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About Hokkaido
Advice of the weather・ trip preparations

When preparing for a trip, almost everyone is concerned about what to wear during the trip.
Due to the fact that Hokkaido is large, the weather varies from an area to another. Please use the following list of each city's temperatures, and advice on clothing, as a guide and start packing!

<CLIMATE OF HOKKAIDO>
In Hokkaido, it is cool and has low humidity throughout the year, therefore, the most remarkable feature of its climate is that it is very comfortable even in summer. Its best season is June, when the rest of Japan is in the middle of the rainy season but not there, and July and August, when it is brisk. You can begin to feel the autumn air in September and, after the leaf coloring is over, the long winter will last until March.

<FEATURES OF EACH AREA>
Goryokaku（City of Hakodate） Dounann
Pacific-type climate. Relatively mild compared to the other areas in Hokkaido. The urban area such as Hakodate has relatively little snow while the mountain area accumulates heavy snow. The blooming season of cherry blossom begins the earliest in Hokkaido.
Mt.youtei（Niseko Town） Douou
It is relatively mild in the vicinity of Sapporo but, in winter, it becomes windy and has heavy snow. In Niseko and the foot of Mt. Yotei, the brisk highland weather lasts in summer and has heavy snow in winter. The Pacific side, such as Toya, Noboribetsu and Shiraoi, has mild weather, where the snow accumulation level is somewhat lower.
Tokati Plains Taisetu・Tokati
The Daisetsu area has an inland climate where the temperature is high in summer while it is severely cold in winter. The snow accumulation level is the highest in Hokkaido. Also, in the Tokachi area, the temperature is high in summer and cold in winter, however, it does not snow much.
Drift ice（City of Abasiri） Doutou
It has an East Pacific climate, where fog is generated in summer. It is cool even in summer and the temperature drastically changes during the day. Although the snow accumulation level is low, it is severely cold, causing lakes and rivers to freeze. Drifting ice can be seen on the side of Sea of Okhotsk.
Mt.Risirihuji（Rebunn Town） Douhoku
It is relatively cool even in summer. In winter, the temperature drops low in the inland area and has heavy snow.

<ADVICE ON CLOTHING>
As you may be out of the city, going to the mountain or waterside areas during a trip, it is better to bring something to cover up even in a warm season. What you should pay more attention to is the midwinter clothing. When going outside, you should put on a coat, scarf, hat and gloves to fully cover yourself. However, do not put on too much underneath the coat. It may be too warm in the buildings or transportations because of the heater. You may sweat and possibly catch a cold. Ideally, you should wear something easy to put on and take off such as a cardigan.

<TEMPERATURES OF MAIN CITIES IN HOKKAIDO>
  Hakodate Sapporo Asahikawa Abashiri Kushiro Wakkanai Remarks
Jan Avg. -1.2 Avg. -2.5 Avg. -6.6 Avg. -4.4 Avg. -3.6 Avg. -3.6 The weather easily changes in this season. It snows heavily in Central Hokkaido and Taisetsu areas. The temperature drops very low in Tokachi and Eastern Hokkaido. As for a jacket or coat, it is better to have one with a hood. It is effective to warm tips of the body with a scarf, gloves and hat.
H 8.5
L -9.6		 H 6.9
L -11.7		 H 6.8
L -21.8		 H 7.8
L -14.8		 H 5.1
L 15.7		 H 5.1
L -8.9
Feb Avg. 0.1 Avg. -0.6 Avg. -3.8 Avg. -2.6 Avg. -2.9 Avg. 1
H 10.6
L -10.2		 H 9.8
L -10		 H 8.1
L -20		 H 9.6
L -13.9		 H 5.3
L -15.5		 H 6
L -11.2
Mar Avg. 3.4 Avg. 2.5 Avg. 0 Avg. -0.3 Avg. 0.6 Avg. 0.5 The temperature drastically changes from morning to night. It is a good idea to be able to adjust temperature with clothes easy to put on and take off. A coat is still needed.
H 13.9
L -9.2		 H 12.8
L -8.7		 H 10.1
L -14.9		 H 11.1
L -12.8		 H 9.8
L -13.2		 H 7.7
L -10.1
Apr Avg. 9.7 Avg. 9.6 Avg. 8.5 Avg. 6.9 Avg. 4.8 Avg. 6.8 Snow starts melting. Skunk cabbages begin blooming in marshes. A light coat or outerwear is needed.
H 21.1
L -0.1		 H 20.3
L 1		 H 22.8
L -2.8		 H 24
L -2.5		 H 15.4
L -2.6		 H 18.8
L -1
May Avg. 12.6 Avg. 13.6 Avg. 13.2 Avg. 10.4 Avg. 9.4 Avg. 11.1 The sunlight is warm, but the wind is still cold. The weather is similar to that of Honshu (mainland) in April. It is better to have outerwear.
H 23.4
L 2.8		 H 24.5
L 5.5		 H 26.9
L 0.8		 H 23.6
L 2		 H 21.4
L 0.8		 H 22.2
L 3.6
Jun Avg. 15.3 Avg. 15.9 Avg. 15.5 Avg. 12.2 Avg. 11.1 Avg. 12.1 The nice weather continues and various flowers start blooming all at once. There may be times when you can wear a half-sleeve shirt but it depends on the day.
H 26.9
L 7.4		 H 28.5
L 6.9		 H 29.9
L 2.6		 H 30.8
L 5.1		 H 20.3
L 3.3		 H 21.4
L 6.3
Jul Avg. 20.1 Avg. 20.5 Avg. 20.3 Avg. 16.6 Avg. 15.4 Avg. 15.7 You can wear a half-sleeve shirt during the day, however, it is better to have light outerwear when you go out at night or go to the mountain or lake area.
H 29.2
L 12.7		 H 30.3
L 14		 H 29.8
L 12.1		 H 27.7
L 10.7		 H 25.6
L 9.8		 H 24.3
L 10.8
Aug Avg. 20.5 Avg. 20.1 Avg. 18.6 Avg. 16.8 Avg. 15.7 Avg. 17.1 The sunlight is strong in the inland. It sometimes becomes foggy along the seacoast. The temperature suddenly starts dropping after mid-August.
H 29.1
L 12.6		 H 30.6
L 14.4		 H 30.7
L 9.2		 H 31.1
L 9.4		 H 26.8
L 10		 H 25.4
L 11.7
Sep Avg. 17.9 Avg. 17.7 Avg. 15.5 Avg. 16.2 Avg. 15.5 Avg. 17 From the middle of the month, it becomes cold in the morning and evening. The leaves begin changing at the end of the month, starting from the mountainside.
H 29.2
L 8.2		 H 28.8
L 8.2		 H 31.4
L 4		 H 29.8
L 9.3		 H 23.8
L 5		 H 26.4
L 9.3
Oct Avg. 12,5 Avg. 12 Avg. 9.7 Avg. 10.7 Avg. 10.8 Avg. 10.8 The color changing of leaves reaches its peak in flatland in the middle of the month. It starts snowing in the mountain. Breath can be seen in the morning and evening. A sweater and coat are needed.
H 24.2
L -0.3		 H 25.4
L 3.2		 H 25
L -1.6		 H 27.7
L 0.4		 H 20.9
L -0.5		 H 20.3
L 1.9
Nov Avg. 3.3 Avg. 2.8 Avg.. 0.5 Avg. 2.7 Avg. 3.4 Avg. 2.3
H 15.6
L -4.9		 H 13.9
L -5.4		 H 12.7
L -8.9		 H 16.2
L -5.9		 H 13.3
L -8		 H 11
L -6.1
Dec Avg. -2.2 Avg. -3 Avg. -6.2 Avg. -5 Avg. -4.5 Avg. -4.4 Snow starts accumulating at the end of the month. A coat, gloves, winter shoes (or antiskid) are needed.
H 11.4
L -10.6		 H 10
L -10.1		 H 6.2
L -21.6		 H 8.8
L -16.3		 H 10.1
L -19.7		 H 10.4
L -12.1


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