Month guide · Sapporo · Japan
Sapporo in April
What April is really like in Sapporo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nkns, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
April is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 13.3 hours of daylight. A muddy in-between month as the snow clears; cherry blossom usually arrives at the very end of April or in early May.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 13.3 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in April
April is the 7th-warmest month in Sapporo: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 30 days. Compared with March (4°C (39°F)), April is warmer; by May highs climb to around 17°C (63°F).
- Sunrise (15 April)
- About 04:53
- Sunset (15 April)
- About 18:17
- Daylight
- About 13.3 hours
Spring (March–May). Slow thaw and slush in March and April, then cherry blossom in early May and lilacs late in the month.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, April rates 2 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in February). That makes April one of the better-value months to book.
Events in April
- Golden Week holidays begin (late April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in April
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Street · Susukino
Tanukikoji Shopping Street
A covered shopping arcade running for seven blocks between Odori and Susukino, with drugstores, souvenir shops, old-style kissaten coffee houses and restaurants.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Free
- Food
Street · Susukino
Ganso Ramen Yokocho
Come early in the evening to avoid queues, and pay at the ticket machine or counter as each shop directs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
Park · Odori
Odori Park
This 1.5 km strip of lawns, flowerbeds and fountains runs east–west through the city centre and hosts Sapporo's main events: snow sculptures in February, the lilac festival in May, beer gardens in summer and the Autumn Fest food festival in September.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- After dark
Viewpoint · Odori
Sapporo TV Tower
Go up in the early evening during the Snow Festival or the White Illumination for the view of the lit park below.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- After dark
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 3°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is April a good time to visit Sapporo?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, February and June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Sapporo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is April a good time to visit Sapporo?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. A muddy in-between month as the snow clears; cherry blossom usually arrives at the very end of April or in early May.
+How warm is Sapporo in April?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Sapporo in April?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.