Winter Day Trip from Sapporo: Noboribetsu Hell Valley and the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival by Bus

Leave Sapporo in the Morning for a Day of Winter Hokkaido

This day tour leaves Sapporo at 7:50 am and returns around 6:00 pm. In one day, you will see two of Hokkaido's signature winter sights: Noboribetsu and the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival.

Guiding is available in English and Chinese. If fewer than 12 people join, the tour may run with a driver only and no guide on board.

Along the way, the windows frame snow-covered mountain ranges, lakeside viewpoints and other classic winter scenery. Getting around Hokkaido in the snowy season can be tricky on your own, so a round trip from Sapporo makes it easy to see everything at once. First stop: Noboribetsu, the town of rising steam.

Walk Through Noboribetsu Hell Valley, Where Steam Rises from the Earth

Your first highlight is Noboribetsu Hell Valley (Jigokudani), located in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. White plumes of steam rise from all over the valley, and bare reddish-brown and yellow rock faces create a landscape unlike anywhere else.

A sign reading "Noboribetsu Jigokudani" stands at the entrance, and a wooden walkway runs along the valley. In winter, the snow-covered boardwalk stands out sharply against the drifting steam, showing the valley's seasonal side.

Enjoy Lake Toya's Winter Views and Play in the Snow at Snow World Toya

After leaving Noboribetsu, you head to the Lake Toya area. First you stop by the lakeshore, then take in the lake and surrounding mountains from an observation point.

After the views, it's on to Snow World Toya. You can play on the snowfield and enjoy a classic Hokkaido winter, and if you wish, you can try a snowmobile for an additional fee.

From rugged volcanic terrain to a quiet lake and a pure white snowfield, the scenery changes with every stop, which is part of the fun of this tour.

At Last, the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival: A World of Glowing Blue Ice

The highlight of the tour is the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival (Shikotsuko Hyoto Matsuri), held on the shores of Lake Shikotsu. Ice structures of all sizes, built using water from the lake, fill the venue. By day they shine a translucent blue, and after dusk they glow in many colors under the lights.

The site is lined with walls of stacked ice blocks and huge ice pillars covered in icicles. Look up from inside an ice tunnel and you will see the sky through blue ice, a world completely different from the one outside.

In front of ice pillars lit in pink, purple and green, you will find yourself wanting to take photos at every turn. It is a cold, quiet world of ice, in sharp contrast to the volcanic scenery of Noboribetsu.

Back to Sapporo with Hokkaido's Lakes and Snowy Mountains in Your Memory

After sightseeing, you return to Sapporo at 6:00 pm. In a single day, you meet many faces of Hokkaido's winter: a steaming valley, an ice festival and a lake wrapped in snow.

Southern Hokkaido is also dotted with beautiful lake and mountain scenery, such as Lake Toya, where sightseeing boats float with snow-capped Mt. Yotei in the background. Knowing about these views adds more depth to your impression of the region.

Because you are back in Sapporo in the early evening, you can spend the night dining and strolling around the city, a handy perk of a day tour.

Before You Book

• Departure times vary by meeting point, so please check the meeting point and time you booked
• Arrive at least 10 minutes before departure. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refunded
• Snowmobiling at Snow World Toya costs extra
• The Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival admission fee is paid separately on site
• If fewer than 12 people join, the tour may run with a driver only and no guide
• Winter traffic and weather may change the order of stops, the time spent at each, and the return time to Sapporo

Prices, opening hours, stops and plan details are subject to change. Please check the latest information before booking.

Summary

This bus tour takes you from Sapporo to Noboribetsu, Lake Toya and Lake Shikotsu to enjoy Hokkaido's winter scenery in a single day.

First, stroll through Noboribetsu Hell Valley, a volcanic area where steam rises from the snow. Then head to Lake Toya to look out over the winter lake from the shore and an observation point. At Snow World Toya, you can play in the snow and, if you like, try a snowmobile.

The day ends at the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, where you walk among ice sculptures made from the lake's water and enjoy scenery found only in winter.

Volcanoes, lakes, snow play and an ice festival: this tour is for anyone who wants to experience Hokkaido's winter from several angles in one day. You also avoid long drives on snowy roads and can visit multiple winter spots from Sapporo.

Book here: Sapporo Day Tour: Noboribetsu & Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival