In July and August, Hokkaido is sunny and there are many summer days when the temperature is warm.
Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, is a great retreat for the summer. Depending on exactly where you are traveling to in the area, the clothing you need can vary greatly. It is good for you to be specific about travel plans so you can pack accordingly.
Hokkaido is vast and has a large temperature difference depending on the area!
Hokkaido is 83,456 square kilometers, which is comparable to the size of Austria.
The area is surrounded by the Sea of Japan in the northwest, the Sea of Okhotsk in the northeast, and the Pacific Ocean in the south.
Mountains are to the east and to the west. Depending on where you are, the landscapes can be quite different.
In urban areas of Sapporo, the temperature is higher than it feels
In many areas, it is not uncommon for temperatures in Hokkaido in summer to reach 25°C or higher in summer in July and August, or to reach mid-summer temperatures above 30°C.
In Sapporo, the largest city in Hokkaido, the heat island effect has been occurring in recent years, and the average maximum daytime temperature is 24.9°C in July and 26.4°C in August (average values from 1981 to 2010 announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Same reference below).
In urban areas, the temperature feels higher than the ambient temperature due to the glare, so it would be good to wear short-sleeved, sleeveless, and breathable clothing to keep you cool.
Depending on the terrain, the temperature may be higher in some areas
Even though overall Hokkaido has cooler temperatures, there are some areas that are prone to high temperatures. This is true in the Kamikawa basin, including Asahikawa and Furano. The average daytime maximum temperature in Asahikawa is 25.8°C in July and 26.3°C in August.
On the Sea of Okhotsk side, where the warm and dry winds over the mountains rapidly raise the temperature, the maximum temperature may exceed 30°C from May to June.
The southern part of the area, including Hakodate and Matsumae, has a climate close to Honshu. It tends to have many summer and midsummer days, so when going out, be sure to dress appropriately for the heat.
The Pacific Ocean side – where you can see the 'Sea of Clouds' – is cool!
There are cool areas in Hokkaido in summer. On the Pacific Ocean side, warm and moist air from the South Pacific overhanging the Pacific High is often covered by a sea of clouds that is generated by cooling the cold (Oyashio current) seawater.
Due to this effect, in Kushiro, which faces the Pacific Ocean in Eastern Hokkaido, the average maximum temperature reaches 18.6°C in July and 21.2°C in August.
The temperature in the Soya region north of Hokkaido, which is affected by the Okhot…
