Classic Hokkaido One-Day Tour: Asahiyama Zoo & Ken & Mary Tree & Shirahige Waterfall & Biei Shirogane Blue Pond & Ningle Terrace

See photos for full review of Tour J88 Bus no. 6227 Jan. 23, 2026 I highly recommend booking a similar tour like this if you are visiting in winter. It’s so hard to DIY things. It’s cold, trains and buses get delayed, and the streets are slippery. 1. Tour guide: while he shared helpful tips, he is not accommodating and friendly. He was dismissive saying that those who had a hard time coming because it’s cold should not be an excuse. He said it’s already a warm day in Sapporo today. I understand that he is coming from the perspective of someone who lives in a cold country. However, he is talking to tourists from different countries (Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc.) and not everyone is used to the cold. What’s easy and normal for him might not be for his guests. 2. Tour guide again: I find him impatient and lacking understanding to the customers/tourists. I am aware that Japanese culture is very strict with time. However, other tourists might not be familiar with it.

This is probably one of those impossible sightseeing missions you can only accomplish with a group tour. We quickly ran through everything. If you want a deeper experience, find another opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery and fresh air. The zoo is small and cute, and many of the installations and decorations are full of human touch. You really need to move quickly to see the Blue Pond and waterfall. The flower fields are meticulously maintained man-made attractions; 30 minutes there felt sufficient. The tour guide and driver were also very attentive throughout the entire trip. Kudos to them!

After a 2-hour ride, the first stop is Asahiyama Zoo. Since it's not yet time for the penguin parade, we can only see the other animals. Next, we quickly visited Shirogane Blue Pond, Ningle Terrace, and Shirahige Falls. Because these locations aren't large and are close to the parking area, we only spent 30 minutes at each. Finally, another 2-hour ride back.

The customer service information was communicated thoroughly before departure, and the meeting instructions were clear. The driver was familiar with the roads in Hokkaido and drove smoothly the entire time. Asahiyama Zoo was very fun to visit, and the off-the-beaten-path attractions we stopped at along the way were full of pleasant surprises.

Overall, it was a great experience. Our tour guide, Mr. Lin, was very kind and friendly. Unfortunately, we couldn’t spend much time at Ningle Terrace due to the tight schedule. Perhaps the itinerary could skip the Blue Pond to allow more time at Ningle Terrace, as our parking spot was quite far and it took a long time to walk to the area.

Natural landscapes paired with a zoo create a great blend of dynamic and relaxing experiences, which I really enjoyed. The murmuring waters of Shirahouse Falls and the fresh air made for a pleasant, brief stop to rest and recharge before heading to the next destination, making for a very comfortable pace.

The bus was clean and tidy, and the indoor temperature was comfortable. The scenery at the Shirogane Blue Pond is unique, and a short 20 minutes was plenty of time to take great photos. Walking leisurely through the Asahiyama Zoo and seeing various small animals up close was very therapeutic.

The whole trip was perfect. The scenery was beautiful, the weather was great, and our guide, Xiao Pan, was very nice, super funny, and told us a lot about Japanese culture, scenery, and food 👍👍👍

The design of Asahiyama Zoo is so clever. The moment the seals swam right through the overhead cylinder, the whole crowd gasped in awe. The itinerary and service were both great.

Coming to Asahiyama Zoo in the autumn means no penguin walk, but the animals are especially active in the cool weather. Watching the polar bear dive three times was well worth the admission price.