Month guide · Sapporo · Japan
Sapporo in November
What November is really like in Sapporo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Kinori assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
Quick answer
November is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 9°C (48°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 15 rainy days and roughly 9.6 hours of daylight. Cold and often grey; the first city snow usually falls this month, and the illuminations start late in the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 9°C (48°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 15
- Daylight
- About 9.6 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in November
November is the 8th-warmest month in Sapporo: days average 9°C (48°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 15 of its 30 days. Compared with October (16°C (61°F)), November is cooler; by December highs drop to around 2°C (36°F).
- Sunrise (15 November)
- About 06:28
- Sunset (15 November)
- About 16:12
- Daylight
- About 9.6 hours
Autumn (September–November). Food festivals in September, foliage at Jozankei and ginkgo gold in October, and cold grey days with first snow in November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, November rates 2 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in February). That makes November one of the better-value months to book.
Events in November
- Sapporo White Illumination along Odori Park and Ekimae-dori (usually from late November)
- Munich Christmas Market in Odori Park (usually late November to 25 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in November
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Viewpoint · Toyohira-ku
Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill
Go in June and July when the lavender is out and sheep graze the slopes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Museum · Higashi-ku
Sapporo Beer Museum
A red-brick former sugar factory and brewery tells the story of beer brewing in Hokkaido from 1876, when a government brewery opened in Sapporo.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Rainy day
Theme park · Nishi-ku
Shiroi Koibito Park
Reserve a slot for the biscuit-making workshop if you are travelling with children; it fills at weekends and in holidays.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Food
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
What to pack
For highs near 9°C, lows near 1°C and 15 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is November a good time to visit Sapporo?
A quieter month with trade-offs, 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 November a good time to visit Sapporo?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and often grey; the first city snow usually falls this month, and the illuminations start late in the month.
+How warm is Sapporo in November?
Average highs are around 9°C (48°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Sapporo in November?
Expect rain on about 15 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.