Central Hokkaido Private Winter Tour: Relaxing Hots Springs and Snowy Countryside Sceneries

DAY

Chitose Airport - Furano

Welcome! Meet your driver and get ready for an amazing adventure in the winter wonderland of Hokkaido! Look out the car window and enjoy the beautiful snowy farmland scenery as we make our way to your hotel in Furano. Get settled into your room, then head over to the onsen and relax your body to the core in a long awaited all natural hot spring. It’s especially nice to relax in one of the outdoor Rotenburo (open air baths) and stay cozy in the warm mineral filled bath with snow falling within arm’s reach!

DAY

Furano - Asahidake

Check out of your hotel and visit the Cheese Factory, or in Japanese, Cheese Kobo. Furano, like other cities in Hokkaido, is blessed with high quality milk, so the cheese produced in Furano is top quality. Here you’ll get to learn how cheese is made and also take part in a fun cheese making workshop with friendly locals! Enjoy some freshly made pizza and gelato for lunch at the factory! Next, take a walk and explore the nearby Ningle Terrace, a beautiful collection of boutique cottages, housing specialty arts and crafts along with their creators.
On our way to your next destination, we’ll pass through Biei, a picturesque hilly area famous for its patchwork landscapes and an amazing region for panoramic photography. You’ll finish your day at the Largest National Park in all of Japan, Taisetsu National Park!

DAY

Asahidake - Asahidake

Welcome to Taisetsu National Park, one of the most powerful landscapes in Hokkaido. After breakfast at your hotel, meet your nature guide and get ready for some light trekking in snow shoes to an open area for a fun sledding activity! Enjoy playing in the snow and bonding with the local people. It’s time for a cozy countryside lunch at a local café in Higashikawa! This town is known for having some of the best natural mineral water in all of Hokkaido, which makes the local coffee and food absolutely delicious. Finish the day with an evening tour on the Asahidake ropeway looking down on the vast scenic landscape of snowcapped trees. Mt. Asahidake is the tallest mountain in Hokkaido, and a well-known active volcano with steam and snow-white smoke spewing from the earth’s core! Head back to your hotel for dinner and a well-deserved relaxing time in the onsen.

DAY

Asahidake - Mikasa

Our first stop today is the Asahiyama Zoo! Enjoy viewing polar bears, hippos, monkeys, as well as lots of wildlife from Hokkaido, including deer, eagles, cranes and wolves! After a wild time at the zoo, make your way to an interesting collection of ramen shops called, the Asahikawa Ramen Village, where eight of the most famous ramen restaurants in Asahikawa have opened up small shops besides one another. This savory ramen is known for its thin wavy noodles and shoyu (soy sauce) based broth. We recommend ordering toppings to go with it, such as green onions, pork, and bamboo shoots. You’ll love it! Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the Takasago Sake Brewery and learn about the history and brewing process of this exquisite award-winning sake that has gained global recognition among sake connoisseurs. Asahikawa has 167 rivers and over 750 bridges! It’s a place that is blessed with water, which is indispensable for brewing sake. Next, well make our way to Mikasa for onsen and dinner at your hotel.

DAY

Mikasa - Sapporo

Enjoy a fun local snow day in Mikasa full of exciting activities and laughter. Get ready for snowmobiling, banana boats, tubing, snow ball fighting, skiing and much more! Unlike most crowded winter tourist destinations, this awesome snow area is located in a small rural town, which means no waiting in lines or dodging people on crowded slopes. You’ll fall in love with the scenery in Mikasa and its “at home” atmosphere of customer service. You’ll even get to take a lunch break and make sushi rolls and pork miso soup with the locals! Arrive in Sapporo in the early evening with plenty of time to explore the downtown area, shop and have dinner at a restaurant of your choice.

DAY

Sapporo - Sapporo

Have a fun and relaxing day in the beautiful city of Sapporo. Make your way around the abundance of shopping facilities in Sapporo Station, Tanukikoji and the underground walkways, all within walking distance. Uniqlo, Pokemon Center, Tokyu Hands and Daiso are quite popular among visitors. Enjoy having some local favorites for lunch: Ramen, Genghis Khan, Yakitori and Soup Curry are highly recommended! Make sure to stop by Odori Park in the evening, which becomes the main venue for the Sapporo White Illumination Festival! Here you’ll find a breathtaking contrast of white snow and colorful lights illuminating objects centered on cosmic and Christmas themes. Come prepared to take spectacular pictures!

DAY

Sapporo - Chitose Airport

It’s your day to do some last-minute shopping in downtown Sapporo, or enjoy shopping at one of the outlet malls near the airport! Hokkaido’s recently revamped airport is a destination all on its own. Get ready for an abundance of Hokkaido made delicacies, which make great souvenirs! There are also many attractions such as a movie theatre, onsen, Doraemon Waku Waku Sky Park and a Ramen Dojo, which houses 10 of the best ramen establishments from all over Hokkaido, each with their own signature style. We hope you had a wonderful journey on Treasure Island!