day | 15.3 h | 44% | 81% |
| July | 77° | 63° | 12 | 4.8 in | 10.4 h/day | 15.1 h | 39% | 83% |
| August | 78° | 65° | 15 | 7.3 in | 9.3 h/day | 13.9 h | 49% | 83% |
| September | 71° | 57° | 12 | 4.8 in | 8.8 h/day | 12.4 h | 39% | 79% |
| October | 60° | 44° | 14 | 4.5 in | 8.1 h/day | 10.9 h | 44% | 75% |
| November | 46° | 33° | 17 | 4.5 in | 6.3 h/day | 9.6 h | 56% | 74% |
| December | 32° | 21° | 17 | 3.2 in | 5.8 h/day | 9.0 h | 54% | 75% |
Sapporo month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Sapporo's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 6.1 h
- Daylight
- 9.3 h
- Snow
- 15 days
February
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 7.3 h
- Daylight
- 10.5 h
- Snow
- 13 days
March
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 7 days
April
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 9.6 h
- Daylight
- 13.3 h
- Snow
- 2 days
May
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 14.6 h
June
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 15.3 h
July
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 15.1 h
August
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 13.9 h
September
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 8.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 8.1 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
November
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 6.3 h
- Daylight
- 9.6 h
- Snow
- 6 days
December
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 5.8 h
- Daylight
- 9.0 h
- Snow
- 12 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Sapporo
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Sapporo runs cold: 52°F (11°C) by day, 35°F (2°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 36 of the 90 days, plus about 9 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Sapporo is pleasantly warm, with daytime highs averaging 74°F (23°C) and nights around 61°F (16°C); rain falls on around 40 of the 90 days.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Sapporo is crisp but comfortable: 59°F (15°C) by day, 45°F (7°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 42 of the 90 days, plus about 6 snowy days.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Sapporo is frigid, with daytime highs averaging 30°F (-1°C) and nights around 18°F (-8°C); rain falls on around 49 of the 90 days, plus about 41 snowy days. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.
Climate questions, answered
How cold does Sapporo get in winter?
When does Sapporo drop below freezing?
How hot does Sapporo get in summer?
Is Sapporo humid?
Best time to visit Sapporo
The best time to visit Sapporo is generally April to September, when these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 68°F (20°C), with rain on about 13 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
Pack for Sapporo with a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. Even in August, lows of 65°F (18°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Sapporo temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.