Japan Private Tour (MOT002) February: Sapporo Snow Festival - Biei - Furano 6 Days 5 Nights

Travel Details

Outbound: Bangkok - Chitose Airport

Inbound: Chitose Airport - Bangkok

1 Chitose Airport - Asahikawa

We pick you up at Chitose Airport, then travel to Asahikawa. "Asahikawa" is a major city located in the center of Hokkaido at the foot of Mount Daisetsuzan, and is the second largest city after Sapporo. Because it is situated in a mountain basin, the weather is more diverse than other cities. This city features beautiful nature to enjoy across all 4 seasons.

The first place we will take you to is Asahiyama Zoo (Asahikawa Zoo). The highlight here is that animals are not caged like in typical zoos; they live in natural environments. This allows everyone to experience their cuteness and true natural behaviors up close, keeping the animals stress-free and especially friendly toward visitors.

Next, we take you into a world of ice at the Snow Crystal Museum. The interior is lavishly decorated in European style, much like the ice castle in Frozen. Inside the museum, there are ice pillars and a music hall used for concerts and weddings.

We wrap up the day at Asahikawa Heiwa-dori Shopping Street. This shopping street has been around since 1972 and was the first pedestrian street in Japan. It features numerous shops, ranging from restaurants and clothing boutiques to everyday necessities.

2 Biei - Furano

In the morning, we take you on a 26 km drive to Biei, a charming little town located in Kamikawa. Biei is considered one of the most popular destinations for nature travel, featuring famous attractions such as Shirogane Blue Pond, Shirogane Hot Spring, and renowned iconic trees including the Ken and Mary Tree, Seven Star Tree, and the ancient oak tree on Mild Seven Hill.

We will take you to view and take photos with all these famous iconic trees, starting with Seven Star Tree - Ken and Mary Tree - Mild Seven Hill. Afterwards, we travel to Shirogane Blue Pond (called aoi ike in Japanese), one of the top must-visit spots when visiting Hokkaido. On a clear day, you will see reflections of the mountains and trees in the blue pond. The pond's blue color did not occur completely by nature; it was created accidentally when locals built the pond to protect the town of Biei from volcanic hazards. The blue hue in the pond is caused by aluminum hydroxide, a naturally occurring mineral.

Next, we head to Furano, covering a distance of 37 km in about 50 minutes. Furano is truly one of Hokkaido's most famous towns. It is a popular destination for tourists to admire lavender fields and enjoy skiing in winter, offering pleasantly cool weather all year round. In summer, the hottest attraction is undoubtedly Farm Tomita in Nakafurano, an expansive lavender farm surrounded by lavender fields as far as the eye can see. In winter, the ski slopes here are just as popular as anywhere else in Hokkaido.

In the afternoon, we will take you to see and taste Furano's most famous fruit: melons at Tomita Melon House. Sourced directly from Farm Tomita, they offer a wide array of melon products, including fresh melon, melon ice cream, and many melon-based desserts.

In summer and spring, Farm Tomita is the best spot to admire lavender flowers in this town.

Afterwards, enjoy a pleasant walk shopping for lovely crafts at Ningle Terrace, a collection of wooden cottages displaying and selling traditional Japanese handicrafts. Beautifully decorated with fairy lights, the atmosphere is wonderfully cozy and warm.

3 Furano - Sapporo

In the morning, enjoy half a day full of snow and winter activities at Furano Ski Resort. The resort offers plenty of fun activities to choose from. Equipment rental fees: skis 5,500 yen, snowboard 5,500 yen, ski wear 5,300 yen; lift tickets are 4,000 yen for 3 hours, 4,800 yen for 5 hours, and 5,500 yen for a full day.

Before heading to Sapporo, we stop by the famous cheesecake shop Furano Delice. This cheesecake is truly like nowhere else—renowned as a masterclass in taste and the authentic original Hokkaido cheesecake.

Next, we travel to Sapporo, covering a distance of 115 km in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Sapporo is Japan's 5th most populous city, following Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka, and serves as the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture.

Today's itinerary is not over yet; we will take you to Mount Moiwa to enjoy a panoramic night view of the city. Mount Moiwa is another viewpoint in Hokkaido that you should not miss.

4 Sapporo - Sapporo Snow Festival

In the morning, visit the Ishiya Chocolate Factory in Hokkaido. Explore various rooms inside the factory, from antique chocolate box exhibitions and English teacups, and more. What you must not miss are the chocolate sandwich cookies and authentic Hokkaido vanilla ice cream.

In the afternoon, enjoy a stroll along Tanuki Koji, Hokkaido's famous shopping street.

Then, visit the Sapporo Snow Festival, an annual city event held in early February for over 70 years. The festival is divided into 3 main sites: Odori Park, the Susukino entertainment district, and the Sapporo Community Dome. Each year, more than 2 million Japanese and international tourists come together to experience this festival.

We will start our tour at the Susukino shopping district, head over to Odori Park, and finish at the Sapporo Community Dome.

5 Noboribetsu - Otaru

In the morning, we will take you to Noboribetsu, a famous resort town in Hokkaido located southwest of Sapporo. Noboribetsu is renowned for its hot springs across Hokkaido, and it became widely popular among Thai travelers as the filming location for lovely scenes in the movie “One Day,” inspiring many to visit and follow in the characters' footsteps.

Our first stop is Jigokudani (Hell Valley), the source of the famous Noboribetsu Onsen. Enjoy the striking, otherworldly scenery of orange and brown volcanic valleys blanketed in white snow. Along the walking trail, you will see wisps of steam rising at intervals from the constantly bubbling hot springs. Resembling steam rising straight from the underworld, it is what earned this place the name Hell Valley.

We recommend having lunch first around the entrance of Hell Valley, where you will find restaurants and souvenir shops to browse through. Recommended eateries include Onsen Ichiba, serving fresh seafood scooped right from the tank, and Sugi Bee Garden, offering carefully selected premium honey—with their soft-serve ice cream topped with honey being an absolute highlight.

In the afternoon, we continue exploring Noboribetsu with a visit to Noboribetsu Bear Park. Take a ropeway ride up to Mount Shihorei, 550 meters above sea level, to see the adorable bears. The park is home to many bears waiting to greet visitors. Although it is an enclosed facility, the bears live in natural surroundings and look very happy. Admission for adults is 2,592 yen, with special rates for children.

Afterward, we take you back to Sapporo.

If time permits, we will take you to enjoy the evening atmosphere in Otaru, a charming town near Sapporo that is arguably the most romantic spot in the region.

6 Sapporo

In the morning, we head to Jogai Market (Sapporo Central Wholesale Market), the largest seafood market in Sapporo and the top spot to savor Hokkaido's freshest flavors. Every morning, vendors offer freshly harvested vegetables and daily catches of fresh fish. Best of all, prices here are very friendly. We will need an early start today, as the market is open from 05:00 - 11:00.

Then, before dropping you off at the airport, we stop for some outlet shopping at Mitsui Outlet Park Sapporo-Kitahiroshima, a shopping haven featuring numerous brand-name goods discounted up to 70%. In addition to brand-name shopping, there are plenty of restaurants, sweets, and souvenirs—making it the perfect stop before heading home.

We will transfer you to the airport 3 hours before your flight for a safe and memorable journey back to Bangkok.

hotel Overnight Sapporo