Things to do in Otaru

Facilities: Complete Instructors: Many thanks to Instructor Xie for his guidance. He is very professional and takes great care of each student. Also, Instructor Li and Instructor Zhou take good care of each student as well. Thank you so much for giving me a pleasant memory! Location: Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort, Otaru Experience: 101 points Safety: Instructor Xie will assess whether students are suitable to go up the mountain to ski. His instruction is very professional, allowing students to go up and down the mountain together. He also helps us record videos and take photos. Thank you very much! 😊

Our Otaru ski lesson was absolutely perfect from start to finish. The ski jackets and pants were clean, neatly arranged, and easy to choose, with the instructor helping us select the right sizes. We were driven from Sapporo to the ski resort in a comfortable Alphard, making the trip smooth and pleasant. As only my husband and I joined the English-speaking class, it became a private lesson. Our instructor, Andy, was outstanding—patient, professional, and safety‑focused. He taught us everything from the basics to essential techniques, ensuring we felt confident and enjoyed every moment of the four-hour session. The staff, including Ted, were equally helpful and friendly, even helping us take photos and videos. Everything was thoughtfully arranged, making the experience truly memorable. We highly recommend the Otaru ski lesson to anyone looking for excellent instruction and exceptional service!

The experience was a perfect 10! I learned to ski from not knowing anything about it. First, there was a 2-hour introductory session in the morning to learn the basic skiing techniques, followed by a 1-hour lunch break, and then a 2-hour session in the afternoon taking the cable car up and skiing down. The instructor taught very well; his name is Ah Xin. He taught me from scratch, helped me learn the basic techniques, identified my problems, and gave me advice. Thank you, Instructor Xin.

The trip departed on time. Tour guide Oscar can speak well in different languages and explains everything to all participants. I had fun during thr Bibai Snowland tour, 1.5H is enough to enjoy the area. We also had enough time to have lunch and stroll around Otaru. Due to traffic, we only have 15 mins to take pictures in Shiroi Koibita Park. It was okay as initially it was cancelled but last minute decision was made by driver to continue with the last destination with tight schedule.

Really had fun on this tour! We joined the day before leaving Sapporo, and it was the perfect winter send-off. The peaceful atmosphere at the Hill of the Buddha and the Moai statues, the picturesque views in Jozankei and Otaru, and the sweet finale at Shiroi Koibito made the whole day feel beautifully well-rounded. Our tour guide, Hikaru, made it even more enjoyable—he was pleasant, always smiling, and genuinely cheerful despite the challenging weather. There was a slight delay in the morning pickup due to heavy snow, road conditions, and traffic, and he even gave each group little goodies as a “late gift,” even though it wasn’t his fault at all. If you get Hikaru on your tour, you’re in great hands!

I especially love tour guide Xixi!!! Although it was our first time meeting today, I felt particularly close to her. When I ran out of cash during the trip, tour guide Xixi thoughtfully helped me exchange it so I could eat without worry. She helped us take beautiful photos at Lake Toya and patiently explained every scenic spot along the way, telling us about local specialties and where to buy them more affordably. Overall, today's experience was great!!

Weather and views were great. If you are there to eat fishes instead of look at fishes, like us, try Minshuku Aotsuka Shokudou!! Seafood was so fresh, food was amazing! 🤤

The tour was long, but it was very enjoyable. We loved Bibai Snow Land a lot. We did the snowmobile and tubing, and it felt like we were kids again! We’d definitely do the Bibai trip next time around, hopefully still in the company of our present tour guide, Oscar, who was comical and entertaining! The Otaru tour was as equally good, and the tour was really nostalgic for my husband and I who came here in 2017 and 2019. Unfortunately, the Shiroi Koibito Park was cut very short due to heavy traffic. All in all, the tour, as well as the tour guide, was amazing!

Used on December 22, 2025. It was snowy and cold at Mt. Tengu that day, so wear warm clothes. There is only one ticket window, so you will need to queue and wait. After receiving your ticket, you will also need to queue to take the cable car to the top of the mountain. You can enjoy the night view in the restaurant inside, and it's very exciting to see the mountains of accumulated snow!