Sapporo is a skier’s paradise as one of the world’s snowiest cities

Sapporo’s snow is world-renowned among outdoor adventurers

Sapporo experiences a vast range of weather conditions with the changing seasons.

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Daytime temperatures often hover around or just below the freezing mark during the heart of winter in January and February.

A quick thaw during the spring serves as a prelude to warm and muggy summers, followed by an equally quick temperature drop back toward chilly conditions.

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Japan’s northern coasts, including Sapporo, are world-renowned for their annual snowfall totals. Ample amounts of sea-effect snow build every season as cold northwesterly winds from Siberia blow over the relatively warm waters of the Sea of Japan.

Each season averages about 479 cm of snow in Sapporo, which is more than the annual totals in both St. John’s (363 cm) and Toronto (114 cm) combined.

Sapporo’s unique location is the driving force behind its mammoth seasonal accumulations. The mountains that surround the city often enhance bands of sea-effect snow as they blow inland.