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Hokkaido in February: weather, snow and what to wear

In February, average highs across 10 places in Hokkaido run from −2.3°C (28°F) in Furano to 1.8°C (35°F) in Hakodate (JMA, 1991–2020). Sapporo, the main city, averages 0.4°C by day and −6.2°C at night. Snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more in all 10 places, and the deepest snow averages 181 cm in Kutchan.

Hokkaido in February: 10 places compared

Averages for 1991–2020 from the JMA station in each place. Tap a heading to sort.

10 places in Hokkaido in February: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Place (JMA station)High (°C)Low (°C)Wet daysSun (hours)Snow cover (days)Clothes
Sapporo0.4−6.216.010428.3Freezing
Hakodate1.8−5.712.711826.9Freezing
Asahikawa−1.7−11.814.29628.3Freezing
Otaru0.2−5.718.67828.3Freezing
KutchanNiseko area−1.0−9.421.36528.3Freezing
FuranoAMeDAS−2.3−14.012.37828.3*Freezing
Obihiro−0.2−12.04.319228.2Freezing
Kushiro−0.1−9.44.218325.3Freezing
Abashiri−2.0−9.69.113828.3Freezing
Wakkanai−2.0−6.715.97528.2Freezing
  • The most wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) are in Kutchan (21.3 days), the fewest in Kushiro (4.2 days).
  • Precipitation ranges from 24.8 mm in Kushiro to 129.4 mm in Kutchan.
  • Obihiro gets the most sunshine (192 hours in the month) and Kutchan the least (65 hours).
  • Every place here is colder than Tokyo, where the average high in February is 10.9°C.

* Furano: days with snow 5 cm or deeper (AMeDAS stations count only that). Elsewhere: 1 cm or deeper.

Kutchan is the JMA station for the Niseko ski area (Grand Hirafu is in Kutchan town). Slopes higher up are colder.

Early, mid and late February in Hokkaido

Average high and low for each ten days of February (JMA ten-day normals, 1991–2020).

Hokkaido in February by ten-day period: average high and low in °C (JMA 1991–2020)
Place (JMA station)1–10 (°C)11–20 (°C)21–28 (°C)
Sapporo−0.5low −7.00.2low −6.11.7low −5.4
Hakodate0.8low −6.31.6low −5.73.2low −4.7
Asahikawa−3.0low −13.1−1.7low −11.2−0.1low −10.9
Otaru−0.7low −6.50.0low −5.61.5low −4.8
Kutchan−2.0low −10.4−1.1low −9.20.4low −8.6
Furano−3.6low −15.5−2.3low −13.3−0.6low −13.1
Obihiro−1.5low −13.40.0low −11.71.2low −10.5
Kushiro−0.8low −10.60.0low −9.20.7low −8.2
Abashiri−2.8low −10.4−2.3low −9.5−0.6low −8.6
Wakkanai−2.9low −7.4−2.4low −6.8−0.6low −5.7

In Sapporo, the average high is −0.5°C in the first ten days of February, 0.2°C in the middle ten and 1.7°C in the last ten.

Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa, Otaru, Kutchan, Furano, Obihiro, Abashiri and Wakkanai are at least 2°C warmer by the end of February than at the start.

Snow in Hokkaido in February

Snowfall is the total for the month; deepest snow is the average of each year's deepest (JMA, 1991–2020).

Snow in Hokkaido in February: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Place (JMA station)Snowfall (cm)Snow falls (days)Snow cover (days)Deepest (cm)
Sapporo11625.328.395
Hakodate7424.626.941
Asahikawa9726.528.384
Otaru13025.728.3117
Kutchan18727.028.3181
Furano121—28.3*73
Obihiro3714.828.263
Kushiro2713.925.326
Abashiri6923.528.358
Wakkanai10526.028.264

The deepest snow is in Kutchan (181 cm), then Otaru (117 cm) and Sapporo (95 cm).

Bring waterproof shoes with a good grip: snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more in every place here.

* Furano: days with snow 5 cm or deeper (AMeDAS stations count only that). Elsewhere: 1 cm or deeper.

What to wear in Hokkaido in February

How we choose: from the JMA's average high and low for February, by our own rules.

All 10 places are at the same level in February: Freezing.

What to wear in Hokkaido in February, by average high
LevelAverage highWhat to wearPlaces
Freezingunder 5°CA heavy winter coat (down or similar), thermal underwear, a hat, gloves and a scarf.Sapporo 0.4°C, Hakodate 1.8°C, Asahikawa −1.7°C, Otaru 0.2°C, Kutchan −1.0°C, Furano −2.3°C, Obihiro −0.2°C, Kushiro −0.1°C, Abashiri −2.0°C and Wakkanai −2.0°C
  • Gloves and a warm hat: the low drops below 0°C on 10 nights or more in every place here.

Holidays and crowds in Hokkaido in February

National holidays in February 2027:

  • Thu 11 February — National Foundation Day
  • Tue 23 February — Emperor's Birthday

Hotels and inns in Hokkaido were 68.0% full in February 2025 (Japan as a whole: 60.4%).

More on Hokkaido and February

One place in February

Hokkaido in other months

Other regions in February

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Hokkaido in February?

In February, average highs across 10 places in Hokkaido run from −2.3°C (28°F) in Furano to 1.8°C (35°F) in Hakodate (JMA, 1991–2020). Sapporo, the main city, averages 0.4°C by day and −6.2°C at night. Snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more in all 10 places, and the deepest snow averages 181 cm in Kutchan.

What should I wear in Hokkaido in February?

Freezing (Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa, Otaru, Kutchan, Furano, Obihiro, Kushiro, Abashiri and Wakkanai): A heavy winter coat (down or similar), thermal underwear, a hat, gloves and a scarf.

Is there snow in Hokkaido in February?

Yes. Snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more in an average February in Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa, Otaru, Kutchan, Furano, Obihiro, Kushiro, Abashiri and Wakkanai (JMA, 1991–2020). The deepest snow averages 181 cm in Kutchan.

Where is the warmest place in Hokkaido in February?

Hakodate, with an average high of 1.8°C (35°F). Next are Sapporo (0.4°C) and Otaru (0.2°C). The coldest is Furano (−2.3°C).

What events are on in Hokkaido in February?

Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo), Sapporo White Illumination (Sapporo), Jozankei Onsen Yukitouro (Sapporo), Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 (SIAF2027) (Sapporo) and Hakodate Winter Fireworks (Hakodate). Dates and official pages are on each place's month page.

February records in Hokkaido

The highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in February at each JMA station, with the date.

February records in Hokkaido (JMA, all years on record)
Place (JMA station)Highest (°C)Lowest (°C)Deepest snow (cm)Since
Sapporo13.919 February 2024−28.51 February 192916913 February 19391877
Hakodate16.019 February 2024−20.419 February 18969127 February 20121873
Asahikawa13.819 February 2024−38.311 February 190213418 February 19381889
Otaru15.719 February 2024−17.217 February 197817319 February 19451943
Kutchan13.119 February 2024−28.712 February 194426223 February 19701944
Furano13.325 February 2010−34.017 February 197810423 February 20041977
Obihiro14.723 February 1967−36.020 February 190213413 February 19581892
Kushiro11.014 February 2024−27.01 February 19331072 February 19531910
Abashiri14.119 February 2024−25.717 February 197814323 February 20041890
Wakkanai10.619 February 2024−18.317 February 19781999 February 19701938

The hottest February day on record here was 16.0°C (61°F) in Hakodate on 19 February 2024.

The coldest was −38.3°C (−37°F) in Asahikawa on 11 February 1902.

What's on in Hokkaido in February

Events in the places that have their own month page. Dates, venues and the organisers' official pages are on each place's page.

Sapporo

  • Sapporo Snow Festival
  • Sapporo White Illumination
  • Jozankei Onsen Yukitouro
  • Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 (SIAF2027)

Hakodate

  • Hakodate Winter Fireworks
  • Hakodate FOOD Festa

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Back to Japan by month

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Sources for this page

Show all 32
  1. Normals for 1991–2020: Sapporo (札幌), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  2. Normals for 1991–2020: Hakodate (函館), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  3. Normals for 1991–2020: Asahikawa (旭川), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  4. Normals for 1991–2020: Otaru (小樽), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  5. Normals for 1991–2020: Kutchan (倶知安), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  6. Normals for 1991–2020: Furano (富良野), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  7. Normals for 1991–2020: Obihiro (帯広), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  8. Normals for 1991–2020: Kushiro (釧路), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  9. Normals for 1991–2020: Abashiri (網走), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  10. Normals for 1991–2020: Wakkanai (稚内), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  11. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Sapporo (札幌) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  12. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Hakodate (函館) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  13. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Asahikawa (旭川) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  14. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Otaru (小樽) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  15. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Kutchan (倶知安) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  16. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Furano (富良野) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  17. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Obihiro (帯広) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  18. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Kushiro (釧路) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  19. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Abashiri (網走) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  20. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Wakkanai (稚内) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  21. Records for February: Sapporo (札幌) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  22. Records for February: Hakodate (函館) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  23. Records for February: Asahikawa (旭川) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  24. Records for February: Otaru (小樽) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  25. Records for February: Kutchan (倶知安) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  26. Records for February: Furano (富良野) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  27. Records for February: Obihiro (帯広) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  28. Records for February: Kushiro (釧路) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  29. Records for February: Abashiri (網走) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  30. Records for February: Wakkanai (稚内) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  31. National holidays (国民の祝日について)Cabinet Office
  32. Overnight Travel Statistics Survey, 2025 final figures (宿泊旅行統計調査 2025年 年の確定値)Japan Tourism Agency