Climate in Sapporo — Annual Weather Overview
Sapporo has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. The hottest month is August (average high 26.3°C) and the coolest is January (-2.9°C). The seasons are strongly defined — a 29.2°C swing between August highs and January lows. Annual rainfall totals around 1268mm. August is the wettest month at 182.7mm, while December averages just 70.7mm. Average daily sunshine is 8.3 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 10.9°C, 280mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 24.2°C, 398mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 15.9°C, 364mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs -1.4°C, 225mm rain.
Sapporo — Monthly Temperatures
Sapporo — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
March to December
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Sapporo stays reasonable all year.
Sapporo weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -2.9°C | -9.5°C | 73.3mm | 6.0h | 16 | 6/10 |
| February | -1.8°C | -7.8°C | 81.1mm | 6.7h | 17 | 6/10 |
| March | 4.9°C | -3.1°C | 82.7mm | 8.0h | 12 | 8/10 |
| April | 11.2°C | 1.7°C | 87.8mm | 9.4h | 11 | 10/10 |
| May | 16.7°C | 7.5°C | 109.6mm | 9.4h | 14 | 9/10 |
| June | 21.0°C | 12.7°C | 115.5mm | 10.5h | 13 | 9/10 |
| July | 25.4°C | 17.8°C | 99.7mm | 11.2h | 9 | 10/10 |
| August | 26.3°C | 18.9°C | 182.7mm | 9.3h | 15 | 9/10 |
| September | 22.4°C | 14.6°C | 137.4mm | 8.5h | 12 | 9/10 |
| October | 15.9°C | 7.0°C | 103.8mm | 8.2h | 14 | 9/10 |
| November | 9.4°C | 1.5°C | 123.2mm | 6.3h | 16 | 9/10 |
| December | 0.4°C | -6.5°C | 70.7mm | 5.9h | 16 | 8/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Sapporo. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Sapporo have?
Sapporo has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. Average highs range from -2.9°C in January to 26.3°C in August.
What is the hottest month in Sapporo?
August is the hottest month in Sapporo, with average highs of 26.3°C and lows of 18.9°C.
What is the coldest month in Sapporo?
January is the coolest month, with average highs of -2.9°C and lows of -9.5°C.
What is the wettest month in Sapporo?
August is the wettest month, averaging 182.7mm of rainfall over around 15 rainy days.
How much rain does Sapporo get per year?
Sapporo receives around 1268mm of rain per year. The driest month is December (70.7mm).
When is the best time to visit Sapporo?
The best time to visit Sapporo is March to December. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Trip essentials for Sapporo
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.