Month guide · Sapporo · Japan
Sapporo in May
What May is really like in Sapporo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AlphaBetaGamma, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 14.6 hours of daylight. Spring at last: cherry blossom early in the month at Maruyama Park and Hokkaido Shrine, then lilacs in Odori Park.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 17°C (63°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 14.6 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Sapporo: days average 17°C (63°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with April (12°C (54°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 22°C (72°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 04:11
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 18:50
- Daylight
- About 14.6 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, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in February). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Cherry blossom at Maruyama Park (usually early May)
- Sapporo Lilac Festival in Odori Park (usually late May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
_Hokkaido_Shrine_2026-06-06.jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · Maruyama
Hokkaido Shrine
Walk from Maruyama-Koen station through the park and continue to the zoo or the Mount Maruyama trail.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
Zoo · Maruyama
Sapporo Maruyama Zoo
Sapporo's zoo is best known for its polar bears, seen swimming through an underwater viewing tunnel, and for northern species such as Hokkaido brown bears and snow leopards.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
Park · Higashi-ku
Moerenuma Park
Rent a bicycle at the park entrance in summer; the grounds are large, and the walk to the top of Mount Moere gives views over the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Architecture
- Kids
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Chuo-ku
Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
Built for the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics, the large ski jump is still used for World Cup events.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- History
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 17°C, lows near 8°C and 8 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Sapporo?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events 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 May a good time to visit Sapporo?
It is a shoulder-season month. Spring at last: cherry blossom early in the month at Maruyama Park and Hokkaido Shrine, then lilacs in Odori Park.
+How warm is Sapporo in May?
Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Sapporo in May?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.