Hokkaido

Hokkaido Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Hokkaido, Japan in January.

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Sapporo Niseko Hakodate Furano

Are you planning a trip a to Hokkaido, Japan in January and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Hokkaido in January

Hokkaido, Japan 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 (21°F) in Kamikawa to 2°C (36°F) in Erimo. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -3°C (27°F) in Erimo and -14°C (7°F) 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, Japan 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 (2 in) to high snowfall in Rishirifuji with 119 mm (4.7 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is quite limited in many locations during January. Sapporo receives roughly 93 hours of sunlight. For destinations with more sunshine, our weather planner offers alternatives worldwide.

Explore Hokkaido by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Hokkaido in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Hokkaido.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Hokkaido

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Hokkaido, Japan?

Temperature range in Hokkaido (January)

Precipitation variation in Hokkaido (January)

Sapporo

In January Sapporo generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -1°C (30°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -9°C (16°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
-1°C (30°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-9°C (16°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly sun hours
87 hours
93 hours
102 hours
Monthly snowfall
90 mm (3.5 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
67 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
27 days
28 days
25 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Sapporo →

Niseko

In January Niseko generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C (28°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -9°C (16°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
1°C (34°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
-9°C (16°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly sun hours
87 hours
93 hours
102 hours
Monthly snowfall
111 mm (4.4 in)
89 mm (3.5 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
29 days
30 days
27 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Niseko →

Hakodate

In January Hakodate generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 1°C (34°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -4°C (25°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Monthly sun hours
95 hours
104 hours
120 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
79 mm (3.1 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
28 days
28 days
25 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Hakodate →

Furano

In January Furano generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C (25°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C (10°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Min temperature
-10°C (14°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-12°C (10°F)
Monthly snowfall
114 mm (4.5 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
26 days
26 days
24 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Furano →

Obihiro

In January Obihiro generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C (28°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C (7°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
1°C (34°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-13°C (9°F)
Monthly snowfall
78 mm (3.1 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
16 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Obihiro →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Hokkaido, in Japan.

In our records: Japan January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Japan in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Japan was -15°C (5°F) in Mount Fuji on January 18, 2004.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Hokkaido in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Sapporo -1°C (30°F) -9°C (16°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Niseko -2°C (28°F) -9°C (16°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Hakodate 1°C (34°F) -4°C (25°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Furano -4°C (25°F) -12°C (10°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Obihiro -2°C (28°F) -14°C (7°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Teshikaga -3°C (27°F) -13°C (9°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)

Hokkaido weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Hokkaido, Japan in January?

Expect poor weather across Hokkaido, Japan in January. The popular destination of Sapporo averages -1°C (30°F) by day and -9°C (16°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in Hokkaido, Japan in January?

In Sapporo, the average daytime high in January is -1°C (30°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -9°C (16°F).

Does Hokkaido, Japan get a lot of snow in January?

January is on the drier side in Hokkaido, Japan. Sapporo averages only about 69 mm (2.7 in), with most days staying dry.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Hokkaido, Japan?

In our view, January might not be the best time to travel to Hokkaido, Japan with often poor weather in Sapporo.

On average, the best time to visit Hokkaido, Japan 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.

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