Sapporo in December: Weather, Daylight, and What to Wear

In short: for the weather and daylight numbers of a Sapporo December (temperature, snowfall, sunrise and sunset), please use the official sources at the end of this post. The few numbers in the table below are copied from my other posts (checked on October 9, 2026), not re-checked for this post, and they are normals, not a forecast. What I can offer on top of that is a way to think about clothing: December is not one season. Early, mid and late December can feel different, the road can be snow, slush or ice, and the air outdoors is much colder than the air inside. These ideas are my suggestion, not official advice.

Please read this first: this post is general information, not expert advice. I am a private resident of Sapporo and I am not connected to any hotel, shop, or rental service, so I do not name or recommend any shops or brands. I have not opened the official pages listed at the end while writing this post. Please open them yourself before you decide what to pack. Anything marked “my suggestion” is not from an official page.

Where do I find the real numbers for December?

Use these three official places.

December numbers from my other posts

These numbers are copied from my other posts, Best Time to Visit Sapporo: A Local’s Season-by-Season Calendar and When Does It Snow in Sapporo?, checked on October 9, 2026. They come from the JMA 1991 to 2020 normals for Sapporo and the NAOJ sunrise and sunset table.

A normal is an average, so a real day can be different. Please check the sources above for your dates.

In my earlier posts I used the Meteorological Agency’s 1991-2020 normals for the winter months. Those figures are in What to Wear in Sapporo in Winter: A Layering Guide for Travelers from Hot Countries. A normal is an average over many years, so a real day can be colder or milder.

What does December in Sapporo feel like?

My suggestion is to treat December as the month when winter arrives and then settles in. Check the official daylight table for your dates, and plan your days with the short hours of light in mind. I will not give hours here.

If you want to know what is happening in the city, such as lights and markets, I keep that in a separate calendar on a sister site: Sapporo’s Winter Calendar 2026-27 on Sapporo from Inside, a sister site written by the same Sapporo resident.

How is early, mid, and late December different?

This table is my suggestion. It is a way to prepare, not a weather forecast.

If you come on a date near the border between two parts, dress for the colder one. The three-layer idea is explained in the winter clothing post linked above.

Snow, rain, or ice: what is the road like?

The Sapporo tourism page, as I summarized it in an earlier post, says that in December snow melts during the day and freezes over the road at night. It recommends shoes with good grip, and a down jacket or coat in a non-absorbent material such as nylon, because snow can make you a little wet. That is an official recommendation, which I read on October 9, 2026, but I have not reopened it for this post.

My suggestion: expect a different surface at different times of day.

• Daytime: wet snow and puddles, so your feet can get wet. Shoes that keep water out matter.
• Morning and night: possible ice, even when the road looks only wet. Walk with short steps. See How Not to Slip on Ice in Sapporo: Shoes, Grips, and Simple Walking Habits.
• Rain instead of snow: it can happen. I cannot say how often, so please check the forecast. A jacket that repels water works for both.

Why does it feel so different inside and outside?

The Sapporo tourism page says that buildings are well heated inside. My suggestion is to dress so you can change quickly between outside and inside.

• Choose layers you can take off in one or two steps.
• Keep a bag for the layers you take off.
• Put your hat, scarf and gloves in your bag, not in a pocket you might forget.
• Take off wet outer clothing when you sit down for a long time. Wet clothing feels cold when you go outside again. This is my suggestion.

If you walk underground between Sapporo Station, Odori and Susukino, you will meet the inside air quickly. A sister site explains the route: this snowy-day indoor route on A Local’s Guide to Sapporo, a sister site written by the same Sapporo resident.

What should I pack for December?

For a full checklist, see Sapporo Winter Packing List for Travelers from the Tropics: Bring or Buy. In short, my suggestion for December:

1. A windproof, water-repellent outer jacket.
2. Warm layers you can add or remove.
3. A hat that covers your ears, a scarf, and waterproof gloves.
4. Boots or shoes with non-slip soles that keep water out.
5. A spare pair of socks.

A note on health and safety

I cannot give medical advice. If you have a health condition, or you are worried about how your body will handle cold weather, please ask a doctor before you travel.

FAQ

Where can I find the temperature and snowfall for Sapporo in December?

On the Japan Meteorological Agency’s website (https://www.jma.go.jp/). It publishes Sapporo’s past weather data. The table above shows a few normals copied from my other posts (checked on October 9, 2026); please check the JMA site for the latest figures.

How many hours of daylight does Sapporo have in December?

The table above shows daylight on December 15 from my other posts (about 9 hours). For your travel dates, please check a sunrise and sunset table for Sapporo, such as the one from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. My suggestion is to plan outdoor time in the daytime and indoor time later.

Is early December much milder than late December?

I cannot confirm this from the sources I have in front of me. Please check the official normals and the forecast. My suggestion is to dress for the colder case.

Will it rain or snow?

Both are possible in winter weather, but I have no official figure to share. Please check the forecast before and during your trip. A water-repellent jacket and shoes that keep water out work in both cases.

Do I need a different outfit inside?

No, but plan to take layers off. The Sapporo tourism page says buildings are well heated inside. My suggestion is to wear layers you can remove and carry.

Sources to check (I have not accessed these top pages while writing this post, so please open them yourself): Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁) (Japanese and English), City of Sapporo (札幌市) (Japanese), National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (国立天文台) (Japanese). Earlier checked pages, read on October 9, 2026 and summarized in my other posts: Welcome to Sapporo (Sapporo Tourist Association), What to wear in Sapporo in winter. Recommended outfits for December, January and February, Japan Meteorological Agency, 平年値（年・月ごとの値）札幌 (Japanese). Date of writing: October 12, 2026. Weather varies from year to year, so please check the forecast. This post is general information, not medical advice.