Autumn Leaves in AutumnSkiing in winterLet’s go to Hoheikyo Onsen by private car (from Sapporo)

Autumn Leaves in AutumnSkiing in winterLet's go to Hoheikyo Onsen by private car (from Sapporo) - Three hours at Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort

The best part of this outing is the simple contrast: powder snow or autumn color at Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort, followed by a hot bath at Hoheikyo Onsen. You get mountain scenery without arranging several trains, buses, and rental-car details yourself. I like the private vehicle for a group of up to three, especially when … Read more

Hokkaido Asahiyama Zoo and Blue Pond Elf Terrace Day Trip

Hokkaido Asahiyama Zoo and Blue Pond Elf Terrace Day Trip - Blue Pond, where the color keeps changing

Asahiyama Zoo, Biei’s startling blue pond, and Furano’s little forest craft village make this a big day out from Sapporo. You get three very different sides of Hokkaido: close animal viewing, volcanic scenery, and handmade goods in a quiet woodland setting. I like the wide mix of sights and the included zoo ticket, which remove … Read more

Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond Japan

Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond Japan - A Hokkaido buffet with more than 30 dishes

The star of this long Hokkaido day is Asahiyama Zoo, where penguins march, seals glide through clear tubes, and polar bears plunge into the water. You also get the striking blue water of Biei, the snowy spray of Shirahige Falls, and a woodland stop at Ningle Terrace. I like the unusual zoo enclosures and the … Read more

Sapporo: Furano Lavender & Biei Blue Pond Tour with Lunch

Sapporo: Furano Lavender & Biei Blue Pond Tour with Lunch - Biei Blue Pond: 30 minutes of strange blue water

Biei’s Blue Pond is the star of this Hokkaido day out: still water, pale blue and green tones, and bare birch trunks that look almost painted. Add Shirahige Falls, Furano’s huge flower fields, and a buffet lunch with optional Yubari melon, and you get a lot in one long day. I like the small maximum … Read more

Sapporo Winter : Asahiyama Zoo (Penguin Fun & Snowmobile)

Sapporo Winter : Asahiyama Zoo (Penguin Fun & Snowmobile) - The long ride from Sapporo

Asahiyama Zoo’s winter penguin walk is the star here. You also get a snowmobile option across snowy fields, plus a full day of Furano scenery without having to manage icy roads yourself. Guides such as Hong and Sunny have earned special praise for clear updates and thoughtful help. I like the heated bus and the … Read more

Hokkaido Highlights of Flower Blossom, Asahiyama Zoo& Blue pond「Aoi-ike」!

Hokkaido Highlights of Flower Blossom, Asahiyama Zoo& Blue pond「Aoi-ike」! - Biei’s Blue Pond in 30 minutes

Hokkaido’s countryside is the star here: flower fields, Biei’s striking Blue Pond, famous roadside trees, and the wildlife displays at Asahiyama Zoo all fit into one long day from Sapporo. It is an efficient way to reach places that are awkward to combine by train and bus. I like the air-conditioned coach, which turns a … Read more

Sapporo: Furano Flower Sea & Biei Blue Pond Tour w/ Pickup

Sapporo: Furano Flower Sea & Biei Blue Pond Tour w/ Pickup - Blue Pond at 10:30 AM

Biei’s Blue Pond is the star here, and it earns the fuss. Mineral-rich water shifts from blue-green to cobalt in the sun, while pale tree trunks rise from the pond like the remains of a drowned forest. Add Furano’s flower fields, a buffet lunch, and a long but well-filled day, and this is an easy … Read more

[Biei/Furano] One-day sightseeing by private car!

[Biei/Furano] One-day sightseeing by private car! - Farm Tomita: lavender country near Furano

The best part of this 10-hour private trip is simple: you can cover the wide-open countryside of Furano and Biei without driving yourself. From Sapporo, the route reaches flower farms, rolling farm country, Blue Pond, and Shirahige Falls in one long but carefully timed day. I like the door-to-door pickup and the private vehicle. You … Read more

【Private Car】Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls, Ningle Terrace (from Sapporo)

【Private Car】Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls, Ningle Terrace (from Sapporo) - Asahiyama Zoo: the day’s main attraction

Asahiyama Zoo is the anchor of this long day, but the real pleasure is the changing scenery between Sapporo, Asahikawa, Biei, and Furano. You get animals, a blue-tinted pond, a rushing waterfall, and a small craft village without changing trains or deciphering rural bus schedules. I like the private car and the freedom it gives … Read more