Best time to visit Sapporo
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Sapporo
6 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Sapporo).
- 1
Private Market Tour and Cooking Class with Kanae, a Sapporo Local - 2
Noboribetsu, Lake Toya and Niseko Day Tour from Sapporo - 3
[Biei/Furano] One-day sightseeing by private car! - 4
Sapporo: Jozankei Onsen Walk with Temple & Cave Visit - 5
2 hours sushi class - 6
[Late Departure] Biei Best 5 Must-Visit Day Tour from Sapporo
Last refreshed 2026-05-26.
Similar climatesQuebec City87% · Montreal85% · Munich84%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Sapporo (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Sapporo's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -10–-3 | -8 | 15 | 237 | 15.8 | 74% | 23 | 134 | 1 | Quiet | 2 |
| Feb | -9–-2 | -7 | 16 | 231 | 14.4 | 74% | 22 | 140 | 2 | Quiet | 2 |
| Mar | -4–5 | 0 | 12 | 140 | 11.7 | 69% | 24 | 186 | 3 | Quiet | 4 |
| Apr | 2–12 | 8 | 11 | 120 | 10.9 | 57% | 25 | 206 | 4 | Quiet | 6 |
| May | 7–17 | 14 | 14 | 142 | 10.1 | 65% | 24 | 208 | 5 | Quiet | 6 |
| Jun | 13–21 | 21 | 13 | 141 | 10.8 | 70% | 22 | 229 | 5 | Quiet | 7 |
| Jul | 18–26 | 27 | 11 | 139 | 12.6 | 72% | 21 | 243 | 6 | Quiet | 7 |
| Aug | 19–27 | 28 | 16 | 175 | 10.9 | 73% | 21 | 208 | 6 | Moderate | 6 |
| Sep | 14–23 | 22 | 12 | 131 | 10.9 | 68% | 21 | 191 | 5 | Moderate | 8 |
| Oct | 7–16 | 14 | 13 | 152 | 11.7 | 65% | 20 | 184 | 3 | Moderate | 6 |
| Nov | 1–9 | 5 | 15 | 168 | 11.2 | 66% | 21 | 138 | 1 | Peak | 4 |
| Dec | -8–0 | -5 | 14 | 169 | 12.1 | 69% | 19 | 140 | 1 | Busy | 4 |
UV Index in Sapporo by Month
UV index in Sapporo peaks at 6 (moderate) in July, dropping to 1 (low) in December.
Best months in detail
September
8/1014–23°C · 12 rain days (131h) · 191 sun hours · 68% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
June
7/1013–21°C · 13 rain days (141h) · 229 sun hours · 70% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
July
7/1018–26°C (feels 27°C) · 11 rain days (139h) · 243 sun hours · 72% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
2/10-10–-3°C (feels -8°C) · 15 rain days (237h) · 134 sun hours · 74% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
February
2/10-9–-2°C (feels -7°C) · 16 rain days (231h) · 140 sun hours · 74% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
March
4/10-4–5°C (feels 0°C) · 12 rain days (140h) · 186 sun hours · 69% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
April
6/102–12°C (feels 8°C) · 11 rain days (120h) · 206 sun hours · 57% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 5 (moderate)
May
6/107–17°C (feels 14°C) · 14 rain days (142h) · 208 sun hours · 65% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
August
6/1019–27°C (feels 28°C) · 16 rain days (175h) · 208 sun hours · 73% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
October
6/107–16°C (feels 14°C) · 13 rain days (152h) · 184 sun hours · 65% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
November
4/101–9°C (feels 5°C) · 15 rain days (168h) · 138 sun hours · 66% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 1 (low)
December
4/10-8–0°C (feels -5°C) · 14 rain days (169h) · 140 sun hours · 69% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 1 (low)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Sapporo
When is the best time to visit Sapporo?
September is the highest-scoring month (8/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 14–23°C (12 rainy days). The top three months by score are September, June, July.
What is the worst time to visit Sapporo?
January is the lowest-scoring month (2/10, capped by extreme cold). Typical conditions: -10–-3°C (15 rainy days).
Is Sapporo too cold in winter?
2 months (January, February) cross our cold deal-breaker (apparent temperature below the cap). Doable with the right gear, but expect the climate score to be held down by the gate.
When are crowds lowest in Sapporo?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in May and peaks in November. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Sapporo have good weather but fewer tourists?
September (climate 8/10, crowd index 46) and June (climate 7/10, crowd index 3) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Sapporo by month?
UV peaks at 6 (moderate) in July and is lowest in December at 1 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 1, Feb 2, Mar 3, Apr 4, May 5, Jun 5, Jul 6, Aug 6, Sep 5, Oct 3, Nov 1, Dec 1.
What is the UV index in Sapporo in July?
July is the peak UV month in Sapporo, with a daily-peak UV index of 6 (moderate). Standard sun protection — sunglasses and light SPF — is recommended.
How high can UV get in Sapporo on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. July is the worst case: typical days average UV 6 (moderate), but the top 10% of days reach UV 8 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Sapporo bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 6 months: February, March, April, May, June, July. The worst month is March with a typical-day mean of 14 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 23 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.