AI-generatedSapporo at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Aug · 25°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,720 h
- Rain a year
- 1,232 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Elevation
- 26 m
Climate in Sapporo
Sapporo has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. August is the warmest month with average highs of 25 °C, while January is the coolest at −3 °C. With around 1,720 hours of sunshine a year, Sapporo is moderately sunny; May is the sunniest month with 6.5 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: May – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 11°
- Midday, 13:00: about 15°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 13°
- Evening, 20:00: about 11°
- Night, 23:00: about 10°
05:4716:54
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:29–06:25 · evening 16:15–17:11
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:18–05:29 · evening 17:11–17:22
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Sapporo in October?
In October, Sapporo is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 110 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Sapporo.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 7 min05:47 – 16:54
- UV index
- 3 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 23 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 58 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+9Asia/Tokyo
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %66 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %28 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %27 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Sapporo
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.7 of 11.1 hours of daylight in Sapporo, 42 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 2 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Sapporo
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 3 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 9).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 40 min
- Fair skin
- about 50 min
- Light brown skin
- about 70 min
- Olive skin
- about 90 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Sapporo: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Sapporo has about 14 rainy days with 110 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Sapporo
How breezy and how cloudy Sapporo is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Sapporo typically peaks at 23 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 58 % of the sky over Sapporo: variable cloud, with about 4.7 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Sapporo
How often the day gets hot in Sapporo (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Sapporo has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 15 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in Sapporo
When Sapporo is likely to be white: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Sapporo.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Sapporo
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
CoolOctober: nights around 8°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (−9°), the warmest in August (19°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from July to September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to May, so the room should be heated. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 40 days a year, mostly from July to August.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 0 | −3° | −9° | 2.9 h | 20 | 88 |
| FebruaryFeb | 4 | −2° | −9° | 3.7 h | 17 | 71 |
| MarchMar | 16 | 2° | −6° | 4.7 h | 13 | 67 |
| AprilApr | 34 | 10° | 0° | 5.9 h | 11 | 65 |
| MayMay | 66 | 16° | 7° | 6.5 h | 11 | 84 |
| JuneJun | 76 | 20° | 12° | 6.0 h | 11 | 83 |
| JulyJul | 71 | 24° | 17° | 5.4 h | 12 | 128 |
| AugustAug | 67 | 25° | 19° | 5.4 h | 14 | 169 |
| SeptemberSep | 69 | 21° | 15° | 5.3 h | 13 | 132 |
| OctoberOct | 47 | 15° | 8° | 4.7 h | 14 | 110 |
| NovemberNov | 1 | 7° | 1° | 3.3 h | 19 | 122 |
| DecemberDec | 0 | 0° | −6° | 2.7 h | 22 | 114 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
43.07° N, 141.35° E · 26 m · Asia/Tokyo
Best time to visit Sapporo
The best time to visit Sapporo is from May to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to July. Rain is most frequent from July to March; the wettest month is August with 169 mm.
Sapporo through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Sapporo in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 2–16 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 36 rainy days in all
Sapporo in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 20–25 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 37 rainy days in all
Sapporo in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 7–21 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 45 rainy days in all
Sapporo in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- -3–0 °C by day
- 3 h of sun a day
- 60 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Sapporo for you.
Your best months: July – September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Sapporo
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Sapporo: score 76 against 47. In June, days are 5 °C warmer than in October. June has 3 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 47 | 76better |
| Day high | 15° | 20° |
| Night low | 8° | 12° |
| Sunshine | 4.7 h | 6.0 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 14 | 11better |
| Rainfall | 110 mm | 83 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 0better | 1 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Jul
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Mar
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Nov – Mar
Snow on 2 or more days
Sapporo month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
0January-3° · 3 h
In January, Sapporo is freezing cold: daytime highs average −3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−9 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 20 days, totalling 88 mm. Snow falls on about 20 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in January4February-2° · 4 h
In February, Sapporo is freezing cold: daytime highs average −2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−9 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 17 days, totalling 71 mm. Snow falls on about 16 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in February16March2° · 5 h
In March, Sapporo is freezing cold: daytime highs average 2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 13 days, totalling 67 mm. Snow falls on about 9 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in March34April10° · 6 h
In April, Sapporo is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 65 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in April66May16° · 7 h
In May, Sapporo is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 84 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in May76June20° · 6 h
In June, Sapporo is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 83 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in June71July24° · 5 h
In July, Sapporo is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 128 mm in total. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in July67August25° · 5 h
In August, Sapporo is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 169 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in August69September21° · 5 h
In September, Sapporo is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 132 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in September47October15° · 5 h
In October, Sapporo is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 110 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in October1November7° · 3 h
In November, Sapporo is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 122 mm. Snow falls on about 6 days. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in November0December0° · 3 h
In December, Sapporo is freezing cold: daytime highs average 0 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 22 days, totalling 114 mm. Snow falls on about 19 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sapporo.
Sapporo in DecemberSapporo compared
Put Sapporo side by side with another destination.
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Sapporo vs. Hakodate
In October Hakodate has the better holiday weather (score 59 vs. 47). During the day Hakodate is 1 °C warmer than Sapporo.
| in October | Sapporo | Hakodate |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 47 | 59 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 16° |
| Sea | – | 19° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 14 | 12 |
| Best time | May – Sep | Jun – Sep |
Through the year
Japan in October: the best places
In October, Sapporo ranks 31 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Hiroshima22°23°81
- 2Fukuoka22°23°81
- 3Nagasaki23°24°81
- 4Kumamoto23°23°80
- 5Kitakyūshū22°23°79
- 6Okayama22°24°78
- 7Kagoshima24°26°77
- 8Nagoya22°75
- 31SapporoThis page15°47
Planning a trip to Sapporo
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Sapporo in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Sapporo has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 68) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 0).
- 29
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
- 68
May half-term
May – Jun
GoodBest holidays
- 17 °C by day
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 68
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 24 °C by day
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 47
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 15 °C by day
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 0
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- −2 °C by day
- 2.8 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 11 h 10 min
- Distance
- 8,880 km
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Jet lag
- About 8 days (8 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Sapporo
When is the best time to visit Sapporo?
The best time to visit Sapporo is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Sapporo?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C and nights around 19 °C. January is the coolest month at −3 °C.
When does it rain most in Sapporo?
Rain is most frequent from July to March; the wettest month is August with 169 mm. The driest month is April with 65 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Sapporo get?
Sapporo gets around 1,720 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 6.5 hours a day; in December there are 2.7 hours a day.
What time zone is Sapporo in?
Sapporo uses the time zone Asia/Tokyo, at UTC+9 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Sapporo?
A nonstop flight from London to Sapporo takes about 11 h 10 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,880 km.
Which school holidays are best for Sapporo?
Sapporo has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 68) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 0). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 29, May half-term 68, Summer holidays 68, October half-term 47, Christmas holidays 0.
Near Sapporo
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Sapporo
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Sapporo's – good alternatives.