What to wear in Hokkaido in January

In January, the average high in Sapporo is −0.4℃ and the average low is −6.4℃, 19.8℃ lower than the average high in Hong Kong. What to wear: Down jacket or wool coat, knit sweater, thermal base layer, boots with non-slip soles, scarf, gloves, knit hat.

JanuarySapporo High −0.4℃ / Low −6.4℃

What to wear in Sapporo in January

Down jacket or wool coat
Knit sweater
Thermal base layer
Boots with non-slip soles
Scarf
Gloves
Knit hat

Clothing tips for January

This is the coldest time of year. In Sapporo, more than half the month is ice days.

In January, the gap between the average high and low in Sapporo is 6.0℃. The average high is 2.4℃ lower than in December.

How to choose winter shoes and walk on snow

The illustration shows how the clothes combine. The clothing list is written for Sapporo. Asahikawa is colder than Sapporo in winter, and Kushiro stays cool even in summer, with highs around 20℃. Check the temperatures in the table if you are going elsewhere.

Sapporo in early, mid and late January

The normal high falls by 0.7℃ from early to late January. Adjust what you pack to when in the month you go.

Period	High	Low	Precipitation	Snowfall	Deepest snow
Early (1st–10th)	0.2℃	−5.8℃	37 mm	44 cm	53 cm
Mid (11th–20th)	−0.7℃	−6.7℃	34 mm	45 cm	65 cm
Late (21st–end)	−0.5℃	−6.7℃	38 mm	48 cm	74 cm

Weather in four Hokkaido cities in January

City	High	Low	Precipitation	Sunshine	Humidity	Snowfall	Deepest snow	Ice days
Sapporo	−0.4℃	−6.4℃	108 mm	90 hours	69%	137 cm	76 cm	about 17 days
Hakodate	0.9℃	−6.0℃	77 mm	103 hours	73%	91 cm	34 cm	about 11 days
Asahikawa	−3.3℃	−11.7℃	67 mm	75 hours	82%	125 cm	72 cm	about 26 days
Kushiro	−0.2℃	−9.8℃	40 mm	187 hours	67%	32 cm	23 cm	about 16 days

An ice day is a day when the temperature stays below 0℃. Deepest snow is the monthly normal at the observation station. Snow depth varies by location.

Daily snowfall and snow depth in January (JMA data):Sapporo Hakodate Asahikawa Kushiro

Sapporo compared with your home city in January

Average highs and lows in each city, and how Sapporo’s average high compares.

Home city	High	Low	Sapporo’s high is
Hong Kong	19.4℃	13.9℃	19.8℃ lower
Singapore	30.5℃	24.4℃	30.9℃ lower
Taipei	19.4℃	14.2℃	19.8℃ lower
Kaohsiung	24.2℃	16.2℃	24.6℃ lower
Tokyo	9.8℃	1.2℃	10.2℃ lower
Osaka	9.7℃	3.0℃	10.1℃ lower

Winter in Sapporo (December to February)

It is below freezing outside but warm indoors, so stay warm while dressing in layers you can take off. A base layer that keeps you warm and handles moisture makes the temperature changes easier.
Roads are bumpy with snow or icy and slippery, so wear snow boots or shoes with non-slip soles. Convenience stores and shoe shops in Sapporo sell grips you can attach to the shoes you are wearing.
The underground walkway Chi-Ka-Ho connects Sapporo Station with Odori and Susukino, so you can get around without walking on snow.

Other months

See the whole year (with the home city comparison tool)

Sources

Hokkaido, Tokyo and Osaka use Japan Meteorological Agency normals (1991–2020). Hong Kong and Singapore are 2004–2025 averages calculated from JMA world climate data. Taipei and Kaohsiung use normals (1991–2020) from Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration. Actual temperatures vary, so check the forecast before you leave. The sources below are mostly in Japanese.