Season guide · Sapporo · Japan
Sapporo in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AlphaBetaGamma, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Food festivals in September, foliage at Jozankei and ginkgo gold in October, and cold grey days with first snow in November. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 38 rainy days across September–November. September is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 1°C (34°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 38
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 22°C (72°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 11 | 12.4 h | 3/5 |
| October | 16°C (61°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 12 | 10.9 h | 3/5 |
| November | 9°C (48°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 15 | 9.6 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 16°C (61°F) against a yearly 13°C (55°F), and 38 of the year's roughly 143 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Sapporo Autumn Fest food festival in Odori Park (usually September)
- October: Autumn foliage at Jozankei (usually mid-October)
- November: Sapporo White Illumination along Odori Park and Ekimae-dori (usually from late November)
- November: Munich Christmas Market in Odori Park (usually late November to 25 December)
Good choices for autumn
Gallery · Minami-ku
Sapporo Art Park
In wooded hills in the south of the city, this cultural complex has a sculpture garden with dozens of works by Japanese and international artists set along forest paths, plus a contemporary art museum and craft workshops.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Higashi-ku
Sapporo Beer Museum
Book dinner at the beer garden next door and try Sapporo Classic, a lager sold only in Hokkaido.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Rainy day
Theme park · Nishi-ku
Shiroi Koibito Park
The factory of Ishiya, maker of the Shiroi Koibito white-chocolate biscuits, has a European-style courtyard, a viewing gallery over the production line, a sweets museum and a biscuit-decorating workshop.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Food
Museum · Atsubetsu-ku
Historical Village of Hokkaido
Combine it with the Hokkaido Museum in the same forest park for a full day on the island's history.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
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
Day trips in autumn
- Lake Shikotsu (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — A deep caldera lake in Shikotsu-Toya National Park with very clear water, sightseeing boats and lakeside onsen.
- Noboribetsu (About 1 hour 30 minutes by train and bus) — One of Japan's best-known onsen towns, with Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a steaming volcanic crater crossed by boardwalks, and ryokan that offer day-use baths from several different springs.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Sapporo?
Yes: September is among the best months. Food festivals in September, foliage at Jozankei and ginkgo gold in October, and cold grey days with first snow in November.
+What is the weather like in Sapporo in autumn?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 38 rainy days over the season.