Sapporo weather in January
In January, Sapporo sees average daytime highs of -3°C and overnight lows near -10°C, with 51 mm of precipitation across 10.3 wet days and about 9.2 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near -3°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 5% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 8 h 54 min at the start of January to 9 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Sapporo's 11th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Sapporo's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- -3°
- 12th warmest
- Overnight low
- -10°
- 1st coldest
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- 10.3 wet days
- Daylight
- 9 h 06 min
- 7:09 AM – 4:18 PM
- Cloud cover
- 72%
- 11th clearest
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- 7th windiest
- Solar energy
- 2.11 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 0.0
- out of 10
Sapporo is city on Hokkaido, Japan.
- Air quality
- Moderate
- PM2.5 14 µg/m³ · 2010
- Density
- 1,760/km²
- people per km²
- Founded
- 1922
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in January
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near -3°C through the month.
A typical January day in Sapporo reaches about -3°C in the afternoon and slips back to -10°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -7°C and 0°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 3°C cooler than December and about 1°C cooler than February.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | -2 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 |
| Avg low (°C) | -8 | -8 | -8 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | -2 | -8 |
| 2 | -2 | -8 |
| 3 | -3 | -8 |
| 4 | -3 | -9 |
| 5 | -3 | -9 |
| 6 | -3 | -9 |
| 7 | -3 | -9 |
| 8 | -3 | -9 |
| 9 | -3 | -9 |
| 10 | -3 | -9 |
| 11 | -3 | -9 |
| 12 | -3 | -10 |
| 13 | -3 | -10 |
| 14 | -3 | -10 |
| 15 | -3 | -10 |
| 16 | -3 | -10 |
| 17 | -3 | -10 |
| 18 | -3 | -10 |
| 19 | -3 | -10 |
| 20 | -3 | -10 |
| 21 | -3 | -10 |
| 22 | -3 | -10 |
| 23 | -3 | -10 |
| 24 | -3 | -10 |
| 25 | -3 | -10 |
| 26 | -3 | -10 |
| 27 | -3 | -10 |
| 28 | -3 | -10 |
| 29 | -3 | -10 |
| 30 | -3 | -10 |
| 31 | -3 | -10 |
How January really feels in Sapporo
Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 31 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.
The story in January is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Sapporo weather by month
How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -3° / -10° | 51 | 10.3 | 16.3 | 9.2 | 0.0 |
| Feb | -2° / -9° | 46 | 9.8 | 14.1 | 10.2 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 2° / -6° | 64 | 12.1 | 12.8 | 11.6 | 0.0 |
| Apr | 9° / 1° | 73 | 11.9 | 5.4 | 13.1 | 1.8 |
| May | 15° / 7° | 93 | 12.6 | 0.4 | 14.4 | 4.3 |
| Jun | 19° / 12° | 89 | 11.9 | 0 | 15.1 | 5.7 |
| Jul | 23° / 16° | 138 | 13.9 | 0 | 14.9 | 6.0 |
| Aug | 24° / 18° | 191 | 14.2 | 0 | 13.8 | 6.1 |
| Sep | 20° / 13° | 155 | 14.7 | 0 | 12.3 | 5.5 |
| Oct | 14° / 6° | 99 | 13.6 | 0.7 | 10.8 | 3.8 |
| Nov | 6° / -0° | 88 | 14.4 | 9.2 | 9.5 | 0.7 |
| Dec | -1° / -6° | 73 | 12.7 | 17.7 | 8.9 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in January
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 5% of the time in January.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 75%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
| Cloudier (%) | 74 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 74 | 74 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 75 | 75 | 76 | 76 | 77 | 77 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 79 | 79 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | 74 |
| 2 | 25 | 75 |
| 3 | 25 | 75 |
| 4 | 25 | 75 |
| 5 | 25 | 75 |
| 6 | 26 | 74 |
| 7 | 26 | 74 |
| 8 | 25 | 75 |
| 9 | 25 | 75 |
| 10 | 25 | 75 |
| 11 | 25 | 75 |
| 12 | 25 | 75 |
| 13 | 26 | 74 |
| 14 | 26 | 74 |
| 15 | 26 | 74 |
| 16 | 26 | 74 |
| 17 | 26 | 74 |
| 18 | 26 | 74 |
| 19 | 26 | 74 |
| 20 | 26 | 74 |
| 21 | 25 | 75 |
| 22 | 25 | 75 |
| 23 | 24 | 76 |
| 24 | 24 | 76 |
| 25 | 23 | 77 |
| 26 | 23 | 77 |
| 27 | 22 | 78 |
| 28 | 22 | 78 |
| 29 | 22 | 78 |
| 30 | 21 | 79 |
| 31 | 21 | 79 |
Chance of precipitation in January
Sapporo gets around 51 mm of rain and snow over 10.3 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 34% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days, and about 16 days bring snow.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 37 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 34 | 34 |
| Snow chance (%) | 58 | 58 | 58 | 57 | 57 | 56 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 51 | 51 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 |
| Rain chance (%) | Snow chance (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37 | 58 |
| 2 | 36 | 58 |
| 3 | 36 | 58 |
| 4 | 35 | 57 |
| 5 | 34 | 57 |
| 6 | 34 | 56 |
| 7 | 33 | 55 |
| 8 | 33 | 54 |
| 9 | 32 | 54 |
| 10 | 32 | 53 |
| 11 | 32 | 52 |
| 12 | 32 | 52 |
| 13 | 32 | 51 |
| 14 | 32 | 51 |
| 15 | 32 | 50 |
| 16 | 32 | 50 |
| 17 | 32 | 50 |
| 18 | 33 | 50 |
| 19 | 33 | 50 |
| 20 | 33 | 50 |
| 21 | 34 | 50 |
| 22 | 34 | 50 |
| 23 | 34 | 51 |
| 24 | 35 | 51 |
| 25 | 35 | 51 |
| 26 | 35 | 52 |
| 27 | 35 | 52 |
| 28 | 35 | 52 |
| 29 | 35 | 52 |
| 30 | 34 | 52 |
| 31 | 34 | 52 |
Humidity in January
Most of January feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Dry (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 |
| 2 | 100 |
| 3 | 100 |
| 4 | 100 |
| 5 | 100 |
| 6 | 100 |
| 7 | 100 |
| 8 | 100 |
| 9 | 100 |
| 10 | 100 |
| 11 | 100 |
| 12 | 100 |
| 13 | 100 |
| 14 | 100 |
| 15 | 100 |
| 16 | 100 |
| 17 | 100 |
| 18 | 100 |
| 19 | 100 |
| 20 | 100 |
| 21 | 100 |
| 22 | 100 |
| 23 | 100 |
| 24 | 100 |
| 25 | 100 |
| 26 | 100 |
| 27 | 100 |
| 28 | 100 |
| 29 | 100 |
| 30 | 100 |
| 31 | 100 |
Wind in January
Winds average 9 km/h in January.
Across January, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 10 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Feels | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | calm |
| 2 | 10 | calm |
| 3 | 10 | calm |
| 4 | 10 | calm |
| 5 | 10 | calm |
| 6 | 10 | calm |
| 7 | 9 | calm |
| 8 | 9 | calm |
| 9 | 9 | calm |
| 10 | 9 | calm |
| 11 | 9 | calm |
| 12 | 9 | calm |
| 13 | 9 | calm |
| 14 | 9 | calm |
| 15 | 9 | calm |
| 16 | 9 | calm |
| 17 | 9 | calm |
| 18 | 9 | calm |
| 19 | 9 | calm |
| 20 | 9 | calm |
| 21 | 9 | calm |
| 22 | 9 | calm |
| 23 | 9 | calm |
| 24 | 9 | calm |
| 25 | 9 | calm |
| 26 | 9 | calm |
| 27 | 9 | calm |
| 28 | 9 | calm |
| 29 | 9 | calm |
| 30 | 9 | calm |
| 31 | 9 | calm |
Sunrise & sunset in January
Daylight runs from about 8 h 54 min at the start of January to 9 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days grow by about 42 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:12 AM to 6:59 AM, and sunset from 4:04 PM to 4:37 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 7:12 | 7:12 | 7:12 | 7:12 | 7:12 | 7:12 | 7:12 | 7:12 | 7:11 | 7:11 | 7:11 | 7:11 | 7:11 | 7:10 | 7:10 | 7:09 | 7:09 | 7:08 | 7:08 | 7:07 | 7:07 | 7:06 | 7:06 | 7:05 | 7:04 | 7:03 | 7:03 | 7:02 | 7:01 | 7:00 | 6:59 |
| Sunset (PM) | 4:04 | 4:05 | 4:05 | 4:06 | 4:07 | 4:08 | 4:09 | 4:10 | 4:11 | 4:12 | 4:13 | 4:14 | 4:15 | 4:16 | 4:17 | 4:18 | 4:20 | 4:21 | 4:22 | 4:23 | 4:24 | 4:25 | 4:27 | 4:28 | 4:29 | 4:30 | 4:32 | 4:33 | 4:34 | 4:35 | 4:37 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.9 | 7:12 | 4:04 |
| 2 | 8.9 | 7:12 | 4:05 |
| 3 | 8.9 | 7:12 | 4:05 |
| 4 | 8.9 | 7:12 | 4:06 |
| 5 | 8.9 | 7:12 | 4:07 |
| 6 | 8.9 | 7:12 | 4:08 |
| 7 | 9.0 | 7:12 | 4:09 |
| 8 | 9.0 | 7:12 | 4:10 |
| 9 | 9.0 | 7:11 | 4:11 |
| 10 | 9.0 | 7:11 | 4:12 |
| 11 | 9.0 | 7:11 | 4:13 |
| 12 | 9.1 | 7:11 | 4:14 |
| 13 | 9.1 | 7:11 | 4:15 |
| 14 | 9.1 | 7:10 | 4:16 |
| 15 | 9.1 | 7:10 | 4:17 |
| 16 | 9.1 | 7:09 | 4:18 |
| 17 | 9.2 | 7:09 | 4:20 |
| 18 | 9.2 | 7:08 | 4:21 |
| 19 | 9.2 | 7:08 | 4:22 |
| 20 | 9.3 | 7:07 | 4:23 |
| 21 | 9.3 | 7:07 | 4:24 |
| 22 | 9.3 | 7:06 | 4:25 |
| 23 | 9.4 | 7:06 | 4:27 |
| 24 | 9.4 | 7:05 | 4:28 |
| 25 | 9.4 | 7:04 | 4:29 |
| 26 | 9.5 | 7:03 | 4:30 |
| 27 | 9.5 | 7:03 | 4:32 |
| 28 | 9.5 | 7:02 | 4:33 |
| 29 | 9.6 | 7:01 | 4:34 |
| 30 | 9.6 | 7:00 | 4:35 |
| 31 | 9.6 | 6:59 | 4:37 |
Solar energy in January
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 2.11 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.64 kWh/m² to a high of 5.5 kWh/m² in May across the year — January's 2.11 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Level | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.8 | Dim |
| 2 | 1.9 | Dim |
| 3 | 1.9 | Dim |
| 4 | 1.9 | Dim |
| 5 | 1.9 | Dim |
| 6 | 1.9 | Dim |
| 7 | 1.9 | Dim |
| 8 | 1.9 | Dim |
| 9 | 1.9 | Dim |
| 10 | 2.0 | Dim |
| 11 | 2.0 | Dim |
| 12 | 2.0 | Dim |
| 13 | 2.0 | Moderate |
| 14 | 2.0 | Moderate |
| 15 | 2.0 | Moderate |
| 16 | 2.1 | Moderate |
| 17 | 2.1 | Moderate |
| 18 | 2.1 | Moderate |
| 19 | 2.1 | Moderate |
| 20 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 21 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 22 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 23 | 2.3 | Moderate |
| 24 | 2.3 | Moderate |
| 25 | 2.3 | Moderate |
| 26 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 27 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 28 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 29 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 30 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 31 | 2.5 | Moderate |
Hazard calendar for Sapporo
In January, Sapporo sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Sapporo sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.
Sapporo's rainy season runs May–November, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is January a good time to visit Sapporo?
Our two travel scores rate January for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Sapporo.
What to pack for Sapporo in January
From January's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In January, Sapporo sees daytime highs around -3°C and nights near -10°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Sapporo in January
The nearest coast averages about 7°C in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 34 km away) is warmest in August at about 22°C and coldest in February near 5°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 31 to Sep 22 — about 1.8 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 9 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 | Bracing |
| Feb | 5 | Bracing |
| Mar | 5 | Bracing |
| Apr | 7 | Bracing |
| May | 10 | Bracing |
| Jun | 14 | Bracing |
| Jul | 19 | Cool |
| Aug | 22 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 21 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 17 | Cool |
| Nov | 13 | Bracing |
| Dec | 9 | Bracing |
UV index in Sapporo in January
Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Sapporo peaks around August 18 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 1 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | High | Moderate | Very high | High | Moderate | Low | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | Low |
| Feb | 2 | Moderate |
| Mar | 3 | Moderate |
| Apr | 5 | High |
| May | 7 | Very high |
| Jun | 7 | High |
| Jul | 5 | Moderate |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 4 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Low |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Air quality in Sapporo in January
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Sapporo is worst in April — around 22 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).
Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to Sapporo's WHO annual average of 14 µg/m³.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 11 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 16 | Moderate |
| Mar | 21 | Moderate |
| Apr | 22 | Moderate |
| May | 20 | Moderate |
| Jun | 14 | Moderate |
| Jul | 13 | Moderate |
| Aug | 11 | Good |
| Sep | 10 | Good |
| Oct | 12 | Good |
| Nov | 10 | Good |
| Dec | 9 | Good |
Where is Sapporo?
Sapporo sits at 43.1°N, 141.3°E, 26 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Ebetsu, 17 km away.
Topography around Sapporo
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Sapporo.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Sapporo has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 37 m around an average of 20 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,095 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,863 m.
The land around Sapporo is covered by artificial surfaces (90%) within 3 km, trees (44%) and artificial surfaces (36%) within 16 km, and trees (57%) and water (27%) within 80 km.
Japan travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 1
- Exercise Normal Precautions
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 100 V · 50 / 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 65% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $35,951
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.1 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 99%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 0.2
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 3.6
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- English
- Very low
- EF EPI 446
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Sapporo (43.0667°, 141.35°, elevation 26 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).