15 Best Winter Tours in Hokkaido

Winter is Hokkaido’s high season, December to March, with snow on the ground almost everywhere and short days. The best winter tours pick one thing, a snow park, a zoo or an illumination, and do it properly.

1.Hokkaido Classic Fun Photo-Op Day Tour: Winter-Limited Optional Snowmobile Experience + Popular Photo-Op + Magical Illumination Tour | Departing from Sapporo (Multiple itineraries available / Chinese and English service)

A long Hokkaido day trip links Biei’s snowy hills, Blue Pond and Furano’s lit Ningle Terrace, with optional snowmobiling and round-trip transport.

Most Popular★ 4.7

“Unfortunately a combination or having to make an unscheduled pick up of missing tour members and our bus breaking down meant we missed our restaurant lunch leaving us to eat lunch at 3.30pm. Our guide was lovely and very apologetic but it did affect the…”

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2.Hokkaido Asahiyama Zoo & Shikisai-no-Oka & Biei Christmas Tree & Ningle Terrace Day Trip: Departing from Sapporo (Winter option: Snowmobile)

Review this Sapporo day trip to Asahiyama Zoo, Biei’s winter sights, Shikisai-no-Oka and Ningle Terrace, with an optional snowmobile ride.

★ 4.6

“Just finished an incredible Hokkaido tour and honestly, it exceeded all expectations! Our visit to Arashiyama Zoo was such a unique experience-being able to get closer to the animals in a natural, snowy setting made it feel very different from typical zoos. It was especially…”

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4.Bibai Snow Land Ski Tour from Bibai

Spend up to five hours at Bibai Snow Land with tubing, snow rafting and mini-snowmobiling, plus practical advice on transport, packages and snow conditions.

★ 4.8

“The staff has a great service mind. Basic facilities such as restrooms and the dining area are good. The snow activities are suitable for families and children.”

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5.Optional Snowmobile | Hokkaido Winter Day Tour | Asahiyama Zoo Penguin Walk & Ningle Terrace Illumination | Multiple Routes Available

Review of the Biei and Furano day tour from Sapporo, with stop-by-stop advice, seasonal caveats, guide details, timing and value.

★ 4.7

“A full day is definitely worth it for flower viewing in Furano. If you visit during blooming season with good weather, the whole world feels colorful. Many thanks to our driver and guide for their care, making this trip easy and enjoyable!”

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6.Hokkaido Biei Furano Day Tour: Shikisai-no-Oka, optional snowmobile in winter, Shirogane Blue Pond, Shirahige Waterfall, Ningle Terrace

Explore Biei and Furano from Sapporo, from flower hills and blue water to winter snowmobiles, with practical advice on timing and value.

★ 4.7

“This tour has guides who can communicate in Chinese, Japanese, and English. I don't recommend this itinerary for people who only speak Korean like me. My husband and I were the only Korean people; most of the people were Chinese. Please keep this in mind…”

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7.Hokkaido Winter Hot Spots | Asahiyama Zoo, Shirohige Waterfall, Shirogane Blue Pond, Biei Christmas Tree One-Day Tour (Departing from Sapporo)

See Asahiyama Zoo, Biei’s Christmas Tree, Shirahige Waterfall, and Blue Pond on a long winter day trip from Sapporo.

★ 4.7

“This was a huge bang for our buck! Our tour guide, Lucy, was witty, knowledgeable and provided us with candid advice about what to eat and experience at each stop so that we weren't overcharged. Our driver, Mr. Furuhira, maneuvered through narrow roads expertly and…”

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8.Hokkaido Noboribetsu Day Tour | Kyogoku Fuki-dashi Park, Lake Toya (Optional Snowmobile in Winter), Showa-shinzan Bear Ranch, Noboribetsu Jigokudani Day Tour | Departing from Sapporo

See Lake Toya, Showa-shinzan Bear Ranch and Noboribetsu Hell Valley on a Sapporo day tour, with an optional winter snowmobile ride.

★ 4.8

“We took the Hokkaido Noboribetsu day tour on March 21st. Our tour guide, Huang Lei (Guide Huang), provided detailed explanations of the attractions, managed our time perfectly, and was very professional and humorous. It was a fantastic trip, highly recommended!”

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9.Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort Skiing/Snow Fun Day Trip from Sapporo

Spend a winter day at Sapporo Kokusai, with round-trip transport, powder snow, varied slopes, and optional gear, lift tickets, sledding, or lessons.

★ 4.6

“Hinghly recommended tour if visiting Sapporo. My family and I had a wonderful time, we tried skiing and snow sleding, it was super fun. . View at the mountain cafe was the highlight. Plenty of restos to choose from. Bus was very convenient and on…”

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11.Shikotsu Lake Ice Falls Festival, Lake Toya, Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley), and Snow World Toya Day Trip

See Noboribetsu’s steaming Hell Valley, Lake Toya and a winter ice festival on a Sapporo day trip, with optional Toya snowmobiling.

★ 4.8

“The tour guide didn't properly handle the pre-trip communication, and I didn't receive a contact email, which made it difficult to find the tour leader. Also, I was the one who registered, so why is it showing my companion's name? That's strange.”

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12.Sapporo Departure: Day Trip to Big Buddha, Jozankei, Lake Toya & Noboribetsu: Volcano/Lake View/Winter Snowmobiling

See Hokkaido’s volcanic valleys, Lake Toya and seasonal sights on a full-day Sapporo bus tour, with optional snowmobiling, ropeway and bear ranch visits.

★ 4.8

“The scenery was beautiful, and it was great value for money! Our tour guide was a very friendly woman, and we visited many places. We even went to a bear farm, and the bears were so cute! They'd even wave at you when you gave…”

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13.Romantic Hokkaido Noboribetsu Day Trip | Lake Toya Observatory (optional snowmobiling in winter) + Showa-shinzan Bear Ranch + Lake Hill Farm + Noboribetsu Hell Valley (Departing from Sapporo)

Review this Sapporo day trip to Lake Toya, Lake Hill Farm, Showa-shinzan Bear Ranch and Noboribetsu Hell Valley, with winter snowmobiling optional.

★ 4.7

“Our tour guide Mila was friendly and explained things clearly. The itinerary was good value for money as we got to visit many places in one day.”

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14.Shirogane Blue Pond & Ningle Terrace Dual Illumination & Dusk Christmas Tree & Shirahige Waterfall & Shikisai-no-Oka Winter Dual Illumination Day Tour

See Biei’s winter sights on a guided day trip, from Shikisai-no-Oka and Shirahige Falls to Blue Pond and Ningle Terrace after dark.

★ 4.8

“A day trip where you don't have to wake up early is fantastic! It's wonderful to visit all the desired attractions without having to arrange transportation. The tour guide was excellent at organizing everything and provided very detailed explanations! The group members were punctual, which…”

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5.0Snowshoeing Adventures in a Winter Wonderland – Sapporo$224.02 5.0Sapporo Winter : Asahiyama Zoo (Penguin Fun & Snowmobile)9 hours - 1 day$58 4.7Hokkaido 1-Day Highlights Tour: Asahiyama Zoo, Biei Blue Pond, Ningle Terrace (Departing from Sapporo – optional winter snowmobiling – multiple routes available)$41.49 4.8Hokkaido Winter Full-Day Tour | Penguin Walk, Platinum Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls, Forest Elf Terrace | Departure from Sapporo, Chinese and English Tour Guide$49.79 4.3Hokkaido Asahiyama Zoo+Ningle Terrace+Biei Farm Snow Play1 day$58 4.5Hokkaido Winter Exclusive: Hokkaido Asahiyama Zoo & Internet-Famous Christmas Tree & Shirogane Blue Pond & Ningle Terrace One-Day Tour | Depart from Sapporo$56.79 4.8Penguin Fun & Snowmobile : Sapporo Winter (Asahiyama Zoo)9 hours - 1 day$58 4.4Hokkaido Winter Limited: Asahiyama Zoo & Shirogane Blue Pond & Shirasu Waterfall & Shikisai-no-Oka (Optional Snowmobile Experience) & Forest Elf Terrace Day Tour$50.49 5.0Half Day – Snow View Rafting in Niseko$111.05 4.7Sapporo | Wonderland Sapporo Snow Park Half-Day Tour | Includes Genghis Khan BBQ | Sapporo City Hotel Pick-up$117.05 4.7Hokkaido Asahikawa Furano Seasonal One-Day Tour: Shikisai-no-Oka Flower Viewing/Winter Asahiyama Zoo/Biei Blue Pond & Ningle Terrace Illumination$51.25 4.8Hokkaido Four Seasons One-Day Tour: Summer Hokuryu-cho Sunflowers, Autumn Asahidake Autumn Leaves, Winter Biei Furano Illumination$63.09 5.0Hokkaido Noboribetsu Day Tour | Lake Toya (Optional Snowmobile in Winter) & Lake Hill Farm & Showa Shinzan & Jigokudani (Hell Valley) & Fukiidashi Park (Matsusui Park) | Multiple Itineraries Available$44.15 5.0Winter Limited, departure from Sapporo: Jozankei snow scenery tour x Lake Shikotsu Ice Falls Festival night view | Hot spring/rafting/hiking optional & lakeside snow ring play one-day tour$94.59 4.9(Hokkaido Winter Illumination) Blue Pond Illumination & Ningle Terrace & Shirahige Waterfall & Shikisai no Oka & Biei Christmas Tree One-Day Tour (Departing from Sapporo)$56.79 4.7Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Snow Activity, & Ningle Terrace Tour10 hours$97 4.4(Snow Viewing Limited) Hokkaido Noboribetsu Jigokudani / Lake Toya / Lake Hill Farm / Showa-shinzan | Optional Snowmobile Experience | Departing from Sapporo | English and Chinese Speaking Guide$50.45 4.9Sapporo Asahiyama Zoo & Forest Elf Terrace Winter Tour$66.25 5.0[Transfer] Limited Winter Service: Private Car Between New Chitose Airport and Niseko! One Way$372.27 5.0Hokkaido Noboribetsu Hell Valley and Lake Toya Day Tour | Mt. Usu Ropeway and Bear Ranch | Summer Jozankei and Winter Snow Park | Departing from Sapporo$44.19 5.0Snowshoe to Spectacular Winter Ice Caves in Hokkaido$205.29