To understand the dynamics of forest canopy with respect to tree growth under the ongoing climate change, climatic factors influencing the annual growth of 13 Abies sachalinensis canopy trees were examined in a cold temperate forest near Nakayama Pass in southwestern Hokkaido, Japan. Linear mixed models were used for the analysis, with explanatory variables of precipitation and mean temperature for periods of seven days and the temperature sum with a threshold temperature of 5 °C during the growing season from three years before growth to the end of that in the growing year. With respect to height growth, precipitation just after bud burst showed a negative effect on growth each year from two years before growth to the end of that in the growing year. The mean temperature around the period of the summer solstice showed a negative effect on growth each year from three years before growth to the end of that in the growing year. The temperature sum showed a weak negative effect only one year before the height growth. These findings suggest that warming during the growing season does not necessarily increase the vertical crown expansion of this species. For water use, a negative effect of precipitation just after bud burst suggests that water deficit does not occur during the earlier stage of height growth.