Sapporo Winter Tours: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, Lake Toya and Noboribetsu – Choosing Between Plan C and Plan D

Leave Sapporo for a Winter Trip to Frozen Lakes and Glowing Ice

Your winter day in Hokkaido begins in Sapporo. This article introduces Plan C, which takes you to the illuminated Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival (Shikotsuko Hyoto Matsuri) at night, and the winter Plan D, which visits Lake Toya, the Showa-Shinzan area, Lake Shikotsu and Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley).

The time before departure is part of the fun, too. Depending on your meeting time, you might have breakfast at your hotel or take your time getting ready. The operator has heard from travellers who enjoyed a hotel breakfast or a morning meal at a local market on tours with a later start.

Guiding is available in Japanese, English and Chinese. Confirm your preferred language and meeting point, dress warmly, and you're ready to go. For the places visited, the order of stops and the expected return time, please check the itinerary of the package you select.

Choose Plan C or Plan D to Suit Your Winter Trip

Plan C | Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival After Dark

If you want to see ice sculptures and glowing night scenery, choose Plan C. This plan visits the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, a winter-only event, during its illuminated hours. The festival admission fee is not included in the tour price and must be paid separately.

Winter Plan D | Lake Toya, Showa-Shinzan Area, Lake Shikotsu and Hell Valley

If you'd like to see Hokkaido's winter highlights, from lakeside views to volcanic landscapes, winter Plan D is a good option. A lakeside snowmobile experience is available as an option, for an additional fee.

Plans C and D differ in what they include and when they run. Choose Plan C if your goal is to see the Ice Festival at night. For the visit time and content at Lake Shikotsu on Plan D, please check your selected itinerary.

Plan C: A Night in the Glowing World of the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

When you arrive at the venue, start by taking in the ice sculptures lit from within. Made with water from Lake Shikotsu, the ice structures show off vivid colours and deep shadows in the light, looking quite different from how they appear in daytime.

Next, try viewing the sculptures up close, then step back to take in the whole venue. The light reflecting on the uneven ice and the rows of large sculptures can completely change the feel of your photos. You can expect to spend about 120 minutes at the venue, though this may be adjusted depending on weather and traffic conditions.

In 2027, the festival runs from January 30 to February 23, with illumination from 16:30 to 20:00. The festival admission fee is not included in the tour price. Please bring cash, and check the entry conditions and fee for your travel date in advance.

Plan D: Enjoy the Winter Views of Lake Toya

When you arrive at Lake Toya, start by looking out over the lake and the surrounding mountains. Lake Toya is a caldera lake formed by volcanic activity, and it is known as a lake that rarely freezes over completely, even in winter. The white snow beside the colours of the water is a view only a winter lakeshore can offer.

Next, look for a spot where you can capture both the lake and the snowy scenery. Including the trees in the foreground or the shoreline will add depth to your photos. Watch your step as you enjoy the quiet winter views along the lake.

Plan D: Mountain Views and Your Choice of Stops in the Showa-Shinzan Area

Next, head to the Showa-Shinzan area. Look toward the reddish-brown slopes of the mountain and you'll find a volcanic landscape very different from the lakeshore. Start by taking in the shape of the mountain and enjoy the scenery unique to this place.

The Bear Park next to Showa-Shinzan and the Mt. Usu Ropeway are paid facilities you can choose between, depending on your preference. Admission and ropeway fares are not included in the tour price. Because of the time available, you cannot visit both, so please choose one if you wish to go.

If you'd like to meet the bears, head to the Bear Park. Start by watching each bear's expression and movements. From the way they relax and the way they gaze back at you, you can sense each bear's personality.

If you'd rather take in the winter scenery from above, head to the Mt. Usu Ropeway. Looking out over the snow-covered mountains from high up can be a highlight of your time in the Showa-Shinzan area.

Noboribetsu: Hell Valley and Its Rising Steam

When you arrive in Noboribetsu, head into the rugged scenery of Jigokudani (Hell Valley). Hell Valley is the site of an old volcanic crater formed by eruptions, and the valley holds many steam vents and hot spring sources. Look around and you'll see white steam rising from between the rocks.

Start by taking in the whole valley, then turn your eyes to the rock faces and the steam. Patches of snow beside terrain that radiates geothermal heat show you a different side of Hokkaido from the lakeshore.

In winter, the areas you can walk may change because of snow and ice, so you'll tour the valley following the guidance given on the day.

Lake Shikotsu: Winter Scenery Along the Lakeshore

When you arrive at Lake Shikotsu, it's time to look out over the lake and the mountains around it. Take in the winter details too, such as the snow-covered shore and the icicles that form along the lakeside.

Please check how Plan D spends its time at Lake Shikotsu separately from the Plan C night visit to the Ice Festival. For visit times and stops, refer to the itinerary you select when booking.

Add Some Snow Fun with a Lakeside Snowmobile Experience

On the winter Plan D, you can join a lakeside snowmobile experience if you wish. Participation is optional, and the fee is paid separately from the tour price.

If you choose to take part, first check the guidance given on the day and get ready. While you ride over the snow, you can enjoy the winter scenery around the lake and the feeling of gliding across the snow. Please confirm the fee, participation conditions and operating status, and have cash ready for payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

■ What is the difference between Plan C and the winter Plan D? The highlight of Plan C is the illuminated Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival at night. The winter Plan D visits Lake Toya, the Showa-Shinzan area, Lake Shikotsu and Noboribetsu Hell Valley, and you can join an optional snowmobile experience for an additional fee.

■ Is the Ice Festival admission fee included in the tour price? No, it is not included and must be paid separately. Please bring cash and check the entry conditions and fee for your travel date.

■ Is the snowmobile experience compulsory? It is an option on the winter Plan D. Participation is voluntary, and the fee is paid separately. Please check the operating status and participation conditions before applying.

■ Are the Bear Park and the Mt. Usu Ropeway included in the tour price? Neither is included, and admission and ropeway fares are charged separately. The time in the Showa-Shinzan area does not allow you to visit both, so please choose one if you wish to go.

■ What time does the tour depart in the morning? Please check the meeting and departure times on the booking page for your chosen package and travel date. Not every plan departs late just because it includes night sightseeing.

■ Can I get guidance in Japanese? Guiding is available in Japanese, English and Chinese. Please confirm your preferred language when booking. For groups of 10 or fewer, the driver also acts as the guide, mainly giving brief introductions to sightseeing spots and information on timings.

Before You Book

• Plan C or winter Plan D
• Meeting point, departure time and expected return time
• Available languages and guiding arrangements
• Minimum number of participants and cancellation conditions
• Ice Festival admission fee and having cash ready
• Fees and conditions for any paid facilities or the snowmobile experience you want
• Warm clothing, non-slip shoes and advance notice about luggage
• Whether you have enough time to spare for plans after you return

Please also check the itinerary notification email, which is sent by 17:00 the day before departure. Depending on the weather and road conditions, the stops, length of stay and return time may change.

Summary

Leave Sapporo and head out into winter Hokkaido. Plan C is a good choice if you want to enjoy ice sculptures and glowing night lights, while the winter Plan D is a good option if you want to see lake and volcano scenery and add some snow fun.

The Ice Festival admission fee, Bear Park admission fee, Mt. Usu Ropeway fare and snowmobile experience fee are all paid separately from the tour price. Decide which scenery you want to see and which experiences you'd like to join, then choose the plan that fits your travel date.

Take a look at the details of the Noboribetsu, Lake Toya and Niseko Day Tour from Sapporo.