- HOME
- About Hokkaido
- Basic Information
- Climate of Hokkaido
About
HokkaidoClimate of Hokkaido
Features of Each Area
Pacific-type climate. Relatively mild compared to the other areas in Hokkaido.
The urban area such as Hakodate has relatively little snow while the mountain area accumulates heavy snow. The blooming season of cherry blossom begins the earliest in Hokkaido.
It is relatively mild in the vicinity of Sapporo but, in winter,
it becomes windy and has heavy snow. In Niseko and the foot of Mt. Yotei, the brisk highland weather lasts in summer and has heavy snow in winter. The Pacific side, such as Toya, Noboribetsu and Shiraoi, has mild weather, where the snow accumulation level is somewhat lower.
The Daisetsu area has an inland climate where the temperature is high in summer while it is severely cold in winter.
The snow accumulation level is the highest in Hokkaido. Also, in the Tokachi area, the temperature is high in summer and cold in winter, however, it does not snow much.
It has an East Pacific climate, where fog is generated in summer.
It is cool even in summer and the temperature drastically changes during the day. Although the snow accumulation level is low, it is severely cold, causing lakes and rivers to freeze. Drifting ice can be seen on the side of Sea of Okhotsk.
It is relatively cool even in summer.
In winter, the temperature drops low in the inland area and has heavy snow.
Temperatures of Major Cities in Hokkaido
Hakodate | Sapporo | Asahikawa | Abashiri | Kushiro | Wakkanai | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Avg. -1.2 | Avg. -2.5 | Avg. -6.6 | Avg. -4.4 | Avg. -3.6 | Avg. -3.6 |
H 8.5 L -9.6 |
H 6.9 L -11.7 |
H 6.8 L -21.8 |
H 7.8 L -14.8 |
H 5.1 L -15.7 |
H 5.1 L -8.9 |
|
Remarks | The weather easily changes in this season. It snows heavily in Central Hokkaido and Taisetsu areas. The temperature drops very low in Tokachi and Eastern Hokkaido. As for a jacket or coat, it is better to have one with a hood. It is effective to warm tips of the body with a scarf, gloves and hat. | |||||
Feb | Avg. 0.1 | Avg. -0.6 | Avg. -3.8 | Avg. -2.6 | Avg. -2.9 | Avg. 1 |
H 10.6 L -10.2 |
H 9.8 L -10 |
H 8.1 L -20 |
H 9.6 L -13.9 |
H 5.3 L -15.5 |
H 6 L -11.2 |
|
Remarks | The weather easily changes in this season. It snows heavily in Central Hokkaido and Taisetsu areas. The temperature drops very low in Tokachi and Eastern Hokkaido. As for a jacket or coat, it is better to have one with a hood. It is effective to warm tips of the body with a scarf, gloves and hat. | Mar | Avg. 3.4 | Avg. 2.5 | Avg. 0 | Avg. -0.3 | Avg. 0.6 | Avg. 0.5 |
H 8.5 L -9.6 |
H 6.9 L -11.7 |
H 6.8 L -21.8 |
H 7.8 L -14.8 |
H 5.1 L -15.7 |
H 5.1 L -8.9 |
|
Remarks | The temperature drastically changes from morning to night. It is a good idea to be able to adjust temperature with clothes easy to put on and take off. A coat is still needed. | Apr | Avg. 9.7 | Avg. 9.6 | Avg. 8.5 | Avg. 6.9 | Avg. 4.8 | Avg. 6.8 |
H 21.1 L -0.1 |
H 20.3 L 1 |
H 22.8 L -2.8 |
H 24 L -2.5 |
H 15.4 L -2.6 |
H 18.8 L -1 |
|
Remarks | Snow starts melting. Skunk cabbages begin blooming in marshes. A light coat or outerwear is needed. | May | Avg.12.6 | Avg.13.6 | Avg.13.2 | Avg.10.4 | Avg.9.4 | Avg.11.1 |
H 23.4 L 2.8 |
H 24.5 L 5.5 |
H 26.9 L 0.8 |
H 23.6 L 2 |
H 21.4 L 0.8 |
H 22.2 L 3.6 |
|
Remarks | The sunlight is warm, but the wind is still cold. The weather is similar to that of Honshu (mainland) in April. It is better to have outerwear. | Jun | Avg. 15.3 | Avg. 15.9 | Avg. 15.5 | Avg. 12.2 | Avg. 11.1 | Avg. 12.1 |
H 26.9 L 7.4 |
H 28.5 L 6.9 |
H 29.9 L 2.6 |
H 30.8 L 5.1 |
H 20.3 L 3.3 |
H 21.4 L 6.3 |
|
Remarks | The nice weather continues and various flowers start blooming all at once. There may be times when you can wear a half-sleeve shirt but it depends on the day. | Jul | Avg. 20.1 | Avg. 20.5 | Avg. 20.3 | Avg. 16.6 | Avg. 15.4 | Avg. 15.7 |
H 29.2 L 12.7 |
H 30.3 L 14 |
H 29.8 L 12.1 |
H 27.7 L 10.7 |
H 25.6 L 9.8 |
H 24.3 L 10.8 |
|
Remarks | You can wear a half-sleeve shirt during the day, however, it is better to have light outerwear when you go out at night or go to the mountain or lake area. | Aug | Avg. 20.5 | Avg. 20.1 | Avg. 18.6 | Avg. 16.8 | Avg. 15.7 | Avg. 17.1 |
H 29.1 L 12.6 |
H 30.6 L 14.4 |
H 30.7 L 9.2 |
H 31.1 L 9.4 |
H 26.8 L 10 |
H 25.4 L 11.7 |
|
Remarks | The sunlight is strong in the inland. It sometimes becomes foggy along the seacoast. The temperature suddenly starts dropping after mid-August. | Sep | Avg. 17.9 | Avg. 17.7 | Avg. 15.5 | Avg. 16.2 | Avg. 15.5 | Avg. 17 |
H 29.2 L 8.2 |
H 28.8 L 8.2 |
H 31.4 L 4 |
H 29.8 L 9.3 |
H 23.8 L 5 |
H 26.4 L 9.3 |
|
Remarks | From the middle of the month, it becomes cold in the morning and evening. The leaves begin changing at the end of the month, starting from the mountainside. | Oct | Avg. 12,5 | Avg. 12 | Avg. 9.7 | Avg. 10.7 | Avg. 10.8 | Avg. 10.8 |
H 24.2 L -0.3 |
H 25.4 L 3.2 |
H 25 L -1.6 |
H 27.7 L 0.4 |
H 20.9 L -0.5 |
H 20.3 L 1.9 |
|
Nov | Avg. 3.3 | Avg. 2.8 | Avg. 0.5 | Avg. 2.7 | Avg. 3.4 | Avg. 2.3 |
H 15.6 L -4.9 |
H 13.9 L -5.4 |
H 12.7 L -8.9 |
H 16.2 L -5.9 |
H 13.3 L -8 |
H 11 L -6.1 |
|
Remarks | The color changing of leaves reaches its peak in flatland in the middle of the month. It starts snowing in the mountain. Breath can be seen in the morning and evening. A sweater and coat are needed. | Dec | Avg. -2.2 | Avg. -3 | Avg. -6.2 | Avg. -5 | Avg. -4.5 | Avg. -4.4 |
H 11.4 L -10.6 |
H 10 L -10.1 |
H 6.2 L -21.6 |
H 8.8 L -16.3 |
H 10.1 L -19.7 |
H 10.4 L -12.1 |
|
Remarks | Snow starts accumulating at the end of the month. A coat, gloves, winter shoes (or antiskid) are needed. |