Hokkaido Popular Influencer Check-in Route | Asahiyama Zoo & Influencer Tree & Shirogane Blue Pond & Shirahige Waterfall & Elf Terrace One-Day Tour
- Winter exclusive: Hokkaido, the snow country, an immersive experience of a dreamy winter atmosphere
- Popular check-in: Penguin walk + internet-famous tree, for shooting pure white snow scenes
- Elf Terrace: Stroll through forest cabins, experience a fairytale-like winter night with lights
What to expect
✨ Asahiyama Zoo, Japan’s northernmost zoo Here you can see the real living conditions of arctic animals, especially the super cute penguin walk (winter exclusive), polar bears, otters, red pandas, and other star animals, offering full marks for interactive fun. 📸 Biei’s Iconic Trees for Photo Ops Along the way, you will pass by Biei’s iconic internet-famous trees (such as Ken & Mary Tree, Lone Tree, etc.), which are essential spots for taking photos. 💦 Spectacular Shirasu Falls Shirasu Falls gets its name from the white water cascading from rock crevices, resembling white beard-like ribbons, combining beauty and power. 🌊 Dreamy Shirogane Blue Pond (Biei Blue Pond) The pond water appears in a unique blue due to minerals and light refraction, hailed as “God’s overturned palette,” offering a strong visual impact whether on a sunny day or in a snowy landscape. 🌲 Fairytale-like Ningle Terrace A forest craft village composed of small wooden cabins, selling local handmade artworks. When the lights illuminate at dusk, it feels like stepping into a fairytale world.
Reviews
The overall itinerary was fine, but the time spent at the Ice and Snow Festival was only 40 minutes, which was a bit short and could be longer. In addition, the space in the transportation vehicle was relatively narrow, and it was not very comfortable for 12 people wearing thick warm clothes to squeeze into a small van. The most important thing is that the person who had been contacting me via WhatsApp was not the driver and tour guide for the day, but the customer service. So when there was an emergency and I needed to contact the driver, I couldn’t find the driver directly, which was unsafe and risky.
The three itineraries were well arranged, especially the penguin parade at Asahiyama Zoo and the Sounkyo Icefall Season. If you drive there by yourself, you must do your homework and worry about the road conditions. Although you only stay in Sounkyo for 40 minutes, when you enter at 5 o'clock on February 19, the outdoor temperature was -11 degrees, and you can't stay for long. A one-day tour with a professional driver and simple introduction will definitely save a lot of time
The contact arrangements are very organized. All details will be notified via SMS one day before departure and on the morning of departure. There are 11 people in total, all of them are from Hong Kong. Unlike tourist buses, most of the time the cars do not stop outside the tourist attractions. On the way back, the driver was stopped by the police for speeding, but fortunately he was safe and sound.
The driver didn't leave any contact information when we were in Sounkyo. We couldn't find the car when we met up. The line we left at the beginning was also a third-party customer service, so we couldn't contact the driver at all. We were very anxious and worried that we would be lost in the mountains. It was not a very pleasant experience
Good to know
Asahiyama Zoo closure dates: November 4-November 10, December 30-December 31, January 1, 2027
Pre-trip notice
- Please ensure that the communication app you have provided can be used to contact you during your trip to Japan. We will contact you one day in advance. We will send vehicle and guide information for the next day's trip to your email before 8:00 PM on the day before your trip. Please check your email (it may be in your spam folder). To ensure a smooth trip, please be sure to contact your guide or driver in a timely manner. Thank you.
- If the number of participants does not reach the minimum required for a group tour, you will be notified of cancellation by email one day before departure. In case of extreme weather such as typhoons or blizzards, cancellation will be confirmed by 6:00 PM local time one day before departure and notified by email.
Seating and Vehicles
- The itinerary is a shared group tour, and seat allocation follows a first-come, first-served principle. If you have special requests, please note them, and we will do our best to accommodate, but the final arrangement will be based on the actual situation on site.
- The vehicle model used will be arranged according to the number of participants and cannot be specified. For a small number of people, a driver who also serves as an attendant may be arranged, and the commentary content will be relatively brief.
- If you need to bring luggage, please inform us in advance. If you bring luggage without prior notice, the guide has the right to refuse boarding, and the fee will not be refunded. Eating and drinking are prohibited inside the vehicle. If any damage or stains are caused, compensation will be required according to local standards.
Itinerary Adjustments and Safety
- Japanese law stipulates that commercial vehicles may not be driven for more than 10 hours per day. Overtime will incur additional charges (ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 JPY per hour).
- The itinerary is for reference only. Actual transportation, stopovers, and sightseeing times may be adjusted due to weather, traffic jams, facility maintenance, and other circumstances. The guide may reasonably change or reduce attractions based on the actual situation.
- If ropeways, cruise ships, or other facilities are suspended due to weather or force majeure, the itinerary will be changed to visit other attractions or the stopover time will be adjusted.
- If you are late due to personal reasons, temporarily change the meeting point, or leave the group midway, the fee will not be refunded. Any accidents or additional expenses incurred after leaving the group must be borne by yourself.
Season and Scenery
- In winter, if highways are closed or access to scenic spots is restricted due to special circumstances, we will reduce or change the route, and no refunds will be given.
Other Information
- Please arrive at the meeting point on time. No waiting for latecomers, and no joining midway.
- It is recommended to wear light clothing and shoes. For winter or mountain itineraries, please bring your own warm clothing.
* The itinerary does not include personal travel or accident insurance. It is recommended to purchase your own insurance. Outdoor activities and high-risk sports carry certain risks. Travelers are advised to register carefully based on their health conditions.
* If the itinerary is forced to be interrupted after departure due to natural disasters or force majeure, the fee will not be refunded, and travelers will also need to bear the cost of return travel or additional accommodation.
* During Japanese public holidays and weekend travel peaks, there are often severe traffic jams or early closures of attractions. It is recommended not to book flights, Shinkansen, or dinner for that evening, and to bring light meals and a power bank.
Contact us
You might also like...
Hokkaido Winter Full-Day Tour | Penguin Walk, Platinum Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls, Forest Elf Terrace | Departure from Sapporo, Chinese and English Tour Guide
Hokkaido Classic One-Day Tour: Asahikawa Zoo, Ken and Mary Tree, Shirahige Falls, Biei Blue Pond, and Ningle Terrace.
Hokkaido Winter Limited: Asahiyama Zoo & Shirogane Blue Pond & Shirasu Waterfall & Shikisai-no-Oka (Optional Snowmobile Experience) & Forest Elf Terrace Day Tour
JR Hokkaido Rail Pass
Illumination Tour: Furano Elf Terrace, Biei Blue Pond & Shirahige Falls Day Trip
Hokkaido Furano Day Tour: Asahiyama Zoo & Forest Elf Terrace
Sapporo Asahiyama Zoo & Forest Elf Terrace Day Tour
Hokkaido Asahiyama Zoo Day Trip | Penguin Walk・Biei Blue Pond・Ningle Terrace | Multiple Routes Available | Depart from Sapporo