Sapporo in April: weather, what to wear and events

Sapporo weather in April

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Sapporo station (17 m above sea level).

High: 11.7°C (53°F)
Low: 3.4°C (38°F)
Precipitation: 54.6 mm
Wet days: 9.6 days
Sunshine: 176 hours
Snow on ground: 5.1 days

Highs rise 7.2°C from March and climb another 6.2°C into May.

That is 1.4°C below Sapporo's yearly average high of 13.1°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Sapporo is the coldest in April, 3.9°C cooler than Shirakawa-go.

Of our 15 places, Sapporo gets the least precipitation in April: 44.3 mm less than Nara.

Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 9.6 days, and 10 mm or more on 1.6 days.

The temperature drops below 0°C on 3.2 nights.

6 cm of snow falls in an average April; snow lies on the ground on 5.1 days.

The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 16.2 days, and 2.9 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

By the JMA's cloud records, 1.6 days are clear and 11.4 are overcast.

On 15 April 2027 the sun rises at 4:54 and sets at 18:16 in Sapporo, giving 13 hours 22 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).

Average temperature: 7.3°C (45°F)
Humidity: 61%
Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest): 22 cm

Early, mid and late April

Sapporo in April by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Days	High	Low	Precipitation
1–10 April	9.2°C	1.5°C	16.1 mm
11–20 April	11.6°C	3.3°C	19.2 mm
21–30 April	14.4°C	5.3°C	19.4 mm

By the last ten days of April the average high in Sapporo is 5.2°C higher than in the first ten.

What to wear in Sapporo in April

Chilly: highs around 11.7°C

A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.
Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 3.2 nights.
A waterproof jacket with a hood: rain or snow falls on 9.6 days.

Shoes

Waterproof boots with good grip: snow lies on the ground on 5.1 days (deepest 22 cm on average).

Pack

Waterproof jacket with a hood
Gloves and a warm hat
Waterproof boots with grip

Our clothing rules

Flowers and autumn colour in Sapporo in April

Plum blossom

The JMA's sample plum tree in Sapporo opens around 29 April in an average year (1991–2020). In 2026: 18 April.

Dates are for one sample tree at or near the JMA observatory, not for every park in the city.

April records in Sapporo

The extremes the JMA has measured in April at its Sapporo station.

Hottest April day: 28.0°C (82°F) on 21 April 1998 (records since 1877)
Coldest April night: −14.6°C (6°F) on 3 April 1929 (records since 1877)
Wettest April day: 104.2 mm on 6 April 1890 (records since 1877)
Deepest April snow: 101 cm on 1 April 1939 (records since 1890)
Most snow in one April day: 35 cm on 3 April 1979 (records since 1953)

Holidays and crowds in April

National holidays in April 2027:

Thu 29 April — Showa Day

In April 2025, hotels and inns across Hokkaido were 46.3% full on average (the quietest month of the year). Foreign guests spent 647,740 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 55.2% in March and 55.1% in May.

What's on in Sapporo in April

Events in Sapporo in April: dates from each organizer's official page
Event	When	Where and what
Cherry blossoms in Sapporo (Maruyama Park and Nakajima Park)札幌の桜（円山公園・中島公園）	Late April to early May	Maruyama Park (Miyagaoka 3, Chuo-ku) and Nakajima Park (Nakajima Park 1, Chuo-ku). Cherry trees in Hokkaido bloom later than in Honshu and usually reach their viewing season around Golden Week. Maruyama Park and Nakajima Park are listed as viewing spots, both for late April to early May. The page notes that nights are often cold even when days are warm, so warm clothing is advised for evening viewing. Official page
Jozankei Onsen Stream Carp Streamers定山渓温泉渓流鯉のぼり	Early April to early May (10 April to 10 May in 2026; early April to early May in 2027)	Jozankei Onsen town centre, Jozan Gensen Park, Futami Park, Taro no Yu, Mikaeri-zaka, Yukemuri-zaka and Jozankei Shrine, among other places. About 400 carp streamers are hung across the gorge of Jozankei Onsen in Sapporo. Organised by the Jozankei Tourism Association. Official page
Hiraoka Plum Festivalひらおか梅まつり	Late April to 10 May (25 April to 10 May in 2026)	Hiraoka Park, Kiyota-ku, Sapporo. A plum festival at Hiraoka Park. A temporary shop, Hiraoka Umehonpo, sells plum soft serve ice cream and souvenirs during the festival. The dates are planned and may change with temperature, weather and how the plum trees are flowering. The temporary shop pre-opens on 23 April. Official page

Sapporo before and after April

Sapporo: March, April and May (JMA, 1991–2020)
Month	High	Low	Precipitation	Wet days
March	4.5°C (−7.2°C)	−2.4°C (−5.8°C)	77.6 mm (+23.0 mm)	13.9 days (+4.3 days)
April	11.7°C	3.4°C	54.6 mm	9.6 days
May	17.9°C (+6.2°C)	9.0°C (+5.6°C)	55.5 mm (+0.9 mm)	8.5 days (−1.1 days)

Other places in April

April: Sapporo against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
Place	High	Against Sapporo	Wet days	Against Sapporo
Tokyo	19.4°C	+7.7°C	9.5 days	−0.1 days
Kyoto	20.1°C	+8.4°C	9.4 days	−0.2 days
Osaka	19.9°C	+8.2°C	9.2 days	−0.4 days
OkinawaNaha	24.3°C	+12.6°C	10.3 days	+0.7 days
Fukuoka	19.9°C	+8.2°C	9.7 days	+0.1 days

All 15 places in April

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Sapporo in April?

The average high is 11.7°C (53°F) and the average low 3.4°C (38°F). 54.6 mm of rain or snow falls on about 9.6 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Sapporo in April?

A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater. Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 3.2 nights. A waterproof jacket with a hood: rain or snow falls on 9.6 days.

Does it snow in Sapporo in April?

Yes. 6 cm of snow falls in an average April, and snow lies on the ground on 5.1 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is Sapporo busy in April?

In April 2025, hotels and inns across Hokkaido were 46.3% full on average (the quietest month of the year). Foreign guests spent 647,740 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for April in Sapporo?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Sapporo in April is 28.0°C (82°F), on 21 April 1998. The lowest is −14.6°C (6°F), on 3 April 1929.

What events are on in Sapporo in April?

Cherry blossoms in Sapporo (Maruyama Park and Nakajima Park): Late April to early May. Jozankei Onsen Stream Carp Streamers: Early April to early May (10 April to 10 May in 2026; early April to early May in 2027). Hiraoka Plum Festival: Late April to 10 May (25 April to 10 May in 2026).

When do plum trees bloom in Sapporo?