Japan
Sapporo in October
🍂 AutumnCool and some showers.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings · compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why October scores 9.0What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.3
- !Cool (16°C highs / 8°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 7.2°C)
- !Wet: ~110 mm rain, ~3 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.5
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~8 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Oct | Jun | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.0 Excellent | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🍂 Autumn | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 16° / 8° | 22° / 13° |
| Rain | 110 mm | 60 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 7° | dew pt 12° |
| PM2.5 | 8 µg/m³ | 14 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Sapporo weather-station normals. Rainfall: Sapporo weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsOctober 2027
Peak seasonAutumn-leaf season is one of the busiest times of year for visitors. Hotels fill up and the best-known viewing spots get very crowded, so book early and go at sunrise or on weekdays.
- Sports Day 9–11 Oct · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Sapporo
- 2026 forecast: Jozankei OnsenIn October2026 forecastPeak from ~9 Oct 2026
Last year the peak began 16 Oct. JWA expects most of Japan to be on time or a little later than usual this year.
Source: Japan Weather Association (tenki.jp), forecast 14 Oct 2026
- Autumn leaves: Jozankei OnsenIn OctoberTypical datesUsually early-Oct to mid-Oct
Usual peak viewing window for this spot.
- Cherry blossom 2026 (what actually happened)2026 actualFirst blooms 18 Apr 2026, full bloom 24 Apr 2026
Observed by JMA at the city's official sample tree. The 2027 forecast isn't out yet: Japanese weather companies such as the Japan Weather Association usually publish the first one in January, and we add it then.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Cherry blossomTypical datesFirst blooms ~1 May, full bloom ~6 May
Typical dates (1991–2020 normal). In 2021–2026 first blooms came between 15 Apr and 23 Apr (18 Apr in 2026). Blossoms last about a week after full bloom.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Snowy daysTypical datesSnow likely Nov–Apr (most in Jan: ~29 days)
Average number of days with snowfall at Sapporo. About 137 cm of snow falls in an average Jan.
Source: Sapporo weather-station normals (national weather service, via Wikipedia climate table)
Explore SapporoEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyCapital of Hokkaido in northern Japan, known for its Snow Festival, miso ramen, beer and access to ski resorts such as Niseko.
No major events on our calendar for October.
Coming up later
Sapporo Snow FestivalDate variesUsually early February
Large snow and ice sculptures displayed for about a week.
Why go: Hotels book up months ahead.
Where: Odori Park, Susukino and Tsudome
YOSAKOI Soran FestivalDate variesUsually early June
Large groups perform energetic dances.
Why go: Free to watch.
Where: Odori Park and city streets
Sapporo Summer FestivalDate variesUsually late July to mid-August
Beer gardens set up in Odori Park.
Why go: Busy in the evenings.
Where: Odori Park
Odori Park
A long park through the city centre, used for festivals year-round.
Sapporo TV Tower
A tower at the east end of Odori Park with an observation deck.
Sapporo Beer Museum
A museum on Japan's beer history in a red-brick building.
Mount Moiwa
A ropeway to a summit with night views of the city.
Otaru
A port town with a canal and glass workshops, a short train ride away.
Ski resorts
Sapporo Teine and Kokusai are close; Niseko is a longer trip.
💡 Powder snow is best in mid-winter.
Miso ramen
Ramen in a rich miso broth.
💡 Ramen Yokocho in Susukino
Soup curry
A spicy, thin curry with vegetables and meat.
💡 Specialist restaurants
Jingisukan
Lamb grilled on a domed pan.
💡 Specialist restaurants
Seafood bowls
Rice topped with sea urchin, salmon roe and crab.
💡 Nijo Market
Soft-serve ice cream
Ice cream made with Hokkaido milk.
💡 Shops
Shiroi Koibito
White chocolate cookies made in Sapporo.
💡 Souvenir shops and the airport
Royce' chocolate
Chocolate from a Hokkaido company.
💡 Department stores
Dried seafood
Dried scallops and kelp.
💡 Markets
Sapporo Classic beer
A beer sold only in Hokkaido.
💡 Convenience stores
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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