Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond Japan
Description
Head to Asahiyama Zoo, situated in the northernmost region of Japan and renowned as the country's most popular zoo. Delve into a world of fascinating wildlife, where you can discover valuable insights into the zoo's dedication to safeguarding these creatures' natural environments. Located on the left bank of the Biei River in Hokkaido, Biei Green Pond lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters. This remarkable body of water boasts crystal-clear, azure hues, and its scenery undergoes breathtaking transformations throughout the year. Shirahige Falls, characterized by a 30-meter drop and situated at an altitude of 600 meters, can be found within the Shirogane Onsen Village in Biei Town. Earning its moniker "White Beard Falls" due to the way its waters cascade from rocky crevices, creating a visual resemblance to white whiskers, this waterfall captivates spectators as it relentlessly pounds against the rocks.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Location Name: Sapporo Tokyu REI Hotel Lobby (1F) Address:5 Chome-1 Minami 4 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-8509, Japan Meeting Time. 07:30 AM Departure Time. 07:40 AM
Location Name: Information Center (1F) of Sapporo TV Tower Address:1 Chome Odorinishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0042, Japan Meeting Time. 07:40 AM Departure Time. 07:50 AM
Visitors in the Asahiyama Zoo can experience unique and immersive animal encounters. Highlights include penguin walks, seals swimming, polar bears diving, and more. The zoo's innovative enclosures offer close-up views, and there's an underwater tunnel for a fish-eye view of seals and penguins. In winter, the zoo transforms into a snow-covered wonderland, offering a distinctive charm. It's a memorable opportunity to observe diverse animals in captivating environments.
This is a living tapestry woven by generations of Biei farmers. As different crops are planted and harvested, the rolling hills naturally unfold in layers of contrasting colors, resembling patches of fabric hand-stitched on earth. Following the undulating slopes, you aren't just seeing beautiful rural scenery, you are witnessing the rhythmic pace of life in Hokkaido—working in harmony with the four seasons, respecting the land, and quietly nurturing the harvest.
In 1976, this cypress tree, along with the surrounding landscape, earned its name by being featured on the packaging of Seven Star cigarettes in Japan. The tree stands in the vast field like a lone guardian angel of the beauty of the Biei hills
Tree of Ken and Mary is a birch tree standing in the farmland of Furano, which rose to fame after appearing in a Nissan Skyline commercial in the 1970s. The birch tree symbolizes purity, beauty, resilience, and vitality, while the couple, Ken and Mary, in the ad gives it the meaning of love. Today, the tree, with its profound symbolism and captivating scenery, has become a popular photo spot for tourists.
During a Shirogane Blue Pond tour, people will witness a stunning natural wonder. The pond, located in Hokkaido, Japan, offers mesmerizing blue hues due to the unique mineral composition of the water. Visitors can enjoy serene reflections of nearby trees and mountains in the crystal-clear water, creating a picture-perfect scene. The seasonal changes, such as snow in winter or vibrant foliage in autumn, add to the pond's allure. Overall, it's a peaceful and visually captivating experience in the lap of nature.
Shirahige Falls, located in Biei, Hokkaido, Japan, offers a breathtaking natural spectacle. Visitors will see pristine, crystal-clear waters cascading from a lush, forested cliff into a serene pool below. The falls are framed by vibrant greenery in summer and transform into a winter wonderland when frozen. The stunning contrast of white snow against the rugged rocks is a sight to behold. Shirahige Falls provides a peaceful, photogenic spot for nature lovers and photographers alike. Note: Shirahige Waterfall will be excluded from the tour between 1 July and 15 September and between 1 July and 15 September, and the tour will visit Farm Tomita instead
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please arrive at designated location 10 mins prior to departure, as tour will depart on time
- If affected by traffic congestion, facility maintenance, etc., the itinerary or the stop time of each spot will be adjusted
- If the tour uses a Hi-Ace or minibus, the driver will provide service without a guide
- The bus will leave on time, so please be sure to observe the boarding time. Passengers who arrive after the bus departs will not be able to join the tour
- The itinerary is subject to change based on operating hours and conditions of the stops on the day
- Sometimes buses are delayed due to traffic or bad weather. Please allow enough time to proceed to your next activities or transportation if you have plans after the tour
- Sometimes the itinerary must be cancelled due to natural disasters or abnormal weather. In this case, please contact us to confirm the departure status
- The time to visit each spot will be determined according to the traffic conditions on the road or the number of participants on the day
- The penguin parade is a winter limited show; please refer to the official website of Asahiyama Zoo for the actual timetable
- Ningle Terrace may be closed if there's a snowstorm or other inclement weather conditions
Reviews(15)
Not much input by the driver like he was not really a tour guide. He was just like a driver. Very little declarations although he was very accommodating when asked to take our pictures or had to use a restroom. Very disappointed with not receiving our buffet lunch as driver was not aware that he was supposed to purchase our tickets at the zoo so we had to purchase our own entrance fees and our own lunches.
The tour was amazing and the tour guide was friendly and helpful. Everything we saw was well worth it, the only thing was that stops listed on the tour didn’t take place for some reason.
This trip took us to a lot of iconic places in a very full day. Great tour guide and great driver. I highly recommend this tour
It’s a really lovely and unique experience. Our tour guide Oscar was lively and engaging, and trilingual. The driver was steady and safe, lulling me to sleep in the downtimes between events. A zoo in wintertime and 5 feet of snow was a brand new context for me. Nice to see a polar bear in its natural habitat. We also got to see a half frozen waterfall which seemed both natural and unnatural at the same time. Lunch was yummy and plentiful, buffet style. All in all a great trip, but be mindful it is a full day experience and weather can lengthen it unexpectedly
Oscar was a great guide, explained in 3 languages, ie Japanese, Mandarin & English. He engages well by sharing stories & info, and sufficiently updated everyone. The itinerary is very much subjected to uncontrollable factors such as weather and road conditions. The highway was closed hence some parts of our program was skipped.
This is a great day tour if you want to explore the highlights of Hokkaido while visiting. Seeing the penguins march, polar bears and seals swimming at the zoo was amazing. The buffet lunch was delicious and all you can eat. The blue waterfalls were magnificent, especially with the white snow background. Our guide and driver were also amazing. They were helpful, communicated very well (I'm an English speaker and he was great), and they kept the tour on time.
It was a bit rushed probably because of the snowy conditions, but also not cold enough yet for the penguin walk. Overall we got to see the Tree of Ken and Mary, the Asahiyama Zoo, got lunch buffet and saw whitebeard falls. I could've maybe passed up on the Tree landmark, but the zoo was cool to see in the snow and the whitebeard falls were breathtaking.
The zoo and the blue pond were especially nice. The guide was kind and everything was on time. I don't think there's enough time for people who want to spend time in individual places. I think it's good for people who want to go to four places a day at once.
I had a good time! Most of the group spoke Chinese so the main tour guide provided most of her commentary in Chinese. However, another staff member, Haru, who spoke English provided basically one-on-one service for me. Though I speak Japanese so we mostly conversed in Japanese. Overall I had a great time and the staff worked hard to make sure I felt included. Seeing the Blue Pond was the highlight of the day and a bucket list item for me so I was very happy with the great experience!
It was a pleasant tour. The guide, Risa was pleasant and informative. Most enjoyed the zoo and the drive. The blue pond and the waterfall were beautiful. I just wish that the tour was conducted all in English.
![[Biei/Furano] One-day sightseeing by private car!](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia-cdn.tripadvisor.com%2Fmedia%2Fattractions-splice-spp-720x480%2F14%2Fcb%2F80%2F56.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
