Day Trip from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Biei and Ningle Terrace in Winter

Enjoy a Relaxed Breakfast, Then Head from Sapporo into Winter Hokkaido

Enjoy your breakfast, get ready at your own pace, and make your way to the meeting point in Sapporo. With a 10:45 departure, this tour is easy to join even if you prefer not to rush your morning.

With rest stops along the way, you will first head to Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa. After that, you will visit the Christmas Tree in Biei and the Shirogane Blue Pond, then continue in the evening to Ningle Terrace in Furano.

This is a guided group tour, and admission to Asahiyama Zoo is included in the price. Leave the winter driving and the transfers between sights to someone else, and simply enjoy the scenery changing outside your window.

First Stop: Asahiyama Zoo and Its Winter Animals

When you arrive at Asahiyama Zoo, you will watch the animals, including the penguins. Some stop to look around, others rest close to their companions. If you pay attention to the little gestures, you will start to notice how each bird is different.

When enough snow has fallen, the "Penguin Walk" is another winter highlight. On days when it is held, watch the penguins trudge through the snow. Whether the walk takes place, and whether you can see it, depends on factors such as the scheduled time, snow conditions and the animals' condition.

Allow about two hours at the zoo. Take your time observing the animals that catch your eye and enjoy the zoo in its winter setting.

Next: The Christmas Tree on a Hill in Biei

After the zoo, you will head to the hills of Biei. The "Christmas Tree" is a single tree standing on a white snowfield, set against a wide sky and the gentle curves of the hills.

Look beyond the shape of the tree itself to the color of the sky and the light falling on the snow. Depending on the time of your visit and the weather, the same winter scene can show a completely different face.

The surrounding land is privately owned farmland. Please do not walk into the fields or snowfields, and follow your guide's instructions when viewing the tree.

At the Shirogane Blue Pond, a Winter Scene Unique to the Season

Next is the Shirogane Blue Pond, where dead trees stand in the water. In midwinter the pond freezes and is covered in snow, turning into an all-white landscape. This season shows a different side of the pond from its famous blue surface, and it is a highlight in its own right.

On December and January itineraries you will see the illumination, while on February itineraries you will enjoy the snowy scenery in daylight. During the illumination, watch how the changing light plays across the trees and the snow. On daytime itineraries, the white surface of the pond and the silhouettes of the trees leave a lasting impression.

Finally, Ningle Terrace and the Lights in the Forest

Your last stop is Ningle Terrace in Furano. Log-cabin shops stand among the trees, and at night the lights in the windows and along the paths illuminate the snowy scene.

Stroll past the little cabins between the trees and the snow-topped roofs. It is a different mood from the zoo by day and the Biei hills, a time to enjoy the glow of lights in the forest.

During the closed period in November, or because of winter traffic restrictions or weather, the visit may be replaced by a stop at the Furano Marche.

After your walk, you will return to Sapporo, with arrival planned for around 21:05.

FAQ

■ Will I definitely see the Penguin Walk? Not necessarily. It is usually held from late December to mid-March, when enough snow has fallen, but the time and number of walks vary depending on snow conditions and the animals' condition. Please check the information for your travel date, including whether a walk will be held during the tour's time at the zoo.

■ Will we see the Blue Pond illumination? On December and January itineraries you will see the illumination, and on February itineraries the snowy scenery in daylight. For other dates, please check the itinerary for your travel date. In midwinter, freezing and snow cover mean the blue water may not be visible.

■ Will we definitely visit Ningle Terrace? Due to closed periods, traffic restrictions, weather or other conditions, the visit may be replaced by a stop at the Furano Marche.

■ What is included in the price? Bus transport, a guide and admission to Asahiyama Zoo are among the inclusions. Meals are not included, so please bring money for lunch and other expenses.

■ What are the departure and return times, and which languages are available? The tour departs Sapporo at 10:45 and is scheduled to return around 21:05. Guidance is available in Japanese, English, Chinese and Cantonese. Please confirm the meeting point and language availability at the time of booking and in the information sent after you book.

■ Can children join? The tour is open to ages 3 and over. For conditions such as child fares, please check the latest information for the plan you are booking.

Before You Book

• Check the meeting point and arrive 10 minutes before departure
• Check the status of the Penguin Walk and the itinerary for your travel date
• Prepare warm clothing, a hat, gloves and non-slip shoes
• Check the cost of meals and the cancellation and change conditions

Arrival times and the itinerary may change depending on traffic and weather. Please check the booking page for the latest details.

Summary

Spend a relaxed morning at your hotel, watch the animals at Asahiyama Zoo at midday, then continue to the white hills and Blue Pond of Biei and the evening glow of Ningle Terrace. It is a journey through a winter Hokkaido that changes with the hours, all in a single day.

A lone tree on a snowfield, small lights glowing in the forest. Beyond the city of Sapporo, scenes you will want to capture in photos are waiting. Why not add a day of animals and snowy landscapes to your next Hokkaido trip?

For the latest information, please see the booking page.