City in Hokkaido, Japan
Otaru
Canal-side port town near Sapporo, with heavy winter snow and a February snow-light festival.
Otaru snow forecast
Out of season.
Forecasts for Otaru pause outside the snow season and start again in October. The snow record below shows when it usually snows here.
Where is Otaru?
When does it snow in Otaru?
In Otaru, snow falls on about 19 days in January in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from November to April.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 days | 17 days | 10 days | 3 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | <1 days | 9 days | 19 days |
Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.
Snow in Otaru month by month
Averages for 2016 to 2025, from ERA5 reanalysis data.
| Month | Snow days | Share of the year's snow | Low to high |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19 | 25% | −5 to −1 °C (23 to 30 °F) |
| February | 17 | 22% | −5 to −1 °C (23 to 30 °F) |
| March | 10 | 14% | −1 to 4 °C (30 to 39 °F) |
| April | 3 | 2% | 4 to 10 °C (39 to 50 °F) |
| May | 0 | 0% | 10 to 17 °C (50 to 63 °F) |
| June | 0 | 0% | 14 to 20 °C (57 to 68 °F) |
| July | 0 | 0% | 19 to 25 °C (66 to 77 °F) |
| August | 0 | 0% | 20 to 25 °C (68 to 77 °F) |
| September | 0 | 0% | 16 to 22 °C (61 to 72 °F) |
| October | <1 | 1% | 9 to 15 °C (48 to 59 °F) |
| November | 9 | 13% | 3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F) |
| December | 19 | 24% | −3 to 1 °C (27 to 34 °F) |
Snow in Otaru in November
In November, Otaru gets snow on about 9 days, and the month brings about 13% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F).
Snow in Otaru in December
In December, Otaru gets snow on about 19 days, and the month brings about 24% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −3 to 1 °C (27 to 34 °F).
Snow in Otaru in January
In January, Otaru gets snow on about 19 days, and the month brings about 25% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −5 to −1 °C (23 to 30 °F).
Snow in Otaru in February
In February, Otaru gets snow on about 17 days, and the month brings about 22% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −5 to −1 °C (23 to 30 °F).
Snow in Otaru in March
In March, Otaru gets snow on about 10 days, and the month brings about 14% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −1 to 4 °C (30 to 39 °F).
Snow in Otaru in April
In April, Otaru gets snow on about 3 days, and the month brings about 2% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from 4 to 10 °C (39 to 50 °F).
Which winters were snowiest in Otaru?
Of the last ten winters in Otaru, 2021/22 was the snowiest, about 19% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2019/20, about 19% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 22 December 2016.
| Winter | Compared with average | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | 108% of average | |
| 2017/18 | 109% of average | |
| 2018/19 | 90% of average | |
| 2019/20 | 81% of average | |
| 2020/21 | 93% of average | |
| 2021/22 | 119% of average | |
| 2022/23 | 113% of average | |
| 2023/24 | 88% of average | |
| 2024/25 | 106% of average | |
| 2025/26 | 91% of average |
Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.
Questions about snow in Otaru
Does Otaru have snow at Christmas?
Otaru had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in every one of those years.
Does Otaru have snow at New Year?
Otaru had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in every one of those years.
Does Otaru have snow in mid-February?
Otaru had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during 10 to 20 February in every one of those years.
Does Otaru have snow at Easter?
Otaru had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Fresh snow fell during Good Friday to Easter Monday in 3 of those years.
How many days a year does it snow in Otaru?
It snows on about 78 days a year in Otaru, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. January has the most, about 19 days.
What is the snowiest month in Otaru?
January is the snowiest month in Otaru, bringing about 25% of the year's snowfall, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025.
Which recent winter was the snowiest in Otaru?
Of the last ten winters in Otaru, 2021/22 was the snowiest, about 19% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2019/20, about 19% below average.
How cold does Otaru get in winter?
January is the coldest month in Otaru, with average daily lows of −5 °C (23 °F) and highs of −1 °C (30 °F).
Snow forecasts near Otaru
Nearest ski resorts to Otaru
Sources: Otaru on Wikidata, Elevation from the Open-Meteo terrain model at the city centre coordinates