Biei, Furano Lavender, Ningle Terrace & Melon Buffet Bus Tour

Hokkaido’s winter lavender comes with a surprise: at Farm Tomita, purple flowers can bloom in a greenhouse even while snow marks the season outside. This day trip from Sapporo links that unusual stop with Biei’s countryside sights, including Biei Shrine and the famous Christmas Tree No Ki.

I like two things about this tour: the bus takes care of a long, complicated day of driving, and the stops allow time to look around rather than rushing straight back on board. On a summer departure, guide Tom was described as friendly and attentive, and the bus was reported to run on time.

The main consideration is that the tour name covers different seasonal packages. The December to March W3 option does not promise a Yubari melon buffet, and its no-lunch version leaves you to arrange your own food. The day is also long, and there is no restroom on the bus.

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• Winter lavender is grown under glass: The December to March W3 tour visits Farm Tomita, where lavender can be seen in a greenhouse.
• Biei gets several short stops: Ferme La Terre Biei, Biei Shrine, Christmas Tree No Ki, and Bibaushi Station are included in the winter route.
• The Sapporo day runs about ten hours: Departure is at 9:00 am, with a scheduled return at 7:00 pm.
• Lunch is a package choice: W3-1 starts at US$63.09 without lunch; W3-2 starts at US$90.80 and includes Biei pork with seasonal vegetables.
• Summer packages are different: Lavender season options and the melon experience are associated with the summer offering, so check the selected package rather than relying on the tour title.
• Plan for a long coach ride: There is a short service-area stop, but the bus itself has no restroom.

A winter day from Sapporo to Biei and Furano

The W3 winter tour is best understood as a countryside sampler, not a single-attraction visit. You leave Sapporo in the morning, cross Hokkaido by coach, and spend the afternoon moving among Biei and Furano stops before returning to the city in the evening.

That matters because reaching these rural sights independently can take more planning than their simple names suggest. A round-trip transfer lets you see several places in one day without arranging separate train and local transport connections. In exchange, you follow a set schedule and have limited time at each stop.

The supplied winter timing begins at 9:00 am and ends around 7:00 pm. That is a full day, with much of it spent on the road. The guide speaks English, Chinese, or Japanese, though the specific language available on your departure should be confirmed when booking.

The route and stop lengths may change with traffic and weather. Seasonal timing can shift, too: flower, foliage, and snowfall periods are affected by temperatures, so a calendar date cannot guarantee a particular view.

From the Sunagawa rest stop to Ferme La Terre Biei

After leaving Sapporo, the coach travels about 45 minutes to Sunagawa Service Area for a ten-minute break. It is a quick chance to stretch and use the facilities before the longer drive onward. Bring a drink or a small snack if you like having supplies close at hand, but remember the stop is brief.

The next leg takes about one hour and 55 minutes. You reach Ferme La Terre Biei at 11:50 am, with an hour to explore on your own. This is the tour’s main lunch opportunity, but the details depend on the package you choose.

W3-2 includes a meal of Biei pork and seasonal vegetables. Its ingredients can change according to availability, and the package costs more than the no-lunch option. If you choose W3-1, you may buy bread at Ferme La Terre, but food can sell out. No-lunch participants cannot use the indoor dining seats or restaurant facilities, so do not count on settling in for a leisurely meal inside.

The lunch package must be booked at least seven days before departure, and seats are limited. If you need a vegetarian, vegan, or allergy-friendly meal, an additional processing fee of 2,200 yen per person applies. The operator does not take responsibility for food allergies, so check ingredients and make your own decision about what is safe to eat.

Biei Shrine and the countryside photo stops

At 1:00 pm, the bus reaches Biei Shrine for a 20-minute self-guided visit. The short stop makes this more of a pause than a long cultural visit, but it gives you time to look around and take a breather between scenic stops.

At 1:35 pm, you have 20 minutes at Christmas Tree No Ki. The tree is on farmland, so the rules here are especially important: stay on the paved public road, and do not enter fields or private property. You can take photos from the roadside. This is a place to respect the working countryside, not treat a field as a public photo set.

The next stop, Bibaushi Station, comes at 2:00 pm and lasts 15 minutes. It is a brief look at a local railway station, not a chance to wander onto the tracks. Never walk on the rails, and do not pass through the ticket gate unless you are boarding a train.

These stops are short by design. If you want hours to explore Biei at your own pace, a bus tour may feel restrictive. If you value seeing several notable spots in one day without driving, the schedule makes practical sense.

Farm Tomita’s greenhouse lavender

Farm Tomita is scheduled for 2:50 pm, with 30 minutes to look around. In summer, the farm is known for its flower fields; the winter W3 description instead points to lavender blooming inside a greenhouse. That indoor display is the distinctive seasonal detail, and it offers a different kind of flower visit from the broad summer fields.

Keep expectations tied to the season and weather. Flowering dates can shift with temperature, and the tour notes that seasonal sights may appear earlier or later than usual. Thirty minutes is enough for a focused visit, but not a long, unhurried stay across a large property.

This is also where the tour name can confuse people. The summer offering is linked with lavender and Yubari melon, and the summer departure feedback specifically mentions both flowers and cantaloupe. The winter W3-1 and W3-2 packages supplied here are dated December through March and do not specify a melon buffet. If eating melon is your priority, check that the exact summer package you select includes it.

Furano Winery and the return to Sapporo

At 3:40 pm, the bus stops at Furano Winery for 30 minutes of independent time. The stop adds a Furano visit after the Biei portion of the day. The supplied details do not specify a tasting or any included purchase, so treat it as a short winery visit rather than a guaranteed wine experience.

The ride back includes a 15-minute stop at Iwamizawa Park, followed by about 50 minutes to Sapporo. The planned return is 7:00 pm at the Sapporo Station North Exit Group Bus Drop-off Area. Traffic or weather can alter the timing, so avoid making a tight evening connection or booking a fixed activity immediately afterward.

There is no restroom on the coach. Make use of facilities at the service-area stop and other places where available, and keep conversations quiet so the long ride stays comfortable for everyone. Suitcases are allowed, though oversized items may be refused, and the operator is not responsible for lost luggage.

What the price buys, and what it does not

The W3-1 no-lunch package starts at US$63.09. For a full day of round-trip transport from Sapporo, a multilingual guide, insurance, and several stops in Biei and Furano, that can be useful value, especially if you do not want to piece together rural transport yourself. The tour also includes BicCamera and SAPPORO DRUG STORE coupons, though their value depends on whether you plan to shop.

W3-2 starts at US$90.80 and includes Biei pork with seasonal vegetables. That is US$27.71 more than the starting price for W3-1. Consider it if you prefer to have lunch arranged and do not want to risk limited food availability at Ferme La Terre. Choose the cheaper option only if you are comfortable buying food at your own expense and eating outside the restaurant facilities.

The starting prices are package prices, not a promise that every seasonal feature is included. Summer dates, winter dates, meal choices, and the named attractions vary. Read the package title and dates carefully before paying, particularly if you are booking for the melon buffet or expecting a specific stop such as Ningle Terrace.

Ningle Terrace is subject to entry restrictions because of high visitor numbers. If entry is not possible, the tour may replace it with Torinuma Park. However, the listed winter W3 stop sequence does not include Ningle Terrace, so do not assume it is part of this particular winter day unless your selected package says so.

Who should choose this bus tour

I’d choose this trip if I were staying in Sapporo and wanted to see several rural Hokkaido sights without renting a car or coordinating local connections. It suits people who are content with short independent visits, appreciate having a guide and driver, and want one day to cover both Biei and Furano.

Families should note that infants and children count toward the passenger headcount. Children aged zero to three ride free if they do not occupy their own seat. Children up to age 11 must be with a paying adult, and those aged 12 or older pay the adult rate.

I would think twice if you dislike long coach rides, need a restroom on board, or want extended time at each site. The tour is also not recommended for pregnant women. Dress warmly, especially for the winter package, and arrive at the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo meeting point 15 minutes before the 9:00 am departure. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refunded.

Should you book it?

Book the winter W3 tour if you want a convenient Sapporo day out with Biei’s roadside sights, a greenhouse lavender stop, and an included lunch option. The strongest practical advantages are the round-trip transport and the number of places covered in one day.

Skip it if the main reason you are booking is an all-you-can-eat Yubari melon buffet or a summer lavender field visit. Those features belong to a different seasonal offering, and the December to March W3 package does not promise them. Match the dates and package name to the experience you actually want, then decide whether the longer bus day is worth the convenience.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

The meeting point is the first-floor lobby of ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo, at 2-9, Nishi 1 Cho-me, Kita 3 jo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo. Arrive 15 minutes before the 9:00 am departure.

Where does the tour return?

The scheduled return is at 7:00 pm at the Sapporo Station North Exit Group Bus Drop-off Area.

Is lunch included?

Only in the with-lunch package. W3-2 includes Biei pork and seasonal vegetables. W3-1 does not include lunch, and no-lunch participants cannot use Ferme La Terre’s indoor dining seats or restaurant facilities.

Does the winter package include a Yubari melon buffet?

The December to March W3-1 and W3-2 package details do not specify a melon buffet. Check the exact seasonal package before booking if melon is important to you.

Can I see lavender on the winter tour?

The winter package visits Farm Tomita, where lavender may be seen blooming in a greenhouse. Flowering periods can shift with temperatures, so exact seasonal conditions are not guaranteed.

Is Ningle Terrace included?

Ningle Terrace has entry restrictions, and Torinuma Park may replace it if entry is not possible. The supplied winter W3 stop sequence does not list Ningle Terrace, so confirm the stops for your selected package.

Is there a restroom on the bus?

No. The bus does not have a restroom. The route includes a ten-minute stop at Sunagawa Service Area.

What languages does the guide speak?

A guide speaking English, Chinese, or Japanese is included. Confirm which language is available for your departure when booking.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. Children aged zero to three are free if they do not occupy a separate seat. Children aged zero to 11 must travel with a paying adult, and children aged 12 or older pay the adult rate. Infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount.

What happens if weather or road conditions change the schedule?

The route and timing may be adjusted because of weather or road conditions. The operator may cancel the tour in extreme weather, in which case you can reschedule or request a full refund. If a facility closes after the tour has started, no refund is issued.