Sapporo Departure: Day Trip to Big Buddha, Jozankei, Lake Toya & Noboribetsu: Volcano/Lake View/Winter Snowmobiling
- Explore two classic Hokkaido destinations in a single trip. Departing from Sapporo, enjoy a day-long visit to Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley) and Lake Toya, experiencing the perfect combination of volcanic landscapes, hot spring culture, and scenic lakes and mountains, suitable for all seasons.
- Hill of the Buddha: An architectural marvel created by Tadao Ando, where the Great Buddha faintly emerges amidst a sea of lavender, making it Hokkaido's most Zen-filled photo spot.
- Jozankei Futami Suspension Bridge: Stand on the vibrant red suspension bridge and take in a private panoramic view of the valley's autumn foliage (or summer greenery). A local favorite "power spot," every snapshot looks like a postcard.
- Noboribetsu Jigokudani Volcanic Wonder: Get up close to sulfur venting and geothermal landscapes, learn about the unique natural environment formed by volcanic activity, and experience Hokkaido's most iconic volcanic hot spring resort.
- Lake Toya Panoramic View - Surrounded by Active Volcanoes: Climb up to the observatory to overlook Lake Toya, with distant views of Mount Usu and Showa-shinzan, two active volcanoes, and feel the magnificent scenery woven together by the volcanic lake.
- Stroll along the lakeside and enjoy a leisurely lunch time (meal at your own expense).
- Free time in Lake Toya Hot Spring Town (winter limited): Ample time is reserved for dining on your own, lakeside strolls, and slowing down to experience the peaceful atmosphere of the lake view and hot spring town.
- Showa-shinzan Bear Ranch (admission ticket at your own expense): A popular attraction near Showa-shinzan where you can observe Hokkaido brown bears up close. Visitors can watch the bears' activities in designated areas and learn about their living habits. Admission is optional and entirely up to the guests, making it ideal for families and animal lovers.
- Mount Usu Ropeway (ropeway ticket at your own expense): Ascend to high altitudes for distant views and a panoramic perspective of the surrounding peaks.
- Winter-Limited Forest Snowmobile Experience (optional at own expense): During the winter season, head to the forest snow activity area to experience snowmobiling at your own expense, galloping through snow-covered forests and feeling the unique ice and snow fun of Hokkaido's winter.
- When snowfall is insufficient, the snow park will be replaced with Jozankei Futami Park.
- Well-planned itinerary for an easy one-day round trip with a comfortable pace. Departing from downtown Sapporo and returning the same day, it is ideal for families, couples, and friends traveling together.
What to expect
From September 25, 2026, to October 20, 2026, the Head Buddha attraction will undergo routine cleaning. Some areas may have restricted access, and there may be obstructions around the Buddha statue. We apologize for any inconvenience.
- Due to snowmobile experiences being dependent on snowfall levels, during winter itineraries, if there is insufficient snow to experience snowmobiles, the Snow Land attraction will be changed to Jozankei Futami Park without prior notice. We apologize for any inconvenience.
[Classic Hokkaido Feast] Noboribetsu Jigokudani, Toyako Panoramic View, Jozankei, and Hill of the Buddha In-Depth Day Tour Want to check in at Hokkaido’s most representative natural wonders in just one day? Choosing this route is the right decision! From the tranquil valley of the “Sapporo Back Garden,” to the breathtaking active volcano ruins, and finally to the healing pasture flower fields, we have packaged Hokkaido’s ultimate visual enjoyment for you. Hill of the Buddha: An architectural miracle created by Tadao Ando, where the giant Buddha looms faintly amidst a sea of lavender fields, making it Hokkaido’s most Zen check-in destination. Jozankei Futami Suspension Bridge: On the bright red suspension bridge, exclusively enjoy an entire valley of autumn colors (or summer greens). This is a local favorite “power spot,” where every snapshot looks like a postcard. Lake Toyako God’s-Eye View: Ascend the SAILO Observatory to overlook the sapphire-blue waters of Lake Toyako and the distant “Ezo Fuji” Mount Yotei with a 180-degree view. Maximum visual impact! Stroll along the shores of Lake Toyako and enjoy lunchtime. (Lunch is at your own expense) Showa Shinzan: Observe the billowing smoke of the active volcano up close, interact with cute little bears at the Bear Ranch, and experience the intertwining of vitality and nature. (Usuzan Ropeway tickets and Bear Ranch tickets are at your own expense) Noboribetsu Jigokudani: Step into the sulfur smoke resembling an alien planet, witness firsthand the hot springs gushing from the depths of the earth, and experience the magnificent scenery of the “Earth’s breathing.”
Winter | Snow Experience + Volcanic Lake Day Tour
Departing from Sapporo in winter, first head to Nakayama Pass to gaze at Mount Yotei. Afterward, you can optionally participate in snow activities (such as snowmobiles) at your own expense to experience the charm of Hokkaido’s ice and snow. Next, visit the Lake Toyako Observatory to enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Toyako. Enjoy free time for lunch at the Lake Toyako Onsen Street and experience a lakeside stroll. In the afternoon, head to Showa Shinzan and optionally visit the Bear Ranch at your own expense. Finally, at Noboribetsu Jigokudani, enjoy the volcanic landscape scenery contrasted against the snow.
Reviews
We have only 6 of us in this group and our driver, David is also our guide, seems like a private tour too. We were early and the first to reach the Hill of Buddha hill with no crowd. Hill of Buddha is absolutely stunning! We get to see the places with a slightly longer time and David gave us extra quick stop & let us snapped photos of the snow capped mountain. All the places we visited are beautiful and time given are enough, even with time for lunch break. We even have a foot soak while another couple went for a quick onsen experience nearby. We have a wonderful trip and would like to thank David for his great driving and guiding us along the way. David even gifted us small souvenirs which is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
I took the trip with hide cai. I liked the pace and the sites were what I wanted to see. The tour guide spoke English well and was able to provide valuable information about the sites that we visited. The weather also cooperated today and we did not encounter any rain.
we enjoyed the tour,all destinations are picture worthy and instagrammable.Our guide Leo is very accomodating, helpful and informative. He also returned our bag that we left at the bus.Kudos to the agency,guide and driver 👍Job well done. will recommend this tour. Thank you
Had a great time, understand we were the 1st to tryout this new day trip with my wife and we were solo with our guide Grace and driver Liu. It was wonderful to dip our feet on the hot springs and our eggs were initially stolen by crows. Lake Toya was a beauty but we couldn't see much of it due to the continuous snow. Interesting also to visit the Hokkaido black bear ranch and the Hell Valley area. This trip will be highly recommended as long as weather is better.
This trip is worth joining. There are only 5 guests in this venture, 2 Japanese, 1 English speaking guest and 2 Chinese. The itineraries are well planned. The driver, Mr. Chin, is also the guide. He converses smoothly in the 3 languages and gives good advices on lunch selection and scenery description. We hace a terrific time in this trip.
its a great one day trip. guide was good and overall timeslots given to rach location was decent. Family and solo travel friendly. stroller friendly at most places, except for Hell vally which is little walking up the mountain so carrier is convenient than stroller for babies.
It was an amazing trip! Zoey was an excellent tour guide—very knowledgeable and great at managing the schedule. The bus driver was also very professional and made the ride safe and comfortable. Highly recommended!
Zoey is fluent in both English and Mandarin. Time management was planned well except for the lunch and the Ropeway which i find it too rush. Nevertheless, it is still a very fulfilling experience for travelling to 6 different places in a single day.
“We had a pleasant experience with our tour guide, Grace. We visited many places, and she even added a quick stop for us to see snow when I mentioned that my parents still hadn’t experienced it. Our journey was smooth and enjoyable. This trip package is highly recommendable.”
A day to remember. The tour was well organized, we got to see a lot of things, the guide Grace was very helpful, positive, and very knowledgeable about Hokkaido. Gave recommendations as well. It was hot but we got to enjoy the view of Mt. Yotei on a perfect sunny day because of it.
Good to know
- Pre-departure tips
- We will send you a confirmation email after 15:00 on the day before departure. The email will include: meeting time, tour guide contact information, and vehicle license plate number. Please check your inbox (it may go to your spam folder).
- If you receive multiple emails, please refer to the latest one.
- On the day of departure, please arrive at the meeting point on time. Late arrival will be considered an automatic forfeiture, and no refunds will be issued.
- If you use WeChat / WhatsApp / LINE, you can proactively add the tour guide and join the itinerary group based on the information in the email for timely communication.
- Please keep your mobile phone accessible during the trip so that the tour guide or staff can contact you in a timely manner.
- If you experience motion sickness or seasickness, please prepare in advance to ensure a pleasant journey.
- Please take good care of your personal belongings and try not to carry valuable items; you will be responsible for any loss or damage.
- The journey involves long drives. If you encounter traffic jams, please wait patiently. Our company will not be responsible for any subsequent costs incurred due to delays caused by traffic jams. Thank you for your understanding.
- Infants aged 0–2 who do not occupy a seat are free, but you must inform us in advance to avoid being refused by the driver due to vehicle overcrowding.
- We will flexibly adjust some attractions based on the day's itinerary. The main attractions and the number of attractions will not change. We appreciate your understanding if we cannot notify you individually.
- If some attractions are closed on specific dates, we will arrange alternative attractions for you. We may not be able to notify you individually in advance. Thank you for your understanding.
- In case of special weather conditions, the activity will be canceled. You can choose to reschedule or get a refund. Thank you for your understanding.
- Winter roads are heavily affected by weather. In case of severe weather, some attractions may have reduced visiting times or be canceled. The specific arrangements will be based on the situation on site on the day.
Contact us
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