Jozankei & Yuni Garden Maple Leaves & Flower Viewing Day Trip

4.8 / 5
46 reviews
600+ booked
Departing from Sapporo
Jozankei & Hoheikyo Dam
  • Jozankei Futami Park —— Suspension bridge offering panoramic views of the valley, red leaves reflecting in the stream, and playful Kappa statues dotted throughout.
  • Hoheikyo Dam —— Ride an eco-friendly electric vehicle through the valley, with colorful foliage on both banks and vibrant autumn leaves reflected in the lake.
  • Lake Shikotsu —— A crystal-clear "non-freezing lake" surrounded by mountains, showcasing a tranquil autumn scenery.
  • Yuni Garden —— European-style gardens blending golden and fiery red autumn leaves with flowers, creating a romantic atmosphere under the autumn sun.
  • Classic Autumn Foliage Route —— Combining valleys, lakes, and gardens, ideal for families, couples, and friends to enjoy together.

What to expect

🍁 Autumn Leaves Season Reminder The timing of the autumn leaves changing color may vary slightly depending on the climate of the year. Based on past experience, the best viewing period for Hoheikyo and Jozankei is from early October to late October. From the gradual colors of early autumn to the fiery red of the entire mountain, it’s all worth looking forward to!

Autumn Leaves Viewing Day Trip Introduction

As Hokkaido welcomes its most colorful season of the year, the entire valley and lakeside are ignited by autumn leaves. This specially designed itinerary departs from Sapporo, taking you on a day trip to four major autumn scenic spots in the suburbs, allowing you to experience the grandeur and romance of nature.

Hoheikyo Dam

The first stop on the itinerary is Hoheikyo Dam, located upstream of Jozankei. It is famous for its magnificent gorge and lake. Every autumn, the autumn leaves cover the valley layer by layer, and the lake surface reflects the colors of the mountains like a mirror. Especially when riding an eco-friendly electric car through the gorge, the autumn leaves on both banks seem to flow before your eyes, making you feel as if you are in a natural art gallery.

Jozankei Futami Park

Next, we head to Futami Park, next to the Jozankei Onsen town. Walk across the iconic Futami Suspension Bridge, and you'll see the banks of the Hohei River valley dyed in fiery red and golden colors, with the stream reflecting the beautiful scenery of the layered forests. There is also a charming "Kappa Legend" here, with Kappa statues scattered throughout the park, adding a touch of fun and liveliness, making it an excellent place for a stroll and photos. The nearby Jozan Gensen Park has a free footbath, so everyone can bring a small towel to dry off after soaking.

Lake Shikotsu

Next, we arrive at Lake Shikotsu, known as "Japan's clearest lake." As a caldera lake, it is particularly charming in autumn, with its clear blue and tranquil surface, surrounded by mountains, and the maple leaves and lake scenery intertwining to create a dreamlike landscape. Lake Shikotsu is also known as the "unfrozen lake" because it does not freeze in winter, but in autumn, it is a magnificent stage where autumn leaves and the blue lake intertwine.

Yuni Garden

Finally, we arrive at Yuni Garden in Yuni Town. This is one of Hokkaido's largest European-style gardens, where autumn flower fields and maple leaves complement each other. The golden ginkgo avenue, fiery red maple trees, and interspersed flowers together create a rich and colorful autumn oil painting. Strolling here, you can not only experience the romantic European atmosphere but also create unique memories of Hokkaido's autumn.

Suitable for

This itinerary has a relaxed pace and a rich combination of attractions, including the grandeur of the gorge, the tranquility of the lake, and the beauty of the garden. It is very suitable for family outings, couple trips, or friends traveling together, allowing you to enjoy the most beautiful autumn colors of Hokkaido in one day.

Stroll through Futami Park, where maple leaves, streams, and the rising steam of hot springs intertwine to create an autumnal poetic scene unique to Hokkaido.
Stroll through Futami Park, where maple leaves, streams, and the rising steam of hot springs intertwine to create an autumnal poetic scene unique to Hokkaido.
Jozankei, located in the outskirts of Sapporo, is one of Hokkaido's most famous hot spring resorts. Hot springs bubble up from the valleys, and hotels line the area, offering captivating scenery in all four seasons: fresh greenery in spring, clear streams
Jozankei, located in the outskirts of Sapporo, is one of Hokkaido's most famous hot spring resorts. Hot springs bubble up from the valleys, and hotels line the area, offering captivating scenery in all four seasons: fresh greenery in spring, clear streams
Located in the heart of Jozankei Onsen, Yubari Park is one of the best places to experience onsen culture. Here, several natural hot spring vents release plumes of steam, and the air is filled with a faint aroma of sulfur, allowing visitors to truly feel
Located in the heart of Jozankei Onsen, Yubari Park is one of the best places to experience onsen culture. Here, several natural hot spring vents release plumes of steam, and the air is filled with a faint aroma of sulfur, allowing visitors to truly feel
Futami Suspension Bridge spans the Toyohira River and is one of Jozankei's most iconic landmarks. In autumn, the view from the bridge reveals an entire valley ablaze with fiery red and golden maple leaves, with the river reflecting the vibrant colors of t
Futami Suspension Bridge spans the Toyohira River and is one of Jozankei's most iconic landmarks. In autumn, the view from the bridge reveals an entire valley ablaze with fiery red and golden maple leaves, with the river reflecting the vibrant colors of t
Located upstream of Jozankei and surrounded by mountains, the Hoheikyo Dam is a famous natural scenic spot near Sapporo. The lake formed by the dammed Toyohira River is vast and tranquil, reflecting the beauty of the four seasons. Fresh greenery abounds i
Located upstream of Jozankei and surrounded by mountains, the Hoheikyo Dam is a famous natural scenic spot near Sapporo. The lake formed by the dammed Toyohira River is vast and tranquil, reflecting the beauty of the four seasons. Fresh greenery abounds i
Jozankei has a long-standing legend of the Kappa, small water spirits believed to protect the valley and hot springs. Kappa statues can be found throughout Futami Park and the surrounding trails, some playful and some endearing, making them a unique symbo
Jozankei has a long-standing legend of the Kappa, small water spirits believed to protect the valley and hot springs. Kappa statues can be found throughout Futami Park and the surrounding trails, some playful and some endearing, making them a unique symbo
During the autumn foliage season, Kappa harmonize with maple leaves, bringing unique surprises to tourists and adding a touch of mystery and childlike fun to this valley.
During the autumn foliage season, Kappa harmonize with maple leaves, bringing unique surprises to tourists and adding a touch of mystery and childlike fun to this valley.
Yuni Garden, located in Yuni Town, Yubari District, Hokkaido, is a large-scale European-style garden spanning approximately 140,000 square meters. It is renowned for its vibrant seasonal flowers and is celebrated as "Hokkaido's Flower Paradise."
Yuni Garden, located in Yuni Town, Yubari District, Hokkaido, is a large-scale European-style garden spanning approximately 140,000 square meters. It is renowned for its vibrant seasonal flowers and is celebrated as "Hokkaido's Flower Paradise."
The Yamanote Line Bridge was originally part of the old Japan National Railways' "Yamanote Line" (later merged into the Jozankei Railway) and spans the Toyohira River. The bridge features a beautiful arched steel structure. Although the railway has long b
The Yamanote Line Bridge was originally part of the old Japan National Railways' "Yamanote Line" (later merged into the Jozankei Railway) and spans the Toyohira River. The bridge features a beautiful arched steel structure. Although the railway has long b
Lake Shikotsu, located near Sapporo, is a caldera lake formed by a volcanic eruption approximately 40,000 years ago and is one of Japan's most famous lakes. The lake surface is 248 meters above sea level, with a maximum depth of 363 meters, making it the
Lake Shikotsu, located near Sapporo, is a caldera lake formed by a volcanic eruption approximately 40,000 years ago and is one of Japan's most famous lakes. The lake surface is 248 meters above sea level, with a maximum depth of 363 meters, making it the
Jozankei & Yuni Garden Maple Leaves & Flower Viewing Day Trip

Reviews

4.8 / 5
Fantastic
46 reviews
Guide
4.7
Itinerary
4.8
Quality of transfer
4.8
Value for money
4.7
Sort by:
Most relevant reviews
Filter by:
All With photos English only
Review for: Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Lake Shikotsu, Yuni Garden Maple & Flower Viewing Day Trip (Early Bird Price)

It was an amazing trip! Yuni Garden and Hoheikyo Dam were definitely my favorite spots in the itinerary. Our guide Ma was kind and even contacted us via LINE to remind us about the meeting place and time. He speaks Chinese and English! He also gave great recommendations on where to go. Each destination had plenty of time to explore, especially Yuni Garden. I highly recommend this trip! I’d love to visit Yuni Garden again in spring and summer. 💗

Helpful
Review for: Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Lake Shikotsu, Yuni Garden Maple & Flower Viewing Day Trip (Early Bird Price)

I brought my elderly mum along on this day tour and very glad that the itinerary was not very packed and rushed. The tour guide Vivian was very friendly and could speak with my mum in Chinese. She even helped to walk with my mum so that I could be freed up to take pictures and wandered a bit. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves and had a good time. Greatly recommend this itinerary, very worth. Last of all, also great thanks to Yuki for her help.

Helpful
Review for: Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Lake Shikotsu, Yuni Garden Maple & Flower Viewing Day Trip (Early Bird Price)

Vivian was the first tour guide I've ever had who couldn't be added on LINE or WeChat and instead contacted me via email. That really gave me peace of mind the night before, otherwise I would have been so worried about being stood up. When we arrived at Lake Shikotsu, she even reminded us to try the delicious local food (the red-fleshed fish from the lake), and it was truly amazing~~ At our last stop, the Yuni Garden, we were too ambitious and walked the entire loop, which meant we didn't have time to finish our sweet potato ice cream before getting on the bus. I stood next to the tour bus and quickly told Vivian, and she said, "No problem, take your time eating. Because the tour buses are in service every day, food and drinks are prohibited inside to avoid spills that would cause trouble for the driver!" (Photo date: 2026/10/19)

Show original (Translated review)
Helpful
Review for: Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Lake Shikotsu, Yuni Garden Maple & Flower Viewing Day Trip (Early Bird Price)

Our tour guide, Zhou Yan, was very professional and dedicated. On the bus, she clearly explained the itinerary and provided introductions. She was friendly, sharing food recommendations and experiences. She clearly communicated the timing and meeting points throughout the trip. At each attraction, she was happy to take photos for the group members. Although everyone explored independently, everyone cooperated well with the meeting times to get back on the bus. It was a bit unfortunate that it was a drizzly, overcast day, and the entire itinerary was outdoors. On October 18, 2025, Jozankei should have 75% of its leaves turned yellow, and Yuni Garden's Kochia Hill should be 95% red. The visit durations were not long, but at Jozankei, you can take a small cable car up to the observation deck (free of charge) and then walk down the slope. Before heading out, check the weather forecast. If there's a 20% or higher chance of rain, it's recommended to bring an umbrella.

Show original (Translated review)
Helpful
Review for: Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Lake Shikotsu, Yuni Garden Maple & Flower Viewing Day Trip (Early Bird Price)

Today's sightseeing tour was perfect, with beautiful scenery along the way. The autumn leaves at Hoheikyo Dam were just the right shade of red, and the Kochia scoparia at Yuni Garden were also a spectacular, vibrant red. I must say that Klook's arrangements were impeccable. This is a very high-quality day trip route, and the transportation was also excellent. We are tourists from mainland China, and although we did some research before coming, our understanding of northern Japan was still superficial. We are very grateful to Ms. Huang, who led the tour today. Her 35 years of experience in Hokkaido and her enthusiastic and engaging personality gave us a deep and intuitive impression of Hokkaido's nature, culture, and products, providing us with a clearer vision for our upcoming itinerary.

Show original (Translated review)
Helpful
Review for: Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Lake Shikotsu, Yuni Garden Maple & Flower Viewing Day Trip (Early Bird Price)

It was one of the best tours I’ve ever joined — imagine, 2-in-1 season! 🍁❄️ Autumn on one side and winter on the other. Amazing experience! At first, I was a bit disappointed when we arrived at the dam area and found it closed due to winter conditions. But instead of letting that ruin the day, our group got to enjoy an unexpected early Winter Wonderland — and it was magical! The other site was absolutely beautiful too, especially the Yuri Garden, which was bursting with color and charm. Big thanks to our tour guide, Zoey, for being so patient and accommodating throughout the trip. Truly a memorable experience! ❤️

Helpful
Review for: Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Lake Shikotsu, Yuni Garden Maple & Flower Viewing Day Trip (Early Bird Price)

What a wonderful Hokkaido day tour! Special thanks to our excellent tour guide Vivian. She managed the whole tour so well, with a perfectly balanced pace — never rushed yet well organised. She shared suitable and interesting local information at each stop. We visited Toyohira Gorge Dam, Jozankei, Lake Shikotsu and Yuni Garden. Every spot was beautiful and the whole day was truly enjoyable. Highly recommended!

Helpful
Review for: Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Lake Shikotsu, Yuni Garden Maple & Flower Viewing Day Trip (Early Bird Price)

Good weather makes everything nice! I went on October 10th and it was very pretty. Although the stay was a bit rushed, the mountain scenery was gorgeous when about 50 to 70 percent of the leaves had changed color. Lake Shikotsu didn't have quite enough fall foliage, and the Kochia at Yuni Garden are much smaller compared to those at Hitachi Seaside Park, but with good weather, the photos turn out amazing.

Show original (Translated review)
Helpful
Review for: Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Lake Shikotsu, Yuni Garden Maple & Flower Viewing Day Trip (Early Bird Price)

There were over 20 people in our group traveling on a large bus, which was a very comfortable group size. Our guide, Yuki, did an excellent job explaining everything in Chinese, Japanese, and English. Since I was part of the small minority of English speakers, she thoughtfully arranged for me to sit near her so she could easily share the details with me. Jozankei was at the absolute peak of the autumn foliage season; anyone visiting Sapporo shouldn't miss it. At Lake Shikotsu, we had enough time to take photos by the lakeside bridge and grab lunch. Yuni Garden was also spectacular, featuring over 32,000 Kochia bushes that turn a beautiful, vibrant pinkish-red during autumn. While the allotted time at each stop isn't enough to explore every single corner, it is definitely enough to take great photos and fully soak in the beautiful atmosphere.

Helpful
Review for: Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Lake Shikotsu, Yuni Garden Maple & Flower Viewing Day Trip (Early Bird Price)

Catching the last train of the autumn leaves, Yuni Garden's last day, the Kochia scoparia were still very cute; Lake Shikotsu is super beautiful and worth visiting; the autumn leaves in Jozankei and Hoheikyo are already at their end; thank you to the tour guide, Xiao Ma, for his dedication and recommendations, and the soft serve ice cream at Lake Shikotsu was super delicious.

Show original (Translated review)
Helpful

Good to know

Warm Reminder

There is a significant temperature difference between morning and evening in Hokkaido during autumn. Please prepare warm outerwear. For daytime activities, comfortable and lightweight clothing and shoes are recommended.

The itinerary includes outdoor attractions such as suspension bridges, dam areas, and gardens. Please pay attention to safety while walking and bring drinking water.

During the peak autumn foliage season (mid to late October), there will be many tourists. Please be patient and follow your guide's arrangements.

To visit Hoheikyo Dam, you need to take an eco-friendly electric bus. Please comply with the boarding regulations. If the electric bus service is suspended due to special weather conditions, other attractions will replace Hoheikyo Dam.

We will send an email to guests after 15:00 the day before departure, including: meeting time, guide, and license plate number. Please check your email. Do not be late on the day of departure! (It might be in your spam folder!) If you receive multiple emails, please refer to the latest one. If you have WeChat/WhatsApp/Line, you can proactively add your guide and join the group using the social media information provided in the email. Thank you! Please keep your mobile phone accessible during your trip so that relevant reception staff can contact you!

Contact us

Got a question about this activity? Ask us on live chat!

You might also like...

Sapporo Day trips

Sapporo Jozankei & Head Buddha One-Day Tour with Cultural Immersion

Hokkaido Jingu Shrine, Jozankei, and Kakui Market Day Tour from Sapporo
Book now for today
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.7 (851) 10K+ booked
฿ 1,432
30 off
Sale
Sapporo Day trips

Hokkaido One-Day Tour: Hoheikyo Gorge, Jozankei, Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan, and Mount Yotei Spring Water Park (Departing from Sapporo)

Enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery of Hokkaido, and devote yourself to the relaxing and free journey of nature! Go to Jozankei to enjoy the red leaves in the forest, and taste the sweetest Japanese spring water at Mount Yotei, which is known as "Mt. Fuji in Hokkaido". Hurry up and book a one-day trip to Toyahira Gorge & Jozankei & Lake Toya & Showa Shinzan & Mt. Yotei at KlooK!
Book now for tomorrow
Private tour
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.8 (274) 2K+ booked
฿ 2,078
40 off
Sale
฿ 1,698
30 off
Sale
฿ 1,698
30 off
Sale
Furano Activities & Experiences

Illumination Tour: Furano Elf Terrace, Biei Blue Pond & Shirahige Falls Day Trip

Book a one-day bus tour of Forest Fairy Terrace, Biei Blue Pond, and Shirasuga Falls from Sapporo and save!
Book now for today
Morning departure
7+ hrs
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.4 (936) 20K+ booked
฿ 1,910
30 off
Sale
Kamikawa (Ishikari) District Day trips

Hokkaido Winter Limited: Asahiyama Zoo & Shikisai-no-Oka Snow Play & Ninguru Terrace & Blue Pond & Famous Christmas Tree (Departing from Sapporo)

Check out Hokkaido’s internet-famous attractions in spring and summer! Hotel pick-up service is available. Book a day trip to Shikisai-no-oka, Aoike and Tomita Farm in Hokkaido now!
Book now for tomorrow
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.8 (3,784) 40K+ booked
฿ 1,910
30 off
Sale
Abuta Day trips

Hokkaido Mount Yotei, Lake Toya, Noboribetsu Nature Day Tour (Small Group Transfer)

Book now for tomorrow
Small group
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.8 (108) 1K+ booked
฿ 1,825
Sapporo Day trips

Hokkaido Great Buddha + Jozankei + Hokkaido Shrine Day Trip from Sapporo

Book now for tomorrow
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.8 (93) 1K+ booked
฿ 1,485
Kamikawa (Ishikari) District Day trips

Furano & Biei Blue Pond & Shikisai no Oka One-Day Tour | Departing from Sapporo

Hokkaido will never forget the memories of the sea of flowers. A relaxing and free journey to purely appreciate the scenery and integrate body and mind into nature. Hurry up and book a day trip to Furano & Biei Blue Pond & Shikisai no Oka on Klook!
Book now for tomorrow
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.8 (1,158) 10K+ booked
฿ 1,592
30 off
Sale

About the operator

Trending sights