Season guide · Sapporo · Japan
Sapporo in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Heavy snow, illuminations, the Snow Festival and skiing within an hour; icy pavements and short days. Expect highs up to 2°C (36°F) and lows around -7°C (19°F), with about 51 rainy days across December–February. February is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -7°C (19°F) to 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 51
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C (30°F) | -7°C (19°F) | 18 | 9.3 h | 3/5 |
| February | 0°C (32°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 15 | 10.5 h | 5/5 |
| December | 2°C (36°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 18 | 9 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 0°C (32°F) against a yearly 13°C (55°F), and 51 of the year's roughly 143 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Ski season at Sapporo Teine and Sapporo Kokusai (December to spring)
- February: Sapporo Snow Festival — snow and ice sculptures in Odori, Susukino and Tsudome (usually early February, about a week)
- December: Sapporo White Illumination continues (December)
- December: Ski areas open (usually late November to early December)
Good choices for winter
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
Museum · Atsubetsu-ku
Historical Village of Hokkaido
More than 50 buildings from the 1860s to the early 20th century — farmhouses, a herring fishermen's lodge, shops and a post office — have been relocated to this open-air museum in Nopporo Forest Park.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
Street · Susukino
Tanukikoji Shopping Street
Use it as your covered route between Odori and Susukino on snowy evenings.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Free
- Food
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
Day trips in winter
- 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.
- Asahiyama Zoo (About 2 hours by train and bus) — Japan's best-known zoo for its enclosure design, with penguins walking through the snow in winter, a polar-bear dome and a seal tunnel.
What to pack
- 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
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Sapporo?
Yes: February is among the best months. Heavy snow, illuminations, the Snow Festival and skiing within an hour; icy pavements and short days.
+What is the weather like in Sapporo in winter?
Highs of up to 2°C (36°F) and lows around -7°C (19°F), with about 51 rainy days over the season.