Sapporo Day Tour to Biei & Furano: Choose Blue Pond or Ningle Terrace Illuminations

Leaving Sapporo for the Scenery and Lights of Biei and Furano

Your day begins with a departure from Sapporo, heading for Biei and Furano. This day bus tour lets you choose between Plan A, which brings you to Ningle Terrace in the evening, and Plan B, which takes you to the Blue Pond (Aoi Ike) light-up.

With a later departure, your morning before the tour can be part of the fun. According to the operator, travellers on later-departing tours have said they enjoyed a relaxed hotel breakfast buffet or breakfast at a local market. When you book, check the departure time and plan your breakfast and hotel time around it.

Guides speak Japanese, English and Chinese. Once you have confirmed your preferred guide language and meeting point, set off for a day of seasonal scenery and evening lights.

Choose Your Plan by the Night View You Want

① [Early Bird] Plan A | Nov 27 – Jan 31 The evening highlight is the Ningle Terrace illumination. It suits anyone who wants to stroll forest paths and enjoy the warm glow of the little cabins.

② [Early Bird] Plan B | Nov 27 – Jan 31 The evening highlight is the Biei Blue Pond light-up. It suits anyone who wants to see the pond and its bare, dead trees lit by a special light display.

③ [Early Bird] Plan A | Feb 1 – Mar 31 This is also a plan featuring the Ningle Terrace illumination in the evening. If you are travelling in February or March and want to see the lights in the forest, check this one.

➃ Plan B | Oct 24 – Nov 28 This plan features the Biei Blue Pond light-up in the evening. From autumn

Enjoy Biei's Seasonal Scenery by Day

On the autumn and winter plans, you will enjoy Biei's daytime scenery in addition to the evening light-up. Below are the main stops. Please check the itinerary of your chosen package for the exact spots and order of visits.

A Single Tree on a Snowfield: Biei's Christmas Tree

One sight worth looking out for in the hills of Biei is the "Christmas Tree Tree." In snowy seasons, a quiet scene unfolds: a white hill with a single tree standing on it. The same tree takes on a different feel depending on the colour of the sky and the direction of the light.

The land around the tree is private property, so please do not enter the fields or snowfields. Enjoy the view from the roadside.

For Your Daytime: Snow Fun at Shikisai no Oka or a Stroll Around Biei Station

On itineraries that let you choose between snow play at Shikisai no Oka and a walk around Biei Station, you can spend your daytime the way you like. Lunch is not included in the tour price, so please arrange it yourself.

If you choose snow play, head to Shikisai no Oka in winter. During the snow season it becomes a snowland where you can enjoy activities such as snowmobiling. These experiences cost extra, and what is available depends on snow conditions and operating status. If you are interested, ask your guide on the day and confirm the fee and participation requirements. Please have cash ready for payment.

If you choose a town stroll, head to the area around Biei Station. Have a meal at a restaurant you like or wander the streets at an easy pace, and spend the time slowly before the evening sightseeing.

In the Shirogane Area, See Shirahige Falls and the Blue River

The highlight of the Shirogane area is Shirahige Falls (the "White Beard Falls"), where many streams of water trickle down through the rocks. Looking down from the bridge, you can see the white flow of the falls and the bluish Biei River.

In winter, snow and ice cover the rock face, making a striking contrast with the flowing water. Take in the blue of the river, the white of the snow and the surrounding trees all together. The colours of the view also change depending on the time of day you visit.

After Dark, Head to the Light-Up of Your Chosen Plan

The evening highlights depend on the plan you choose. Plan A takes you to the lights of the Ningle Terrace forest, while Plan B takes you to the light display at the Blue Pond. From the daytime scenery, you move on to the night view that will be the star of your trip.

Plan A's Evening: The Lights of the Ningle Terrace Forest

What you enjoy on Plan A is the illumination of Ningle Terrace, set in a forest in Furano. Small log cabins stand among the trees, and the lights in their windows and along the paths softly illuminate the forest.

In snowy seasons, the cabin roofs and paths are covered in white, making the warm-coloured lights even more striking. Next, stroll along the paths and follow the lights. Enjoy how the view changes depending on where you walk, from the rows of cabins to the glimmers between the trees.

Plan B's Evening: The Light Display at Biei's Blue Pond

On Plan B, your evening destination is the Blue Pond in Biei. Light enters the darkened pond, and the bare, dead trees and the surrounding scenery emerge from the night. Because the lit areas and the colours of the light change, don't just take one photo and move on. Pause for a moment and watch the changes.

In winter, the pond freezes and snow can hide the blue water surface. In that season, the highlight is the light display illuminating the snow-covered pond and trees. You can enjoy a winter face of the Blue Pond that is different from the time of year when the water is visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

■ Can I see both the Blue Pond and Ningle Terrace light-ups? Not necessarily both at night. On Plan A the main evening highlight is Ningle Terrace, and on Plan B it is the Blue Pond. Please check the itinerary of your chosen package for which spots are visited and when.

■ Do all plans depart in the afternoon? Departure times vary by plan. The summer plan departs at 11:10. For the autumn and winter plans, please select your travel date and package, then check the meeting and departure times.

■ Can I see the Blue Pond's blue water in winter? Freezing and snow can hide the water surface. In the snow season, the highlight is the light-up illuminating the snow-covered pond and trees.

■ Are lunch and snow activities included in the price? Lunch is not included. Snow activities such as snowmobiling also cost extra. If you are interested, ask your guide on the day and check the fee, participation requirements and how to pay in cash.

Before You Book

• Your travel date and package name
• Meeting point, departure time and expected return time
• Minimum number of participants and cancellation terms
• The information email sent the day before departure
• Extra fees for lunch and snow activities
• Warm winter clothing and non-slip shoes
• Seats for infants and advance notice for large luggage
• Whether you have enough leeway for plans after you return

Depending on weather, road conditions and facility operating status, stops, time spent at each place and return times may change. When booking, please check the itinerary and participation requirements of your chosen package.

Summary

Leave Sapporo, enjoy the daytime scenery, then head to an evening light-up. Choose Plan A if you want to see the lights of the Ningle Terrace forest, or Plan B if you want to see the light display at the Blue Pond. In summer, you can also choose a plan that combines the flower fields of Farm Tomita with Ningle Terrace.

Once you have decided which night view you want to see, check which package and departure time suit your travel date. Including how you spend your morning, choose the day in Biei and Furano that suits you best.

Check packages and availability