Weather in January in Hokkaido
Are you planning a trip a to Hokkaido in January and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.
What is the weather like in Hokkaido in January?
Hokkaido is a region in Japan. January in Hokkaido generally has very cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. During January, winter is in full swing.
Temperatures
The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -6°C in Kamikawa to 2°C in Erimo. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -3°C in Erimo and -14°C in Kamikawa. Typically, it's the chilliest month of the year. Making it a great time for staying indoors and enjoying the warmth. Make sure you're prepared by packing the right winter outfits.To explore the conditions in Hokkaido in more detail, check the map below.
Precipitation
In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Chitose with an average of 51 mm to high snowfall in Rishirifuji with 119 mm.Average sunshine
Most cities witness limited sunny days, expect roughly 93 hours of sunlight in Sapporo. This low amount of sunlight is perfect for those who lean towards dimmer, cloudier weather rather than intense sunny days.For more details on the yearly climate, visit our Hokkaido climate page.
Where to go in Hokkaido in January
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor
Select a Month of Interest
Check the conditions for any month of the year.
For a detailed overview over the year and the best time to visit Japan, check out our Hokkaido's climate page.
Popular destinations
What is the weather like in January for the 5 most popular destinations in Hokkaido?
Sapporo
In January Sapporo generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -1°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -9°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly sun hours
Sun hours
Monthly snowfall
Snowfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Niseko
In January Niseko generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -9°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly sun hours
Sun hours
Monthly snowfall
Snowfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Hakodate
In January Hakodate generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 1°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -4°C and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly sun hours
Sun hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
Snow/rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Furano
In January Furano generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly snowfall
Snowfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Obihiro
In January Obihiro generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly snowfall
Snowfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Hokkaido, in Japan.
Is January the best time to visit Hokkaido?
In our view, January might not be the best time to travel to Hokkaido with often poor weather in Sapporo.
On average, the best time to visit Hokkaido is in June with generally perfect weather in Sapporo. In contrast, January, February, March, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in Hokkaido.
Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Japan? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Japan.
Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.