Hokkaido in March: 10 places compared
Averages for 1991–2020 from the JMA station in each place. Tap a heading to sort.
| Place (JMA station) | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Wet days | Sun (hours) | Snow cover (days) | Clothes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 4.5 | −2.4 | 13.9 | 145 | 29.4 | Freezing |
| Hakodate | 5.8 | −2.2 | 12.4 | 159 | 16.1 | Cold |
| Asahikawa | 3.0 | −6.1 | 13.3 | 141 | 30.3 | Freezing |
| Otaru | 4.1 | −2.4 | 16.1 | 129 | 30.5 | Freezing |
| KutchanNiseko area | 3.0 | −5.7 | 17.0 | 121 | 31.0 | Freezing |
| FuranoAMeDAS | 2.7 | −7.8 | 13.5 | 124 | 29.4* | Freezing |
| Obihiro | 4.8 | −5.4 | 5.9 | 218 | 24.7 | Freezing |
| Kushiro | 3.3 | −4.2 | 6.3 | 201 | 16.3 | Freezing |
| Abashiri | 2.3 | −4.9 | 8.7 | 172 | 28.8 | Freezing |
| Wakkanai | 1.6 | −3.1 | 12.2 | 138 | 27.5 | Freezing |
- The most wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) are in Kutchan (17.0 days), the fewest in Obihiro (5.9 days).
- Precipitation ranges from 39.3 mm in Abashiri to 98.3 mm in Kutchan.
- Obihiro gets the most sunshine (218 hours in the month) and Kutchan the least (121 hours).
- Every place here is colder than Tokyo, where the average high in March is 14.2°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 March in Hokkaido
Average high and low for each ten days of March (JMA ten-day normals, 1991–2020).
| Place (JMA station) | 1–10 (°C) | 11–20 (°C) | 21–31 (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 2.5low −4.3 | 4.5low −2.2 | 6.5low −0.8 |
| Hakodate | 3.8low −3.7 | 5.8low −2.1 | 7.7low −0.8 |
| Asahikawa | 0.7low −8.6 | 3.1low −5.9 | 5.0low −4.0 |
| Otaru | 2.1low −4.1 | 4.1low −2.3 | 5.9low −0.9 |
| Kutchan | 1.1low −7.6 | 3.0low −5.6 | 4.8low −4.1 |
| Furano | 0.3low −10.6 | 2.7low −7.5 | 4.9low −5.3 |
| Obihiro | 2.3low −8.0 | 4.8low −5.2 | 7.1low −3.2 |
| Kushiro | 1.6low −6.4 | 3.3low −4.0 | 4.8low −2.5 |
| Abashiri | 0.2low −7.2 | 2.5low −4.8 | 4.0low −3.0 |
| Wakkanai | −0.4low −5.1 | 1.9low −2.9 | 3.2low −1.5 |
In Sapporo, the average high is 2.5°C in the first ten days of March, 4.5°C in the middle ten and 6.5°C in the last ten.
Every place here is at least 2°C warmer by the end of March than at the start.
Snow in Hokkaido in March
Snowfall is the total for the month; deepest snow is the average of each year's deepest (JMA, 1991–2020).
The deepest snow is in Kutchan (170 cm), then Otaru (106 cm) and Sapporo (82 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 March
How we choose: from the JMA's average high and low for March, by our own rules.
In March the clothing level runs from Freezing in Sapporo, Asahikawa, Otaru, Kutchan, Furano, Obihiro, Kushiro, Abashiri and Wakkanai to Cold in Hakodate, so pack for the coldest place on your route.
| Level | Average high | What to wear | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold | 5 to 10°C | A winter coat over layers, and a scarf. | Hakodate 5.8°C |
| Freezing | under 5°C | A heavy winter coat (down or similar), thermal underwear, a hat, gloves and a scarf. | Sapporo 4.5°C, Asahikawa 3.0°C, Otaru 4.1°C, Kutchan 3.0°C, Furano 2.7°C, Obihiro 4.8°C, Kushiro 3.3°C, Abashiri 2.3°C and Wakkanai 1.6°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 March
National holidays in March 2027:
- Sun 21 March — Vernal Equinox Day
- Mon 22 March — Substitute holiday
- Sat 20 March to Mon 22 March: 3 days off in a row
Hotels and inns in Hokkaido were 55.2% full in March 2025 (Japan as a whole: 61.1%).
More on Hokkaido and March
One place in March
Hokkaido in other months
- Hokkaido in January
- Hokkaido in February
- Hokkaido in April
- Hokkaido in November
- Hokkaido in December
- Hokkaido by month
Other regions in March
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Hokkaido in March?
In March, average highs across 10 places in Hokkaido run from 1.6°C (35°F) in Wakkanai to 5.8°C (42°F) in Hakodate (JMA, 1991–2020). Sapporo, the main city, averages 4.5°C by day and −2.4°C at night. Snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more in all 10 places, and the deepest snow averages 170 cm in Kutchan.
What should I wear in Hokkaido in March?
Freezing (Sapporo, Asahikawa, Otaru, Kutchan, Furano, Obihiro, Kushiro, Abashiri and Wakkanai): A heavy winter coat (down or similar), thermal underwear, a hat, gloves and a scarf. Cold (Hakodate): A winter coat over layers, and a scarf.
Is there snow in Hokkaido in March?
Yes. Snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more in an average March in Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa, Otaru, Kutchan, Furano, Obihiro, Kushiro, Abashiri and Wakkanai (JMA, 1991–2020). The deepest snow averages 170 cm in Kutchan.
Where is the warmest place in Hokkaido in March?
Hakodate, with an average high of 5.8°C (42°F). Next are Obihiro (4.8°C) and Sapporo (4.5°C). The coldest is Wakkanai (1.6°C).
What events are on in Hokkaido in March?
Sapporo White Illumination (Sapporo). Dates and official pages are on each place's month page.
March records in Hokkaido
The highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in March at each JMA station, with the date.
| Place (JMA station) | Highest (°C) | Lowest (°C) | Deepest snow (cm) | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 19.122 March 2023 | −22.64 March 1910 | 15317 March 1946 | 1877 |
| Hakodate | 16.931 March 1905 | −18.95 March 1898 | 826 March 1957 | 1873 |
| Asahikawa | 18.831 March 1905 | −34.13 March 1895 | 1384 March 1987 | 1889 |
| Otaru | 16.929 March 1997 | −14.12 March 1970 | 1672 March 1945 | 1943 |
| Kutchan | 14.422 March 2023 | −28.82 March 1957 | 31225 March 1970 | 1944 |
| Furano | 17.423 March 2023 | −28.34 March 1986 | 1192 March 2021 | 1977 |
| Obihiro | 20.328 March 1923 | −35.23 March 1895 | 17717 March 1970 | 1892 |
| Kushiro | 15.928 March 2015 | −24.88 March 1924 | 1239 March 1939 | 1910 |
| Abashiri | 19.731 March 1891 | −23.23 March 1895 | 12127 March 1917 | 1890 |
| Wakkanai | 13.123 March 2023 | −17.422 March 1970 | 15717 March 1970 | 1938 |
The hottest March day on record here was 20.3°C (69°F) in Obihiro on 28 March 1923.
The coldest was −35.2°C (−31°F) in Obihiro on 3 March 1895.
What's on in Hokkaido in March
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 White Illumination
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Sources for this page
Show all 32
- Normals for 1991–2020: Sapporo (札幌), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Hakodate (函館), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Asahikawa (旭川), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Otaru (小樽), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Kutchan (倶知安), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Furano (富良野), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Obihiro (帯広), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Kushiro (釧路), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Abashiri (網走), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Wakkanai (稚内), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Sapporo (札幌) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Hakodate (函館) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Asahikawa (旭川) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Otaru (小樽) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Kutchan (倶知安) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Furano (富良野) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Obihiro (帯広) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Kushiro (釧路) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Abashiri (網走) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Wakkanai (稚内) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for March: Sapporo (札幌) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for March: Hakodate (函館) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for March: Asahikawa (旭川) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for March: Otaru (小樽) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for March: Kutchan (倶知安) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for March: Furano (富良野) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for March: Obihiro (帯広) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for March: Kushiro (釧路) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for March: Abashiri (網走) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for March: Wakkanai (稚内) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- National holidays (国民の祝日について)Cabinet Office
- 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