Hokkaido Weather in February

Season: winter
In short: frigid, snowy almost every day, thickest snow cover in a year

Hokkaido enters mid-winter in February. During the day, its temperature remains 0℃ (32℉); at night, it drops to -7℃ (19.4℉), making people feel chilling cold. Hokkaido experiences heavy snowfall this month. It is no exaggeration to say it snows almost every day, forming the thickest snow cover in a year due to the low temperature below freezing. You can appreciate beautiful snow scenery anytime during your trip. Some eastern cities such as Kushiro can see some sunny days relatively. Snowstorms occur occasionally, when staying indoors is safer. The sun sets early in February. If you start your day trip late, you may feel like it is getting dark before you have fully enjoyed yourself. Therefore, it’s recommended to make the most of your daytime to have fun.

See also: Japan Weather in February

Packing List for Hokkaido in February

Clothes: 

Considering the large temperature difference between indoors with heating and outdoors in snow, it is recommended to wear multiple layers of clothes so as to adjust in time.
Inner layer: thin thermal shirt and long johns which are sweat absorbing
Middle layer: hoodie or sweater. Turtleneck sweater is not advised actually, which may make you feel hot indoors. 
Outer layer: Hooded downcoat can not only help keeping warm but also deal with sudden snowfall. For the bottom, fleece sweatpants or padded trousers are advised.
For skiing in mountainous areas, you need to keep as warm as possible. Thermal underwear set, wool sweater and winterpants are essential. For the outer layer, short downcoat is better than a long one, which will not constrain your movement. 

Shoes:

Waterproof and non-slip snow boots or long boots are necessary for walking safely in snow or on ice. Sticking non-slip pads on your soles can also be helpful. Besides, warm socks are needed, and remember to pack more pairs for replacement.

Other items:

Waterproof gloves, scarves, and earflap hats are a good match to offer you full protection against coldness. You can also buy some warm pastes in stores for more warmth.

Top Things to Do in Hokkaido in February

Tourism Rate: 

Skiing in Sapporo

Hokkaido’ unique powder snow coupled with its rich snow courses attracts skiing enthusiasts from all over the world every winter. Skiing in February, you can experience powder snow with the highest quality. Sapporo, as the largest city in Hokkaido, has many large ski resorts, among which Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort is the most distinctive. It has vast ski slopes with a width exceeding 100 meters (328 feet), very safe for beginners and young skiers. When the weather is clear, you can take a ski lift to appreciate the snow scenery and overlook the Sea of Japan from the mountaintop. There are also unique ski areas in forests in the resort, where you can do snow sports and appreciate natural beauties at the same time. 

Mountain Snow Scene of Hokkaido in February

Drift Ice Tour in Abashiri

Every winter, the Sea of Okhotsk presents a magnificent scene that drift ice flows with ocean currents, with the peak time in February. Icebreaker cruises provide great opportunities to appreciate the scenery up to close. The trip starts from Abashiri with the thickest drift ice. As the cruise advances, you can hear and see that huge ice is broken into pieces. If lucky, you will see erns soaring leisurely in the sky and seals sleeping on ice. Two winter festivals are celebrated in Abashiri in the drift ice season where you can see ice and snow sculptures of various sizes and taste fresh seafood.

Sapporo Snow Festival in Early February

Traveling to Hokkaido in early February 2025, you can enjoy yourself at the Sapporo Snow Festival, the celebrations of which usually last for one week. At that time, the teams from approximately 20 countries create around 400 snow and ice sculptures for competition. If you have inspiration, you can join them. After nightfall, all sculptures jointly form a charming scenery in colorful lights. Walking around, you will find some small bars made of ice where you can have a few drinks to get warmth. 

Tip:
Remember to wear non-slip shoes or boots for safely strolling on ice. If you forget, buy a pair of traction cleats in local stores.

Tips for Traveling to Hokkaido in February

1. Be sure to book your flight and hotel as early as possible. February is the peak season for tourism in Hokkaido with numerous tourists and increasing prices. 
2. Check the weather condition in advance to make sure that you can arrive or leave Hokkaido smoothly. In February with occasional snowstorms, the transportation may be affected sometimes. 
3. It is recommended to wear a fur hat like locals on snowy or windy days to act freely and warmly.
4. Please be careful when walking outside in case of slipping because the ground where people often walk, such as zebra crossings, is prone to freezing.
5. Pay attention to the glare from vast white snow. It may cause snowblindness if you look at it for a long time.

February Weather for Other Cities in Japan:

• Tokyo Weather in February
• Kyoto Weather in February
• Osaka Weather in February
• Nara Weather in February
• Nagoya Weather in February
• Hiroshima Weather in February
• Fukuoka Weather in February

Hokkaido Weather by Month

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