Spend a day in the furry companionship of bridge-walking red pandas, impressive acrobatic seals, and polar bears mid-splash at Asahiyama, a popular zoo in Japan's far north. Asahiyama Zoo isn’t the typical average animal park with small spaces, instead, its enclosures are massive, open, and built in a way that allows visitors to watch the animals go about their day.

To join this group tour, hop on the Hokkaido Chuo Bus from Sapporo Station and head out for a day with your favorite furry (and feathered) friends. You get around three hours to wander around the zoo, take photos, and maybe even warm up a bowl of shoyu ramen. Just wear good shoes, as the paths are long and occasionally icy if you visit in winter.

If timing works out, you might catch the famous Penguin Walk that happens twice a week, where adorable penguins waddle right past you.

To wrap up, the tour includes a ticket to the Sapporo TV Tower, where you can enjoy sweeping views of the city before heading back, making for an ultra-fun day for the whole family.

・Tour Style: Large Group
・Tour language(s): Japanese Tour Guide, English & Chinese Brochures at the Zoo
・Time Required: 9 hr 55 min
・Departure point: Sapporo Station

Cover three of Hokkaido’s seasonal highlights in a single, well-paced day trip by bus from Sapporo. This triple-hit tour loops through art, food, wildlife, and scenery, giving you ample time at each stop to take in the achingly gorgeous views or grab a local meal.

Green Season Route:
The day starts at the Kan Yasuda Sculpture Museum, followed by a lunch break at Asahikawa Ramen Village. You’ll then spend an hour at Asahiyama Zoo, home to cold-climate animals like red pandas, seals, and polar bears. A quick photo stop at the Blue Pond comes next, known for its milky turquoise color caused by mineral-rich spring water. The day ends with a twilight walk through the glowing wooden cabins of Ningle Terrace.

Lavender Season Route:
This version kicks off at Farm Tomita, famous for its flower fields with tulips in May and lavender in full bloom by July until early August. Then it’s a short break at the Blue Pond, followed by lunch at Shirogane Onsen Hotel Park Hills and a photo stop at Shirahige Waterfall. The afternoon is reserved for the zoo.

Both versions depart from ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo and wrap up at the north exit of Sapporo Station by early evening.

・Tour Style: Large Group
・Tour language(s): English/Chinese/Japanese
・Time Required: 11 hr 5 mins
・Departure point: ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo

Lavender soft serve in one hand, camera in the other—this is Hokkaido in peak summer mode. This one-day tour from Sapporo takes you through postcard-perfect stops without the headache of planning a thing.

Start your day at Farm Tomita, where you’ll stroll through rows of blooming lavender, wander under the purple tunnel, and snap that must-have photo with complimentary soft-serve in the foreground. Next, you’ll cruise along Patchwork Road, where fields of buckwheat, wheat, and potatoes weave together into a natural quilt.

En route to Shirogane Blue Pond, you’ll pass the iconic Seven Stars Tree, a perfectly sculpted natural landmark. Before lunch, stop at Takushinkan Museum to admire not only the visual art but also the architecture of the museum, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light.

In the afternoon, step inside a real-life monet painting by experiencing the flower-swept hills of Shikisai-no-Oka (Four Seasons Hill). Spanning 15 hectares, this bloom-filled slope bursts with zinnias, sunflowers, and lupines.

There's time to stop by the Furano Herb Garden, perfect for picking up aromantic soaps, essential oils, and the golden elixir of Furano honey. Your final stop takes you into the forest glow of Ningle Terrace, a small village of wooden cottages set into towering trees, with handmade crafts for sale.

・Tour Style: Large Group or Private
・Tour language(s): English/Chinese/Japanese
・Time Required: 10 hours
・Departure point: Odori Park Exit 31 or Sapporo Station

For a different take on Hokkaido’s countryside, this day trip changes with the season and includes plenty to please foodies.

While this tour shares a stop at Blue Pond with the previous itinerary, it skips Takushinkan Museum and Ningle Terrace in favor of more time in the flower fields and a longer lunch break. The meal-inclusive buffet package is worth opting for, featuring local specialties and all-you-can-eat Hokkaido cantaloupe during harvest season.

Depending on your travel dates, your day will include a stop at either the Blue Pond (June and late August to September) or Kamifurano’s Dream Shell Road (July to mid-August).

You’ll drive through the rolling scenery of Patchwork Road, spend time at Shikisai-no-Oka with optional tractor rides and alpaca visits, and lastly visit Farm Tomita.

As a bonus, show your voucher at the Sapporo TV Tower to receive a limited-edition Hokkaido postcard illustrated by local artist Ahiru.

・Tour Style: Large Group
・Tour language(s): English/Chinese/Japanese
・Time Required: 10 hours 30mins
・Departure point: Odori Park Exit 31 or Sapporo Station

Prepare for an adventure to the south that fuses city lights, open-air history, coastal vibes, and wild nature into two relaxed, perfectly paced days. Great for first-timers or anyone who wants to see Hakodate without handling any of the logistics.

On Day 1, guests visit the Historical Village of Hokkaido, where restored Meiji- and Showa-era buildings offer a glimpse into Hokkaido’s frontier days. After a hot pot lunch featuring local seafood and vegetables, you’ll head south to Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, once a thriving trade port and now home to shops and waterfront views. In the evening, ride up Mount Hakodate for its famous “Million Dollar Night View,” then settle in at a hotel with public baths and a generous breakfast spread the next morning.

Day 2 starts at Goryokaku Park, a star-shaped Western-style fort known for its seasonal beauty and panoramic views from Goryokaku Tower. You’ll then stop by the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden, where monkeys soak in hot springs during the colder months. After lunch at Hakodate Morning Market, famous for fresh seafood and local produce, you’ll head to Onuma Quasi-National Park to wrap up the day among lakes, volcanic scenery, and Mount Komagatake in the distance.

・Tour Style: Large Group
・Tour language(s): Basic English / Japanese
・Time Required: 2 Days
・Departure point: Sapporo Tokyu REI Hotel Lobby

Trade Sapporo’s city buzz for Hokkaido’s dramatic coastlines, remote cliffs, and whisky tastings on this offbeat day trip via bus.

Commence with a scenic drive toward the Shakotan Peninsula to reach Cape Kamui, known for its jagged cliffs, strong winds, and sweeping views over the Sea of Japan. Next, stop at the Shimamui Coast, a cobalt-blue stretch of shoreline reached by a narrow tunnel that opens up to a cinematic ocean view. Bring a jacket, as the winds here are strong year-round.

After a local lunch, the tour stops at the Yoichi Distillery, where you can walk through the original whisky warehouses and taste a few bottles you won’t find at convenience stores (tastings are optional and paid on-site).

The day ends in Otaru, a port town that looks straight out of a vintage postcard. You’ll have time to wander along the canal, duck into old glass shops and music box stores, and grab an Otaru beer while taking in the picturesque town.

On select days, the tour includes time for a view from Mount Tengu.

・Tour Style: Large Group
・Tour language(s): English/Chinese/Japanese
・Time Required: 9 hours 50 mins
・Departure point: Sapporo Station North Exit

Sail into a coastal dream, with a stop for some chocolate-y goodness! This variation builds on the previous Cape Kamui tour by swapping out whisky tastings for a 45-minute Otaru Canal cruise and a stop at the charming Shiroi Koibito Park.

You’ll still get those sweeping sea views at Cape Kamui and Shimamui Coast, but this route feels more romantic than rugged.

After arriving in Otaru in the afternoon, you’ll have almost 2 hours to explore the retro port town before boarding a 45-minute canal boat ride. Chocolate lovers will appreciate the final stop at Shiroi Koibito Park, a whimsical space of gardens and European-style architecture, gardens, and chocolate-themed souvenirs.

・Tour Style: Group Tour
・Tour language(s): English & Japanese
・Time Required: 9 hr 45 mins
・Departure point: ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo

Departing from Sapporo in the morning, this day trip brings you to Jozankei Tsuruga Resort Spa Mori no Uta in under an hour. Located inside a lush forest, the upscale onsen feels worlds away from city life and features a range of indoor and open-air baths at different temperatures, along with saunas, massage facilities, and a women-only rock bath (available for an extra fee). A buffet lunch is included, served in a sleek alpine-style restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the surrounding woods.

You’ll have around three hours to soak, eat, and reset, before returning to the city by late afternoon.

To join the tour, exchange your confirmation email for a physical ticket at the Sapporo TV Tower Tourist Information Center at least one day in advance. Then, board the bus from Stop 27 at Sapporo Station (Exit 23) on the day of the tour.

・Tour Style: Group Tour
・Tour language(s): Japanese
・Time Required: 6 hrs 20 mins
・Departure point: Sapporo Station

Plunge into Hokkaido’s fiery depths with two epic routes! This day trip from Sapporo is an easy way to reach some of Hokkaido’s most dramatic scenery—whether it’s the bubbling geothermal trails of Noboribetsu or the glassy blue of Lake Toya, seen from Silo Observatory.

Depending on the day of the week, the itinerary changes. One version (Mon/Wed/Fri) takes you into Edo-era Japan at Date Jidaimura with lunch and ninja-themed fun, while the other (Tues/Thurs/Sat) is all about the volcanoes of Showa Shinzan and lakeside ropeway views. Both routes include time to explore Hell Valley and a lookout point before heading back to the city.

・Tour Style: Group Tour
・Tour language(s): English/Chinese/Japanese
・Time Required: 10 hrs
・Departure point: ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo

Short on time but still want to see the best of Sapporo? This half-day tour is for those who want to see the city without spending all day on a bus or train. Unlike the far-reaching regional tours, this one stays within the city.

The morning route stops at the seafood market, Mt. Okura Ski Jump Stadium, and the chocolate-themed Shiroi Koibito Park.

With the afternoon route, you'll head to Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill instead of the market, while still getting that Olympic view from Mt. Okura.

Both include a Sapporo TV Tower ticket you can use later, whenever the mood for skyline views hits.

・Tour Style: Group Tour
・Tour language(s): Chinese/English/Japanese/Korean
・Time Required: 4 hrs 30mins
・Departure point: Chuo Bus Regular Sightseeing Bus Counter, Sapporo Station

If you want to make the most of your time in Hokkaido without dealing with weather delays or transit gaps, a bus tour is your best bet. Especially in winter, when snow makes travel tricky, these tours offer comfort, reliability, and access to places you’d struggle to reach on your own.

Many travelers walk away surprised at how much they can see without the usual stress of planning or driving.

If you're mapping out your trip, make sure at least one of these Hokkaido bus tours is on your list.

* Tour packages may be subject to discontinuation depending on the period.
* Depending on the tour package, the visited destinations may vary by season. For detailed information, click the link and select "See More" to access detailed descriptions, including boarding locations and schedules for each tour.