Hokkaido in December: Temperature & What to Wear, When Snow Cover Sets In, Pre-Winter-Break Trip Prep [2026]

In Hokkaido, once December moves into its final third, the normal daytime high temperature drops below freezing at five locations. In the Japan Meteorological Agency’s 10-day normal values (1991–2020), the late-December normal daily high is below freezing at Asahikawa (−1.9°C), Furano (−2.4°C), Obihiro (−0.3°C), Abashiri (−0.6°C), and Wakkanai (−0.8°C). “Below freezing all day,” which didn’t happen in November, begins this month.

Even in early December, the normal daily low is already below freezing at all 11 locations. The highest is Muroran at −0.6°C, and the lowest is Furano at −7.9°C. Permanent snow cover also spreads through the second half of the month, and Asahikawa’s normal maximum snow depth for December builds up to 58cm.

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• I just want the gist of how cold it gets
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This article lines up the Japan Meteorological Agency’s 10-day and monthly normal values for 11 locations to first establish which areas hit below-freezing days, and from what point in December, and how much snow falls and where permanent snow cover is likely. From there, it covers what to wear during the day, in the morning and evening, and for overnight parking, plus what a campervan needs to drive in December: winter tires, heating, bedding, and power. For the month before this one, see our article on Hokkaido’s November temperatures and what to wear. For the full winter picture from November through February, see our article on Hokkaido’s winter temperatures and campervan overnight-parking gear. This article focuses on December, mainly the difference from January and how likely each region is to get permanent snow cover.

Unless noted otherwise, the temperature and snow figures in this article are normal values (1991–2020) from the Japan Meteorological Agency website, checked on 2026-09-24. Normal values are a typical-year guide, not a forecast for your travel date. In the week before you leave, check the latest temperature and snow outlook from the JMA or local forecasts.

How Cold Is Hokkaido in December? Real Winter Sets In From Early Month

By early December, the normal daily low is already negative at all 11 locations. The highest is Muroran at −0.6°C, followed by Hakodate at −2.2°C, then Sapporo and Date at −2.4°C, while the lowest is Furano at −7.9°C, followed by Chitose and Obihiro at −6.5°C (JMA website, 10-day normal values). In early November, every location still had a positive normal low; by this month, they all start below freezing.

By late month, the normal high also turns negative in some areas: Asahikawa (−1.9°C), Furano (−2.4°C), Obihiro (−0.3°C), Abashiri (−0.6°C), and Wakkanai (−0.8°C). These five locations get a “deep winter” day where the temperature doesn’t rise even in daytime. Pacific-side Muroran stays the mildest spot in Hokkaido even in late December, with a high of 2.0°C and a low of −2.7°C.

By monthly average temperature: Muroran 0.5°C, Hakodate −0.1°C, Kushiro −1.9°C, Sapporo −0.9°C, Abashiri −2.4°C, Wakkanai −2.1°C, Obihiro −3.8°C, Asahikawa −4.2°C (JMA website, monthly normal values). There’s a 4–5°C gap between the Pacific coast and inland areas, so, as with November, you can’t describe “Hokkaido in December” with a single number, but with more areas turning below freezing in late month, winter is a notch more serious than the month before.

Lows Can Differ by 9°C Depending on Where You Go: Check the 11-Location, 10-Day Table

Even within the same December, early-month highs run from 4.7°C in Hakodate to 0.5°C in Furano, a 4.2°C gap. By late month, lows widen to a 9.1°C gap, from −2.7°C in Muroran to −11.8°C in Furano. Someone who picks up a campervan at New Chitose and heads straight for central or northern Hokkaido needs a whole level more morning-and-evening prep than someone touring the south or the Pacific coast.

The table below lists the normal daily high and low temperatures for early, mid, and late December at 11 locations, from the JMA’s 10-day normal values. Numbers are in the order “high／low,” in °C.

Location	Early Dec High／Low	Mid Dec High／Low	Late Dec High／Low
Sapporo	3.5／−2.4	1.6／−4.4	0.9／−5.0
Chitose (near New Chitose Airport) *1	3.4／−6.5	1.5／−9.2	0.4／−10.6
Hakodate	4.7／−2.2	2.7／−4.0	2.2／−4.5
Muroran	4.3／−0.6	2.5／−2.1	2.0／−2.7
Date (Lake Toya area) *2	4.4／−2.4	2.5／−4.0	1.6／−5.1
Asahikawa	0.8／−6.0	−1.1／−8.3	−1.9／−9.6
Furano	0.5／−7.9	−1.5／−10.8	−2.4／−11.8
Obihiro	2.8／−6.5	0.6／−9.4	−0.3／−10.6
Kushiro	4.1／−5.1	2.2／−7.1	1.2／−8.6
Abashiri (reference for the Shiretoko area)	2.3／−4.1	0.4／−6.2	−0.6／−7.4
Wakkanai	1.3／−3.1	−0.3／−4.5	−0.8／−5.0

Three ways to read the table. First, the high stays positive at all 11 locations only in early month; by mid-month Asahikawa and Furano turn negative, and by late month Obihiro, Abashiri, and Wakkanai join them. Second, the low drops by 2.6–3.9°C from early to late month at every location, and by late month no location beats Muroran. Third, Chitose’s late-month low of −10.6°C is the second-coldest after Furano, being near the airport doesn’t make December any milder.

Is December the Edge of Deep Winter? Comparing With January to See Where It Sits

Lining up the monthly average temperatures for November, December, and January shows where December sits. The monthly normal values for 8 locations are as follows.

Location	Nov Average	Dec Average	Jan Average
Muroran	6.4	0.5	−1.8
Hakodate	6.0	−0.1	−2.4
Sapporo	5.2	−0.9	−3.2
Abashiri	4.0	−2.4	−5.1
Wakkanai	3.8	−2.1	−4.3
Obihiro	3.5	−3.8	−6.9
Kushiro	4.7	−1.9	−4.8
Asahikawa	2.3	−4.2	−7.0

At all 8 locations, the drop from November to December is 5.9–7.3°C, while the drop from December to January stays within 2.2–3.1°C. In Wakkanai, the November-to-December drop is 5.9°C and the December-to-January drop is 2.2°C, a 2.7-fold difference. In Asahikawa it’s 6.5°C versus 2.8°C, a 2.3-fold difference. The steepest annual drop happens between November and December, and the December-to-January change is less than half of that at all 8 locations.

In other words, December is already deep into winter, and January is one more step colder from there. Our winter-overview article, linked at the top, has January and February lows plus overnight-parking gear, so if you want the full deep-winter numbers, read that one too.

How Much Does It Snow in December? Check Normal Totals and Maximum Snow Depth

“Total snowfall depth” is the normal value for all the snow that falls over the whole month of December added together, and “maximum snow depth” is the normal value for the deepest the snow got at any point that month. If snow falls but melts, accumulation doesn’t increase, while even light, steady snowfall can build up maximum depth over time. Lining up the two numbers shows how accumulation differs by region.

Location	Dec Total Snowfall Depth	Dec Max. Snow Depth
Asahikawa	158cm	58cm
Wakkanai	122cm	39cm
Sapporo	113cm	47cm
Abashiri	71cm	29cm
Hakodate	79cm	22cm
Obihiro	51cm	36cm
Muroran	27cm	9cm
Kushiro	26cm	17cm

Asahikawa has the most, with 158cm of total snowfall depth and a 58cm maximum, followed by Wakkanai (122cm／39cm) and Sapporo (113cm／47cm). Pacific-side Muroran (27cm／9cm) and Kushiro (26cm／17cm) get far less snow than the interior of central and northern Hokkaido. For when first snow actually arrives, see our article on when Hokkaido’s first snow falls if you want a sense of the run-up before December begins.

Which Areas Get Permanent Snow Cover and Which Don’t: Inland Snow Stays Put, Pacific-Side Snow Falls and Melts

Asahikawa, Wakkanai, Sapporo, Abashiri, and Obihiro, where maximum snow depth exceeds 30cm, are areas where the snow that piles up during December doesn’t fully melt and tends to carry over as permanent snow cover into the new year. By contrast, Muroran and Kushiro, where maximum snow depth is around 10cm, have thin normal snow cover to begin with and milder lows than other locations, reading as areas where snow falls and melts repeatedly.

That said, the normal-value data referenced here doesn’t include the exact date permanent snow cover began. “When permanent snow cover starts this year” varies year to year, so right before you leave, check current snow conditions through the JMA or local road information, and plan your booking and itinerary assuming snowy, icy roads.

What Should You Wear? Split It Into Three Situations, Daytime, Morning/Evening, and Overnight Parking, and You Won’t Go Wrong

The common December mistake is dressing the same as November and then not being able to handle late-month days that stay below freezing all day. Late-month Chitose has a high of 0.4°C and a low of −10.6°C. Even daytime calls for full winter clothing. Split your outfit by situation.

Daytime Driving and Sightseeing (Highs of −2.4 to 4.7°C)

Early-month highs are 4.7°C in Hakodate, 4.3°C in Muroran, 4.4°C in Date, 3.5°C in Sapporo, 3.4°C in Chitose, 1.3°C in Wakkanai, 0.8°C in Asahikawa, and 0.5°C in Furano. You’ll need a genuine winter coat or down jacket, plus gloves and a knit cap, even during the day. The heater keeps the vehicle warm, but every time you step out, you meet below-freezing air.

By late month, five locations, Asahikawa (−1.9°C), Furano (−2.4°C), Obihiro (−0.3°C), Abashiri (−0.6°C), and Wakkanai (−0.8°C), have a normal high below freezing even in daytime. Switch to the assumption that you’ll wear thick winter clothing all day long. From this point in the season, covering your neck, ears, and fingers stops being a nice-to-have and becomes essential.

Morning and Evening Errands and Getting Ready at a Michi-no-Eki (Lows of −11.8 to −0.6°C)

Grocery runs, coming back from an onsen, getting ready in the morning. Early-month lows are already below freezing even in the south and along the Pacific coast, at Muroran −0.6°C, Hakodate −2.2°C, and Sapporo −2.4°C, while inland Chitose and Obihiro sit at −6.5°C and Furano at −7.9°C. Step outside with a November mindset and your fingers and feet will chill fast.

By late month, lows reach −11.8°C in Furano, −10.6°C in Chitose and Obihiro, −9.6°C in Asahikawa, and −8.6°C in Kushiro. On top of a down jacket, gloves, and a knit cap, you’ll need slip-resistant soles for snowy pavement. With normal maximum snow depth building up to 58cm in Asahikawa and 47cm in Sapporo by this point, assume parking lots will be packed with compressed or icy snow.

Nights of Overnight Parking (From Bedtime to Wake-Up)

The hours you sleep cover the entire window of that day’s lowest temperature, spent inside the vehicle. The basic approach to sleepwear doesn’t change from November, thin long sleeves and long pants plus one extra pair of thick socks, but with late-month lows of −10.6°C in Chitose and Obihiro and −11.8°C in Furano, the quality of your heating and bedding now decides whether you actually sleep. We’ll cover gear in the next section.

Broken down by 10-day period, here’s what to bring.

• Early month: A genuine winter coat or down jacket, plus gloves and a knit cap, worn even in the day. Assume below-freezing mornings even in the south and along the Pacific coast
• Mid-month: Wear a down jacket at all times inland and in the north. Add neck and ear protection
• Late month: Thick winter clothing worn all day everywhere. Slip-resistant soles for snowy pavement, plus gloves and a knit cap at all times
• Overnight parking: Thin sleepwear, plus one extra pair of thick socks. Whether you sleep depends on your heating and bedding

Sub-Zero Nights Are Here: Your December Campervan Needs Four Things, Winter Tires, Heating, Bedding, and Power

Late-December normal lows in Chitose, Furano, and Obihiro run −10.6 to −11.8°C. Assuming you’ll spend that kind of night inside the vehicle, here are the four essentials. How cold it gets inside varies by model and where you park, and there’s no measured data to cite, so we won’t guess at a number. Instead, we organize this around: what do you need to sleep through a night around −10°C outside and still be able to drive the next morning?

1. Winter Tires: In December, Assume They’re Already Fitted. What to Check Is Condition, Not Whether They’re On

December is the month when snowy, icy roads become standard across nearly the whole of Hokkaido. The stage of wondering whether tires were switched in November is over, by December, you can assume any rental company’s vehicle will already have winter tires fitted. Tread depth and tire age still vary by company, though, so keep that on your pre-booking checklist. See our article on studless (winter) tire timing and rental companies’ winter tire policies for how each company approaches this.

2. Heating: Without an FF Heater, Inland Late-Month Stays Are Barely an Option

An FF heater is heating you can run with the engine off. Sleeping with the engine running is best avoided because of noise and exhaust, so cross late-month Furano or Asahikawa off your options if your vehicle doesn’t have an FF heater. Even early-month mornings in the south and along the Pacific coast sit around −2 to −1°C, tough to get through on bedding alone. You can check how FF heaters work, how to use them, and fuel considerations in our article on FF heater mechanics and use.

3. Bedding: Ask for Specific Numbers on Whether You Can Bring a Winter Sleeping Bag or Standard Gear Is Enough

Bedding varies widely by company, from “one blanket” to “a winter sleeping bag.” Sleeping inland in late month with the FF heater running low, one blanket won’t be enough for some people. How many sets come as standard, whether extra ones are available to rent, whether there’s space to bring your own sleeping bag, these are the questions that decide whether you sleep warm, and our article on what to check to sleep warm in a Hokkaido campervan in winter covers each of them one by one.

4. Power: On Multi-Night Trips, Include One Night Somewhere With Shore Power

The FF heater’s fan, lighting, and phone charging all draw from the sub-battery. Two or three cold nights in a row add up, so on trips of three nights or more, include one night at an RV park or campsite with power hookups partway through. Some facilities close for winter, so we’ve rounded up places that stay open: an article checking 13 RV parks and Michi-no-Eki that offer winter overnight parking, verified on their official sites.

Five Things to Check When Comparing Rental Companies

Translating the four points above into comparison checklist items, you get this.

1. Winter tires: Assume they’re already fitted. Check tread depth and tire age
2. Heating equipment: Is an FF heater standard, optional, or not fitted at all?
3. Bedding: How many sets come standard, and how thick? Whether extra sets are available to rent, and storage space for a sleeping bag you bring yourself
4. Power: Whether there’s a shore-power input, outlets that can run appliances, and roughly how large the sub-battery is
5. Rental period and winter conditions: Whether they rent out vehicles in December, and whether there are conditions on driving on snowy roads (check the booking screen and official site)

These five items often aren’t spelled out on vehicle pages or price lists, so they tend to be things you have to ask about directly. The quickest path is to compare heating and equipment conditions on our comparison page, narrow it down to two or three candidates, and then confirm the final details on each company’s official site.

Renting at New Chitose Airport: Where’s a Reasonable Place to Go in December?

Chitose itself is already a cold spot. Its late-month low of −10.6°C is lower than Asahikawa’s −9.6°C and on par with Obihiro’s −10.6°C. The idea that “near the airport means milder than inland” doesn’t hold up in December. Plan on needing winter gear from the moment you set out.

That said, mornings stay relatively milder in the south and along the Pacific coast. Muroran’s late-month low is still −2.7°C, Hakodate −4.5°C, and Date −5.1°C. If it’s your first time with winter gear or overnight parking, a route built around these locations is easier going. If snowy scenery and permanent snow cover are the goal, Asahikawa, where maximum snow depth builds to 58cm, or Sapporo at 47cm, are candidates, but head there assuming late-month lows in the −9 to −10°C range, with heating and bedding sorted first.

Driving Before the Winter Break? Keep Three Things in Mind for Your Itinerary

First, decide your gear before your route. Whether winter tires, an FF heater, bedding, and power are all sorted determines which areas you can reasonably visit. Build in late-month Asahikawa or Furano before your gear is ready, and you’ll run into “I can’t sleep” before you run into the cold itself.

Second, don’t pack your daily driving distance too tight. By late month, normal maximum snow depth builds to 58cm in Asahikawa and 47cm in Sapporo, and mountain passes and rural roads need extra margin. Our article on worries about a winter Hokkaido campervan trip answers concerns about driving on snowy roads one by one.

Third, this article doesn’t cover crowding or booking timing around the winter break. For why roads and lodging get crowded as late December approaches the year-end holidays, and how to plan around it, see our Hokkaido New Year’s campervan trip guide if your departure date falls in late December. Use the temperature and snow figures here to choose your gear, and leave crowding and scheduling to that New Year’s guide.

Related Pages

• Hokkaido Winter Temperatures: November–February Lows and Campervan Overnight-Parking Gear [2026]
• Hokkaido in November: Temperature & What to Wear, Early vs. Late Month, Plus Campervan Snow-Road Prep [2026]
• Hokkaido in October: Temperature and What to Wear, Early vs. Late Month Feel Like Different Trips [2026]
• Hokkaido New Year’s Campervan Trip Guide: First Sunrise, Winter Scenery, and New Year’s Eve Routes [2026-27 Edition]
• Hokkaido Campervans: When Do Studless (Winter) Tires Get Fitted? A Roundup of Rental Companies’ Winter Tire Policies [2026 Edition]
• Winter Overnight Parking in a Hokkaido Campervan: What to Check to Sleep Warm