Sapporo Winter Packing List for Travelers from the Tropics: Bring or Buy
Contents
- What the weather means for your bag
- The 12-item take-home checklist
- Bring from home
- Buy in Sapporo
- Should I bring boots or buy them in Sapporo?
- Rent: what I can and cannot say
- Before you close your suitcase
- FAQ
- What is the minimum I should bring from home?
- Can I buy winter boots after I arrive?
- How much do grips and heat packs cost?
- Is there anything for dry skin?
- Should I rent clothes instead?
- Is the weather the same every year?
In short: this is a 12-item checklist for a winter trip to Sapporo, sorted into bring or buy. Based on the official pages I read, I suggest bringing your clothing layers, hat, scarf, gloves, and skin care from home, and buying in Sapporo the small items that official pages say are sold at convenience stores and similar shops: disposable heat packs and non-slip grips for your shoes. Boots with non-slip soles can be brought or bought. I did not find an official page on renting winter clothing, so no item on the checklist is marked as rent; the rent section below only says what I could not verify. The Japan Meteorological Agency’s 1991-2020 normals show a daily low of -4.0°C in December, -6.4°C in January, and -6.2°C in February.
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. Weather figures come from the Japan Meteorological Agency, and the item advice comes from the pages listed at the end. Anything marked “my suggestion” is not from an official page. Prices and availability change, so please check before you rely on them.
What the weather means for your bag
The Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁) publishes 30-year normals for Sapporo (1991-2020).
| Month | Average temperature | Normal daily high | Normal daily low |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | -0.9°C | 2.0°C | -4.0°C |
| January | -3.2°C | -0.4°C | -6.4°C |
| February | -2.7°C | 0.4°C | -6.2°C |
In practice, the daily low is below freezing in all three months, and in January the daily high is below freezing too. The Sapporo tourism page also says that buildings are well heated inside, so you will want layers that are easy to put on and take off. For the reasoning behind each layer, see What to Wear in Sapporo in Winter: A Layering Guide for Travelers from Hot Countries.
The 12-item take-home checklist
Copy this table into your notes. The “Source” column tells you whether an item comes from an official page or is my suggestion.
| # | Item | Bring / Buy | Source and note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warm base layer (thermal underwear) | Bring | The tourism page recommends a warm inner layer in January and February; the exact items are my suggestion |
| 2 | Sweater, turtleneck, or fleece | Bring | JNTO: “consider turtlenecks and fleece jackets for insulation”; the tourism page suggests a sweater or turtleneck over a warm inner layer in January |
| 3 | Windproof outer jacket (down jacket or coat) | Bring | JNTO: a winter jacket with wind protection; the tourism page: non-absorbent material such as nylon in December |
| 4 | Fleece-lined or windproof pants | Bring | JNTO suggests fleece-lined snow pants if you are not used to the cold; the tourism page suggests windproof or fleece-lined pants |
| 5 | Warm hat that covers your ears | Bring | Walk Smart (clothing page): wear a hat, preferably a heavy woolen one that can absorb impact; a hat that covers your ears also helps to keep you warm |
| 6 | Scarf | Bring | JNTO and the tourism page both suggest a scarf |
| 7 | Warm, waterproof gloves | Bring | Walk Smart (clothing page): wear gloves rather than putting your hands in your pockets; warm waterproof gloves, and gloves that extend to cover the wrist for the best protection |
| 8 | Boots or shoes with non-slip soles | Bring, or buy in Sapporo | Walk Smart (clothing page) says you could purchase non-slip shoes upon arriving in Sapporo |
| 9 | Non-slip grips for your shoes | Buy in Sapporo | The winter goods page lists shoe stores, convenience stores, and drug stores; Walk Smart (clothing page) also lists department stores, supermarkets, and shoe stores downtown, and souvenir shops, newsstands, and convenience stores at New Chitose Airport |
| 10 | Disposable heat packs | Buy in Sapporo | JNTO says they are sold at convenience stores; the tourism page lists convenience stores, drug stores, and 100-yen shops |
| 11 | Moisturizer and lip balm | Bring | JNTO suggests them if you are used to tropical humidity, because the winter air is dry |
| 12 | Spare socks and a bag for wet items | Bring | My suggestion |
If you are short of space, items 1 to 8 are the ones I would put at the top of the list, because they are your clothing and footwear. Items 9 and 10 are small and easy to buy once you arrive.
Bring from home
Clothing layers (items 1 to 7) are the part of the list I suggest packing yourself. Official pages describe what to wear, but I did not find an official page that says where to buy winter jackets, so I cannot say what is easy to buy on arrival. Bringing your own also means you can test the whole outfit at home before you travel. This is my suggestion.
JNTO also mentions that wind can make it feel as much as 10°C colder, so choose an outer layer that blocks wind, not only one that is thick.
Buy in Sapporo
Two kinds of small items are described as easy to get:
- Non-slip grips for shoes. The Welcome to Sapporo winter goods page describes cleats that can be strapped on over your shoes and non-slip grips that can be attached to the soles, sold at shoe stores, convenience stores, and drug stores, for about 1,000 yen (in its Japanese version). A separate Welcome to Sapporo clothing page gives about 1,000 to 2,000 yen for non-slip soles that can be hooked or stuck onto your shoes, sold at convenience stores and shoe stores in central Sapporo. Walk Smart’s clothing page adds department stores and supermarkets downtown, and souvenir shops, newsstands, and convenience stores at New Chitose Airport.
- Disposable heat packs. JNTO says they are available at convenience stores. The Welcome to Sapporo winter goods page says that a pack of 10 costs about 300 yen (in its Japanese version), and that the pads can be attached to your clothes or worn in your shoes.
Prices are from the pages as I read them and may change. For how to use the grips safely, including taking them off on tiled floors indoors, see How Not to Slip on Ice in Sapporo: Shoes, Grips, and Simple Walking Habits.
Should I bring boots or buy them in Sapporo?
Walk Smart’s clothing page says that footwear is the key to avoiding a fall, and that if you are in Sapporo for only a few days, you can use non-slip attachments instead of buying new shoes. It also says you can purchase non-slip shoes after arriving. My suggestion: if you already own waterproof boots with a soft, grippy sole, bring them and add grips; if not, decide before you leave whether you would rather buy boots on arrival. I cannot recommend a store or brand.
Rent: what I can and cannot say
I did not find an official page that lists winter clothing rental, so I cannot say what exists, what it costs, or whether it is available on your dates. If you are interested, my suggestion is to ask your accommodation or look for official tourist information before you travel, and to confirm size, price, and return rules in advance. Renting could suit a short trip, but this is only an idea, not a recommendation of any service.
Before you close your suitcase
- Check the weather forecast for your travel dates.
- Put on every layer once to see whether it fits comfortably.
- Keep gloves, a hat, and a scarf in your carry-on bag, in case your checked bag is delayed. (My suggestion.)
- Keep your hands free when you walk, because Walk Smart warns against walking with both hands full. A backpack or shoulder bag is my suggestion.
FAQ
What is the minimum I should bring from home?
My suggestion is items 1 to 7 on the checklist: base layer, middle layer, windproof outer jacket, pants, hat, scarf, and gloves. Official pages describe these clothing items, but they do not say where to buy them, so I cannot promise they are easy to find in Sapporo.
Can I buy winter boots after I arrive?
Walk Smart’s clothing page says you could purchase non-slip shoes upon arriving in Sapporo. For a stay of only a few days, it suggests non-slip attachments instead.
How much do grips and heat packs cost?
The tourism pages give about 1,000 yen and 1,000 to 2,000 yen for non-slip grips (the two pages differ), and about 300 yen for a pack of 10 heat packs. Prices can change.
Is there anything for dry skin?
JNTO suggests packing moisturizer and lip balm if you are used to tropical humidity, because the air is particularly dry in winter.
Should I rent clothes instead?
I did not find an official page about rental, so I cannot advise on it. If you are thinking about it, ask your accommodation or look for official tourist information first.
Is the weather the same every year?
No. The figures in this post are 30-year averages for 1991-2020, so a particular day may be colder or milder. Please check the forecast before you travel.
Sources checked: Japan Meteorological Agency, 過去の気象データ検索 平年値（年・月ごとの値）札幌 (Past weather data: normals by year and month, Sapporo) (Japanese; 1991-2020 normals), JNTO (Singapore office), The climate in Hokkaido (Tips for what to wear), Welcome to Sapporo (Sapporo Tourist Association), What to wear in Sapporo in winter. Recommended outfits for December, January and February, Welcome to Sapporo (Sapporo Tourist Association), Helpful Hints for Enjoying Sapporo in Winter -Goods-, Welcome to Sapporo, 冬の札幌のお役立ち情報 ～グッズ編～ (Japanese version of the winter goods page; source of the yen figures) (Japanese), Winter Life Promotion Council, Walk Smart: Suggested Winter Clothing, Winter Life Promotion Council, Walk Smart: Slippery Locations, Winter Life Promotion Council, Walk Smart: Walking Behavior Most Likely to Result in a Fall. Checked on October 9, 2026. This post is general information; prices, shops, and weather change, so please check before you travel. I could not find an official page on winter clothing rental or on where to buy winter jackets, so this post does not describe either.