When Does It Snow in Hokkaido? — First Snow, Snow Cover, Peak Season, and Snowmelt Period

The first snowfall in Hokkaido is in early Oct

In Hokkaido, the first snowfall (“hatsuyuki”) typically arrives in late Oct in Sapporo and early Oct in Kutchan.

The timing of the first snowfall varies by region.

If you want precise information, search the place name plus “初雪” (first snow) to find the latest local data.

Snowfall timing differs from when snow starts to stick

Even if the first flakes fall in Oct, they usually do not form a lasting snowpack. “Neyuki” refers to snow that remains on the ground without melting until the thawing season.

If you are planning a trip from late autumn into winter and want to know what shoes and clothing to prepare, the timing of the very first snowfall is not very helpful because in most years it snows briefly in Oct and then does not continue or accumulate.

So when does it start to stick? The start of persistent snow cover varies widely across Hokkaido, just like the first snowfall.

In Sapporo it typically begins in early Nov, while in the heavy-snow Kutchan–Niseko area it can begin in late Oct.

For specific timelines of when snow begins to accumulate and when the thaw starts, we provide clear monthly graphs by area showing “daily maximum snow depth” and “daily snowfall” alongside “average, maximum, and minimum temperatures.” See the links below for details.

Sapporo ｜ Iwamizawa ｜ Otaru ｜ Kutchan ｜ Muroran ｜ Urakawa ｜ Hakodate ｜ Esashi ｜ Asahikawa ｜ Rumoi ｜ Wakkanai ｜ Abashiri ｜ Monbetsu ｜ Obihiro ｜ Kushiro ｜ Nemuro

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Chitose ｜ Noboribetsu ｜ Furano ｜ Biei

Snow in Hokkaido peaks in late Feb

Hokkaido’s “snow peak” comes in late Feb for both daily maximum snow depth and daily snowfall.

As a note, the period with the lowest average, maximum, and minimum daily temperatures is early Feb.

When the snowmelt begins in Hokkaido

The snowmelt typically begins in late Feb. After that, the “daily maximum snow depth” reported by the JMA generally trends downward as temperatures rise.

The timing of “complete melt” (when daily maximum snow depth reaches zero) varies by area. In Sapporo it is usually mid Apr, while in heavy-snow Kutchan it is often early May.