Sapporo in January
Highs around 0°C, lows -6°C, 108mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. On this month: New Year holiday, Ski season.
Best time to visit / Sapporo
When is it cheapest to visit Sapporo?
See how room prices move month by month, and know the cheapest window and the peak season to avoid before you book.
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Cheapest Mar, Apr, NovPeak Feb, Jul, Aug
Read from this city's own twelve months. The table below adds the temperature and rainfall for each one.
Sapporo is cheapest to visit in March, April, November.
Peak season is February, July, August, when rooms cost the most.
The month to pick is April. Rooms sit at this city's yearly low, and at an average high of 12°C and low of 3°C with 55mm of rain it asks the least of you of any of its cheap months.
The wettest month in Sapporo is September, at 142mm. It is not one of the cheap months, so dodging the rain and saving money are two separate decisions here.
Sapporo month by month: weather and room prices
One row per month. The price column is relative to this city's own year, and the temperature and rainfall are thirty-year normals.
| Month | Rooms | Temp | Rain | What is on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Mid | 0°C / -6°C | 108mm | New Year holiday, Ski season |
| February | Peak | 0°C / -6°C | 92mm | Snow festival, Ski season |
| March | Cheap | 5°C / -2°C | 78mm | Quiet shoulder |
| April | Cheap | 12°C / 3°C | 55mm | Quiet shoulder |
| May | Mid | 18°C / 9°C | 56mm | Nothing in particular |
| June | Mid | 22°C / 13°C | 60mm | Nothing in particular |
| July | Peak | 25°C / 18°C | 91mm | Summer holidays, Local festival |
| August | Peak | 26°C / 19°C | 127mm | Obon holiday, Summer holidays |
| September | Mid | 23°C / 14°C | 142mm | Nothing in particular |
| Octobernow | Mid | 16°C / 8°C | 110mm | Autumn foliage |
| November | Cheap | 9°C / 1°C | 114mm | Nothing in particular |
| December | Mid | 2°C / -4°C | 115mm | New Year holiday, Ski season |
Temperature and rainfall are published 1991-2020 monthly normals from national meteorological agencies. The price level is Tripdify's own per-city read of peak seasons and holidays; what you actually pay varies by property and day of the week.
Sapporo month by month
Sapporo in February
Highs around 0°C, lows -6°C, 92mm of rain; rooms at the year's high. On this month: Snow festival, Ski season.
Peak prices: book early if your dates are fixed.
Sapporo in March
Highs around 5°C, lows -2°C, 78mm of rain; rooms at the year's low.
Cheap and not one of the wettest months: a good time to go.
Sapporo in April
Highs around 12°C, lows 3°C, 55mm of rain; rooms at the year's low. One of the three driest months.
Cheap and not one of the wettest months: a good time to go.
Sapporo in May
Highs around 18°C, lows 9°C, 56mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. One of the three driest months.
Sapporo in June
Highs around 22°C, lows 13°C, 60mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. One of the three driest months.
Sapporo in July
Highs around 25°C, lows 18°C, 91mm of rain; rooms at the year's high. On this month: Summer holidays, Local festival.
Peak prices: book early if your dates are fixed.
Sapporo in August
Highs around 26°C, lows 19°C, 127mm of rain; rooms at the year's high. One of the three wettest months. On this month: Obon holiday, Summer holidays.
Peak prices: book early if your dates are fixed.
Sapporo in September
Highs around 23°C, lows 14°C, 142mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. One of the three wettest months.
Sapporo in October
Highs around 16°C, lows 8°C, 110mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. On this month: Autumn foliage.
Sapporo in November
Highs around 9°C, lows 1°C, 114mm of rain; rooms at the year's low.
Cheap, but wet: keep plans flexible and pack for rain.
Sapporo in December
Highs around 2°C, lows -4°C, 115mm of rain; rooms mid-priced. One of the three wettest months. On this month: New Year holiday, Ski season.
Sapporo seasons and room prices
Sapporo's calendar is the reverse of most Japanese cities. The Snow Festival in early February is the most expensive week of the year and sells out months ahead, and the New Year holiday and ski season weekends through January are also high. Summer from late July through August, when the rest of Japan comes north to escape the heat, plus Obon and Golden Week, are the other peaks. The low points are mid February after the festival through March, the slushy thaw in April, and November before the snow settles. Same class rooms can be dramatically cheaper in those shoulder weeks.
Sapporo local costs and payment
The currency is the yen. Hotels and department stores around Sapporo Station and Susukino take cards, but Nijo Market, the ramen alleys and small izakaya can still be cash only, so carry some notes. Pay in yen at checkout rather than accepting a conversion to your home currency, which hides a margin. Sapporo has been moving toward an accommodation tax of its own, so check at booking time whether the displayed total already includes local taxes. Out at the ski resorts and onsen towns around the city card acceptance is patchier than in the centre.
Take Sapporo further into a stay plan
Once you have picked a cheap time to go, work out which base gives you the shortest travel.
When to visit Sapporo: common questions
When is it cheapest?
Sapporo is cheapest in the low season, March, April, November.
When is peak season?
February, July, August is peak season, when room prices are highest.
Which months should I avoid?
To spend the least, avoid the peak months of February, July, August, when prices climb.
Which month in Sapporo is both cheap and pleasant?
The month to pick is April. Rooms sit at this city's yearly low, and at an average high of 12°C and low of 3°C with 55mm of rain it asks the least of you of any of its cheap months.
Which month is wettest in Sapporo?
The wettest month in Sapporo is September, at 142mm. It is not one of the cheap months, so dodging the rain and saving money are two separate decisions here.