On this page, I will introduce Hokkaido weather in May. At this time, full-scale spring comes to Hokkaido. The cherry blossoms bloom one month later than Tokyo and then the trees turn to a wonderful fresh green. You will be able to explore beautiful tourist areas with a pleasant climate. This article contains a lot of pictures to help you imagine the weather in May in Hokkaido, so please refer to them.

Below are articles about the monthly weather in Hokkaido. Click on an article if you want to know more.

January February March
April May June
July August September
October November December

Below are articles on the weather in Tokyo and Osaka in May. 

Q & A about Hokkaido in May

Does snow fall in May in Hokkaido?

There is no snow in Hokkaido in May. However, in some large ski resorts such as Niseko, you can ski until about May 6th.

How cold is Hokkaido in May?

Hokkaido has a spring climate in May. You can travel comfortably.

What kind of clothes should we wear in May in Hokkaido?

Spring clothes are desirable in May. For spring clothes in Japan, please refer to the following article.

When is the best time to visit Hokkaido?

If you want to enjoy winter snowy landscapes then January and February are the best months. If you want to see beautiful flower fields then July and August are recommended.

In early May you will be able to see cherry blossoms in Hokkaido.

 

Weather in Hokkaido in May (overview)

Temperature change in Hokkaido (Sapporo) in May

Graph: Temperature change in Hokkaido (Sapporo) in May

Graph: Temperature change in Hokkaido (Sapporo) in May

※ Based on the data released by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Both high and low temperature data are averages over the past 30 years (1981-2010)

>> Click here for a [quick reference] converted from Celsius to Fahrenheit.

As you can see from the above graph, in late May, the daytime maximum temperature in Hokkaido will rise to nearly 20 degrees Celsius.

Overview

Mountains of Daietsutsuzan seen from Bieicho, Hokkaido = Shutterstock

Mountains of Daietsutsuzan seen from Biei, Hokkaido = Shutterstock

In May, the maximum daytime temperature in Hokkaido will increase by more than 20 degrees Celsius. It rains moderately and with every rain the trees and grass will grow. May is one of the best times to travel in Hokkaido.

On the other hand, the morning and evening low temperatures are quite low. Hokkaido has a large difference in temperature per day compared to Tokyo and Osaka.

It will no longer snow in Hokkaido in May. It may be difficult to enjoy snow at this time. Ski areas, even those in Niseko and Daisetsuzan, will be closed around May 6. Instead, you can see snow-capped mountains in Asahikawa or Biei near the Daietsuzan mountain area.

Below is the meteorological data of Hokkaido released by the Japan Meteorological Agency in May.

 

Hokkaido weather in early May

Map of Hokkaido

Map of Hokkaido

Weather data in Hokkaido (early May)

Highest temperature
(Lowest temperature)
Total precipitation
(Total snowfall depth)
Sapporo 15.9℃ (6.9℃) 19.3mm (–)
Otaru 15.1℃ (6.1℃) 22.6mm (–)
Asahikawa 15.9℃ (3.6℃) 23.1mm (0cm)
Biei 15.4℃ (2.5℃) 23.7mm (0cm)
Furano 16.0℃ (3.6℃) 25.1mm (0cm)
Wakkanai 10.5℃ (4.5℃) 22.1mm (–)
Abashiri 13.0℃ (3.9℃) 19.8mm (1cm)
Utoro 12.8℃ (3.3℃) 37.4mm (3cm)
Nemuro 10.5℃ (3.0℃) 31.3mm (0cm)
Kushiro 11.0℃ (3.6℃) 37.4mm (0cm)
Obihiro 16.5℃ (4.2℃) 25.1mm (1cm)
Hakodate 15.4℃ (6.1℃) 31.2mm (–cm)

※ All figures are the average for 30 years of 1981-2010 announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency

Hokkaido at this time seen in photos

MAY 1, 2018 Hokkaido shrine is a shinto shrine located in Sapporo. sited in Maruyama park, Hokkaido = Shutterstock

MAY 1, 2018 Hokkaido shrine is a shinto shrine located in Sapporo. sited in Maruyama park, Hokkaido = Shutterstock

Weather and sunrise / sunset time

In Sapporo and Hakodate, cherry blossoms will be in full bloom from late April to early May. The most popular places to see cherry blossoms are Maruyama Park and Hokkaido Shrine in Sapporo. Also popular is Goryokaku in Hakodate.

In early May, the sunrise time in Sapporo is about 4:24 and the sunset time is about 18:40.

The sunrise time in Nemuro, in eastern Hokkaido, is about 4:06 and the sunset time is about 18:23.

 

Hokkaido weather in the middle of May

Weather data in Hokkaido (middle of May)

Highest temperature
(Lowest temperature)
Total precipitation
(Total snowfall depth)
Sapporo 17.3℃ (8.2℃) 17.4mm (–)
Otaru 16.5℃ (7.4℃) 15.4mm (–)
Asahikawa 17.7℃ (5.4℃) 20.6mm (–)
Biei 17.2℃ (4.1℃) 18.6mm (0cm)
Furano 17.7℃ (5.5℃) 18.3mm (0cm)
Wakkanai 12.1℃ (6.0℃) 18.3mm (–)
Abashiri 14.4℃ (5.5℃) 19.5mm (0cm)
Utoro 14.4℃ (4.8℃) 31.5mm (1cm)
Nemuro 11.7℃ (4.2℃) 35.0mm (1cm)
Kushiro 12.0℃ (5.0℃) 34.4mm (0cm)
Obihiro 17.7℃ (5.7℃) 27.4mm (0cm)
Hakodate 16.3℃ (7.4℃) 23.2mm (–)

※ All figures are the average for 30 years of 1981-2010 announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency

Hokkaido at this time seen in photos

MAY 11,2018: Tourists take a photo around Pink moss flowers field (Japaness call Shibazakura) Blooming like a pink carpet on the hill at Takinoue park, Mombetsu, Hokkaido = Shutterstock

MAY 11,2018: Tourists take a photo around Pink moss flowers field (Japaness call Shibazakura) Blooming like a pink carpet on the hill at Takinoue park, Mombetsu, Hokkaido = Shutterstock

Weather and sunrise / sunset time

The temperature in Hokkaido will rise in May. In mid-May, the maximum temperature may exceed 25 degrees Celsius.

The maximum daytime temperature will not change much, similar to Tokyo. However, Hokkaido is more comfortable because it is dry.

In Hokkaido, it is cold in the morning and evening. This point is very different from Tokyo etc. If you go out in the morning or evening, you may want to prepare jumpers or other clothing items for warmth.

In the middle of May, the sunrise time in Sapporo is about 4:12 and the sunset time is about 18:51.

The sunrise time in Nemuro, in eastern Hokkaido, is about 3:54 and the sunset time is about 18:34.

 

Hokkaido weather in late May

Weather data in Hokkaido (late May)

Highest temperature
(Lowest temperature)
Total precipitation
(Total snowfall depth)
Sapporo 18.7℃ (9.8℃) 16.4mm (–)
Otaru 17.5℃ (8.8℃) 18.1mm (–)
Asahikawa 19.5℃ (7.1℃) 21.1mm (–)
Biei 19.1℃ (5.8℃) 22.5mm (0cm)
Furano 19.8℃ (7.6℃) 23.2mm (0cm)
Wakkanai 13.4℃ (7.2℃) 27.3mm (–)
Abashiri 15.2℃ (6.7℃) 22.4mm (–)
Utoro 15.7℃ (6.1℃) 31.9mm (0cm)
Nemuro 12.2℃ (5.1℃) 35.8mm (–)
Kushiro 12.8℃ (6.1℃) 40.2mm (–)
Obihiro 18.5℃ (7.1℃) 28.6mm (–)
Hakodate 17.6℃ (8.9℃) 29.2mm (–)

※ All figures are the average for 30 years of 1981-2010 announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency

Hokkaido at this time seen in photos

MAY 23, 2015: Takikawa Rapeseed festival is one of the best places to admire the canola flower fields. It is planted as a crop rotation, Takikawa, Hokkaido = Shutterstock

MAY 23, 2015: Takikawa Rapeseed festival is one of the best places to admire the canola flower fields. It is planted as a crop rotation, Takikawa, Hokkaido = Shutterstock

MAY 20,2017: Mother and son walking back home with train railway background, Otaru, Hokkaido

MAY 20,2017: Mother and son walking back home with train railway background, Otaru, Hokkaido

Weather and sunrise / sunset time

Hokkaido in this time is really comfortable. Beautiful flowers are blooming in the vast meadows.

In Takikawa City, about 50 minutes by train from Sapporo, the Flower Festival will be held from the middle of May to the beginning of June. The fields of rape blossoms are very beautiful.

In late May, the sunrise time in Sapporo is about 4:03 and the sunset time is about 19:01.

The sunrise time in Nemuro, in eastern Hokkaido, is about 3:45 and the sunset time is about 18:45.

※ Sunrise and sunset times are based on the 2019 data released by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. I posted the time of the 5th for the beginning of May, the time of the 15th for the middle of May, and the time of the 25th for the end of May.

 

Reference: Current weather and temperature in Hokkaido, forecast for the next 7 days

Weather for the Following Location: Hokkaido map, Japan


 

Weather in tourist destinations around Japan

Below are pages showing the climates of various regions in Japan at the same time of the year.

Tokyo Osaka Kyoto
Hokkaido Sendai Nagano
Nagoya Hiroshima Fukuoka
Okinawa

 

Thank you for reading to the end.
For Hokkaido, please refer to the following article if you like.

>> Hokkaido! 21 Popular Tourist Areas and 10 Airports
>> New Chitose Airport! Access to Sapporo, Niseko, Furano etc.

 

Now, let’s plan to make your vacation in Japan the best experience ever!

 

Back to "May"

 

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