Hokkaido in Summer 2026: Weather, Best Places & Festivals

Summer is one of the best times to visit Hokkaido, where the blooming lavender and unspoiled lush greenery call for further exploration. However, where are the best places to go during the summer season, and how to arrange an ideal Hokkaido itinerary? Follow this ultimate guide with travel ideas and tips to plan your summer Japan trip to Hokkaido.

Hokkaido Weather in Summer

Compared to the Honshu mainland of Japan, Hokkaido in summer (July to August) is far from heat and high humidity. Instead, Hokkaido's weather in summer is cool and pleasant, with plenty of sunny days and refreshing dry air for all kinds of outdoor activities, from flower fields to cycling to mountain hiking.

• The average summer temperature in Hokkaido: no more than 30℃ (about 86℉)
• What to wear in Hokkaido in summer: T-shirt, long trousers in nature, and a light coat for nights out

Farm Tomita in Furano

Hokkaido Weather in July

• Average temperature: from 16 to 23℃ (61 to 73℉)

The rising temperature in July brings the peak season for lavender viewing in Furano and Biei, paired with the refreshing air of early summer, ideal for your leisurely tour without sweat.

Hokkaido Weather in August

• Average temperature: from 18 to 26℃ (64 to 79℉)

August can be the hottest month in Hokkaido (inland areas can reach 30℃, 86℉), yet with lower humidity and clear skies for mountain hiking. Coastal areas still remain cool for retreat, and most cities are bustling with fireworks festivals in August.

Costs & Crowds

Summer marks the peak tourist season in Hokkaido, when you may encounter swelling crowds from locals and abroad and relatively rising prices, but the good news is that they are not as crazy as those in Tokyo or Kyoto levels.

A summer trip to Hokkaido is not a suffocating pack journey, since the gathering of visitors is also well separated by the isolated sightseeing sites on this vast island, far from visual suffering. While transport fees and hotel rooms are more expensive in Hokkaido during summer, they are still cheaper than in Kyoto and Tokyo. However, always book in advance to secure your ideal room and a more affordable price.

Best Places to Visit in Hokkaido in Summer

Furano & Biei for Idyllic Flower Watching

The colorful towns of Furano and Biei are top destinations in Hokkaido during the summer, when the flower fields bloom in vibrant colors: from the fancy lavender peaks from mid-July to early August, to golden cosmos and sunflowers last till late September. Imagine taking a leisurely stroll through the flower fields to the local farmhouse for cheese and wine, as well as freshly made lavender-flavored ice cream in a fancy purple.

Lavender Ice Cream

Daisetsuzan, Akan & Shiretoko Parks for Outdoors

Hokkaido's various national parks are the best places for your summer adventure. Daisetsuzan, the largest national park in Hokkaido, has volcanic mountains and scenic gorges for your immersive hike; a little further to Akan Mashu, featuring tranquil lake scenery for cycling and water fun with Ainu cultures; or, deep into the Shiretoko Peninsula to explore its unspoiled wilderness with deer and Japanese brown bears.

Sapporo & Hakodate for Urban & Festival Fun

The transport hubs of Sapporo and Hakodate are popular bases or the first stop to begin your Hokkaido exploration. During the summer, they are also the top choices for your authentic culture and festival fun. Sapporo, with an almost month-long summer fest, ranging from beer drinking to portable shrines parade. While Hakodate is not only the best spot for stunning night views, it is also bustling with port festivals with fireworks displays.

Lake Toya, Shikotsu & Kushiro for Leisurely Lakeside

For family or visitors who prefer relaxation, then the tranquil lakeside of Toya, Shikotsu, and Kushiro marshland are the ideal choices to spend your summer retreat. Set your camp against the serene Lake Shikotsu, or around Toya with natural hot springs and fireworks night shows. While Kushiro's marshland offers another kind of experience - canoeing through the lake and river, and finding the best angle for resting birds.

Hokkaido Summer Festivals

Lavender Festivals in Furano

Festival	Date	Highlights	Location
Lavender Festa Kamifurano	Jul 11 to 20	Hops and barley beer, night lighting-up event, stage performances	Kamifurano
Nakafurano Lavender Festival & Fireworks	Jul 18	stage performances, fireworks display	Nakafurano

Sapporo Summer Festival

It is a collection of summer festivals with various traditional events that run from July 17 to August 15, 2026, including:

Festival	Date	Highlights	Location
Sapporo Beer Festival	Jul 17 to Aug 12	Beer drinking with Hokkaido dishes	Odori
Hokkai Bon Odori	Aug 13 to 16	Bon Odori dance, taiko drum playing	Odori
Tanuki Festival	Jul 17 to Aug 15	Portable shrines parade, tanuki drum performances, night sales	Tanukikoji
Susukino Festival	Aug 6 to 8	Courtesan and portable shrines parade, YOSAKOI Soran Dance, Susukino Night Fever, street food	Sapporo Station

Fireworks Festivals in Hokkaido

Festival	Date	Location
Makomanai Fireworks Festival	July 11	Kushiro
Kushiro Shimbun Fireworks Festival	July 16	Odori
Hakodate Port Fireworks Festival	July 19	Hakodate
Toyohira River Fireworks Festival	July 31	Sapporo
Jigokudani Demon Fireworks	Thursdays in July	Noboribetsu
Lake Toya Long Run Fireworks Festival	April 27 to October 31	Lake Toya

Hokkaido Summer Travel Tips

Navigate Your Itinerary

Hokkaido is a huge island with separate attractions. Instead of a quick trip throughout the whole island, a long trip with more time to stay and experience is more recommended, especially if the further eastern areas are also on your list.

You can spend 2 to 3 days exploring one single city or national park. For example, a week-long southern city sightseeing including Hakodate, Noboribetsu, and Sapporo, with another 5 or 7-day journey to Daisetsuzan and Shiretoko National Park - feel free to contact us for your ideal itinerary!

Book in Advance

As the peak tourist season, an early booking is always the key to ensuring your Hokkaido summit vacation. From flight tickets to hotel rooms, as well as the Hokkaido Rail Pass for your quick transfer.

Car rental service in Hokkaido during the summer is also busy - make at least 3 months in advance if you are planning a self-driving journey. Or, consider a carefree journey with Odynovo, featuring an itinerary that avoids the crowds, as well as an experienced private driver to handle the long drive and navigate through road crossings with deer and foxes.

Hokkaido Summer Packing List

• A thin coat for early morning chills and lower nighttime temperatures (especially during the mountain hike)
• Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen for UV protection
• Comfortable climbing boots, long trousers, long sleeves, mosquito repellent, and bear bells for hiking
• Cash and small coins for local street food and festival events
• Your driver's license and International Driving Permit for road driving

Sample Itinerary to Discover Hokkaido in Summer

It is always a good idea to discover Hokkaido's stunning nature during a summer visit, and below is a 10-day itinerary including Daisetsuzan, Shiretoko, and Akan Mashu National Park, which is also ideal for an autumn visit to capture the first fall foliage.

Day	Things to Do	Overnight
Day 1-2	Sapporo Clock Tower, Odori Park, Tanukikoji, Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Factory	Sapporo
Day 3-4	Ningle Terrace, Tomita Farm, Shikisai Hill, Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls	Furano
Day 5	Daisetsuzan National Park Hike, Ropeway Rides, Hot Spring Retreats	Daisetsuzan
Day 6-8	Shiretoko National Park	Shiretoko
Day 9	Akan Lake & Ainu Culture	Lake Akan
Day 10	Departure Japan - End of Trip	-

Make Sapporo your first stop to enjoy Hokkaido's urban and festival atmosphere - join the beer garden events in front of Sapporo Station, and admire the traditional taiko performance through the Tanuki street.

Then, begin your eastern nature adventure in Furano and Biei, a nice starting point that highlights your summer holiday with vibrant colors. Follow Daisetsuzan in central Hokkaido, ideal for a lush hike through the scenic gorge - or take a cable car ride instead.

Continuing eastward to the Shiretoko Peninsula, which provides its unspoiled beauty to slow down your pace, from roaring waterfalls to roaming bears along the beach shore. After reaching the east edge of Hokkaido, you will go back to Lake Akan for your return journey. Enjoy the leisure lakeside here while admiring the traditions of the Ainu locals, then head back to Sapporo to complete your Hokkaido journey.