Hokkaido Day Tour: Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond, Falls Forest Terrace

The one-day tour is a carpooling itinerary, and all guests must arrive on time. Failure to wait after the delay will be regarded as voluntary abandonment of the trip. Therefore, it is recommended that all guests wait at the pick-up location 10 minutes before departure. Our journey will start from Sapporo Station and continue to Asahiyama Zoo for 2.5 hours.

Asahiyama Zoo is located in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, and is the northernmost zoo in Japan, attracting the highest number of visitors nationwide. Contrary to the belief that most zoo attractions close during winter, visiting Asahiyama Zoo on a snowy day offers a unique and enjoyable experience. The zoo's clever and innovative displays allow visitors to observe various activities up close, ensuring a memorable visit. This zoo's standout feature is its commitment to keeping animals in a relatively free state, allowing for an immersive and engaging experience for all guests. Asahiyama Zoo closed days: April 8 to April 26, 2024, November 4 to November 10, December 30 to January 1, 2025. If Asahiyama Zoo is closed, the itinerary will be changed to Biei Mangrove, Shikisai no Oka, Biei Green Pond, and Shirasuga Falls.

Located on the left bank of the Biei River in Hokkaido, the Blue Pond (Aoike) was formed by a dam built to intercept volcanic magma. The pond's water reflects a stunning blue color under sunlight, giving it its name. National Geographic photographer Kent Shiraishi captured its beauty, and his work was later acquired by Apple, becoming one of the default desktops for the MAC series. The water in the Blue Pond contains rich minerals and volcanic ash components, causing it to display various colors as the environment subtly changes. This ever-changing palette keeps visitors in constant anticipation, wondering what mesmerizing hues the pond will reveal next.

Shirakane Falls in Furano, Hokkaido, boasts a 30-meter drop and sits at an altitude of 600 meters. Located in the Shirogane Hot Spring Village of Biei Town, it is also known as "Shiratsu Falls" due to the white, beard-like streams of water that pour down from the rock crevices. The gushing water crashes against the rocks, creating striking blue waves. In the summer, visitors can enjoy the lush mountains and clear waters, while in the winter, the falls are framed by a blanket of white snow. This sharp contrast between the two seasons offers a breathtaking and unique experience year-round.

In winter, Shikisai-no-Oka transforms into a snow paradise, blanketed in white snow. The area offers various entertainment options such as snowmobiling and sledding, allowing even novices to enjoy the winter wonderland and its natural beauty. Visitors can also explore the Grass Mud Horse pasture. The distant trees on the hills stand neatly in a row like uniformed guards, with only tall trees breaking the vast expanse of white snow. This minimalist winter landscape captivates visitors, encouraging them to pause and take in the serene beauty. This is the enchanting winter charm of Shikisai-no-Oka.

Pass by HERB GARDEN and enjoy a complimentary hot drink of your choice: Hokkaido specialty corn soup or hot tea. Additionally, indulge in one of three delicious ice creams: creamy ice cream, Furano specialty lavender ice cream, or cantaloupe ice cream.

Ningle Terrace in Furano is a charming forest workshop village inspired by a character from the novels of Japanese writer Satoshi Kuramoto, specifically a 15cm elf living in a vast forest. The quaint cabins here serve as individual shops, each offering unique handmade goods such as glass crafts, paper crafts, hand paintings, and items made from Furano’s dried lavender flowers. Each shop is small and exquisite, selling one-of-a-kind items that cannot be found elsewhere. The evening lights add a touch of romance, making the atmosphere even more enchanting.