Smelt fishing is an activity unique to Hokkaido, where you carve a hole into a frozen lake and fish for 15-cm-long cold-water smelt. Blue Tourism Hokkaido offers tours of various spots around Sapporo where you can go ice-fishing and catch smelt for yourself. They also provide large tents, so you can protect yourself from the cold while enjoying this experience on ice!

Once you're done fishing, grab your haul and prepare to cook up some delicious tempura right on the spot! Weekday plans include a 1,000-yen gift voucher for use at the nearby Gateaux Kingdom Hotel sweets shop, while weekend plans include a luxurious lunch buffet at the hotel. For an additional fee, you can also use the hotel's onsen to warm up with a relaxing soak after a long day on the ice.

・Access: Round-trip transportation between Sapporo Station and local areas via free shuttle bus
・Languages supported: English / Chinese　
・Fees: Experience only: From 6,800 yen / Experience + Hot Springs: From 7,800 yen / Experience + Lunch Buffet: From 8,000 yen / Experience + Lunch Buffet + Hot Springs: From 9,000 yen
・Time required: Approx. 5 hours

Drift ice is a spectacular sight you won't want to miss if visiting Hokkaido in the winter. This special day-trip tour takes you out to Monbetsu and the Sea of Okhotsk to see the powerful drift ice from aboard the icebreaker ship, 'Garinko III IMERU.'

You'll depart Sapporo at 8:30 a.m., stopping at a roadside station for shopping and lunch before reaching the icebreaker ship, Garinko III IMERU. There, you'll board the boat for an exciting cruise as it powerfully breaks through the drift ice.

Along the way, you'll even be able to visit the Okhotsk Tower Ice Sea Observatory, Okhotsk Tokkari Center, and Seal Sea Paradise (additional fees required). So hop aboard, and enjoy the wintery Sea of Okhotsk to the fullest!

After watching the drift ice, you'll head to one of Hokkaido's most iconic ice festivals, the Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival. This event features a fantastic light-up of the massive icefall created by the waterfall plunging down the cliffs. It's another must-see, even for anyone visiting Hokkaido in winter!

・Access: Bus pick-up available from select hotels in central Sapporo
・Languages supported: English
・Price: 14,800 yen per person
・Time required: 1 day

Asahikawa, located in Hokkaido's Dohoku Region, is another spot within day-trip distance from Sapporo. For a selection of the best sightseeing spots in the Asahikawa area, check out the 'Asahiyama Zoo and Shirogane Blue Pond Day Tour.'

This tour bus departs at 7:50 a.m.from the meeting point in front of Sapporo TV Tower 1F Tourist Information Center, arriving at Asahiyama Zoo at 10:30 a.m.. These adorable animals will surely bring a smile to your face as you watch the penguins swim swiftly through the seas and the seals playfully poking their faces out through the ice holes.

Afterward, it's time for lunch. Choose from the Hokkaido Horokanai Soba Set (with seasonal vegetable tempura and inari sushi) or Takigawa Jingisukan Set (with pickles).

At 3:10 p.m., you'll head to Biei to see the snow-covered Shirogane Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls, a frozen waterfall named for its resemblance to a mustache! Here, you'll surely experience the frigid temperatures of Hokkaido.

Lastly, you'll stop by Furano's shopping area, Ningle Terrace, before arriving back in Sapporo at 7:10 p.m.. This fun-filled tour is packed with activities and attractions, and one you'll definitely want to add to your list!

・Access: Tour buses depart from Sapporo TV Tower 1F Tourist Information Center or from your hotel
・Languages supported: English / Mandarin
・Price: 8,500 yen per person
・Time required: Approx. 11 - 11.5 hours

This day-trip bus tour takes you through the suburbs of Sapporo. It includes popular attractions such as Jozankei Onsen Town, the chocolate amusement park Sapporo Shiroi Koibito Park, and the romantic port town of Otaru. This tour is especially recommended for first-time visitors to Hokkaido, as it introduces you to some of Hokkaido's most popular sightseeing spots!

At 9:00 a.m., you'll depart from the Sapporo TV Tower 1F Tourist Information Center, arriving about an hour later at Jozankei Onsen, also known as Sapporo's hot spring getaway. There, you'll have free time to spend as you please exploring either Jozankei Onsen (90 minutes) or Hoheikyo Onsen (60 minutes), where you can soak in the springs and admire the spectacular, snowy scenery.

Between 12:30-3:00 p.m., you'll enjoy a round of sightseeing around Otaru. Otaru is known as 'the town of sushi,' with over 120 sushi restaurants in this one city alone! For lunch, you're on your own, free to pick your own favorite sushi spot to try out.

After lunch, check out some of Otaru's historical spots, such as Kitaichi Glass, Otaru Music Box Museum, Otaru Canal, Hokkaido Bank Head Office, as well as Otaru's old warehouses. Enjoy this romantic city of lights that is none other than Otaru!

From 3:30-4:30 p.m., you'll head back to Sapporo to visit the famous chocolate factory, Shiroi Koibito Park. This museum offers plenty more fun activities, including a factory tour of Hokkaido's renowned confectionery, Shiroi Koibito, and workshops where you can experience making sweets for yourself. The door of the landmark tower is another must-see spot, with live musical puppet shows every hour!

・Access: Tour buses depart from Sapporo Tokyu REI Hotel and in front of Sapporo TV Tower 1F Tourist Information Center
・Languages supported: English / Mandarin
・Price: 9,000 yen per person
・Time required: 1 day

This day tour will take you around the famous hot spring town of Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan, Noboribetsu, and Jigokudani. You'll even get to check out the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival!

Over the course of one day, you'll discover some of central Hokkaido's top sightseeing spots, making it the perfect tour for first-time visitors to Hokkaido. The magnificent natural landscapes are sure to leave any traveler in awe!

At 8:10 a.m., you'll depart from Sapporo TV Tower 1F Tourist Information Center, taking a break at Nakayama Pass before heading for Lake Toya.

Lake Toya is a circular lake born from a volcano, measuring about 11 kilometers from east to west and about 9 kilometers from north to south. Your first stop at 11:15 a.m. will be the Silo Observatory that overlooks Lake Toya, followed by a free meal and tour of the hot spring town (60 min). Toyako Onsen Town has long been a favorite tourist attraction, with souvenir shops selling the town's traditional wooden bear carvings. Be sure to take a look, and maybe buy a few for yourself!

At 1:10 p.m., you'll head to Showa Shinzan and the neighboring Noboribetsu Bear Park. Showa Shinzan is an unprecedented mountain, born in an empty field from a sudden eruption in 1944. Thanks to the geothermal heat, snow melts rather easily around here, with steam still wafting out from the area to this day. It's an incredible sight you're not likely to find anywhere else!

At 5:00 p.m., you'll make your way to Noboribetsu Jigokudani, where you'll explore for about 30 minutes. Jigokudani (lit. 'Hell Valley') was formed from a vast geothermal crater and named for its boiling, steamy springs that make the landscape look like hell itself. Walk along the promenade as you listen to the gushing waters of the steamy springs and feel the tremendous power of nature.

From January 28 to February 23, 2023, you can also participate in the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival. The highlight of this event is the 'hyoto,' or towering ice pillars, formed from the waters of Lake Shikotsu.

In the daytime, watch them sparkle in the sunlight as they gleam in a transparent blue here, known as 'Shikotsuko Blue.' At night, colorful lights illuminate the pillars, transforming the land into a magical fantasy world. However, remember that even magical worlds can get rather cold, so bundle up before heading out!

At around 7:30 p.m., you'll arrive back in Sapporo City, where you can bring your trip to a close with a night on the town. Check out downtown Susukino, one of Sapporo's most popular attractions, and live it up as you enjoy winter in Hokkaido to the fullest!

・Access: Tour buses depart from Sapporo Tokyu REI Hotel and in front of Sapporo TV Tower 1F Tourist Information Center
・Languages supported: English / Chinese
・Price: 5,500 yen per person
・Time required: 9 hr 30 min

A wintertime trip to Hokkaido is bound to be rewarding. With so many wonderful winter landscapes you can only see at this time of year, you'll barely even notice the cold weather! So take a trip, head out on some day tours, and get ready for a vacation packed with fun and unforgettable memories.

Text by:Masakazu

English translation by Krys Suzuki

*Information in article as of January 2023. Please see official websites for the latest updates and information.