Weather in January in Hokkaido
Planning a getaway to Hokkaido this January and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:
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.
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
The city Sapporo usually sees around 93 hours of sunlight, indicating fewer sunny days.For a closer look at January's conditions in Hokkaido, see the map below. For a more detailed look at Hokkaido's yearly weather, check out our Hokkaido climate page.
Where to go in Hokkaido in January
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
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.