From Sapporo: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival & Noboribetsu and Lake Toya Day Tour

Depart Sapporo and walk
through Noboribetsu Hell Valley

Meet your guide in central Sapporo and head south by coach through snowy landscapes. The first stop is Noboribetsu Hell Valley, one of Japan's best-known hot spring areas. In winter, steam from the geothermal vents rises white into the freezing air and freezes into delicate ice crystals on nearby railings and rocks.

Walk along the wooden boardwalk on the valley floor past bubbling sulfur pools and ochre-colored ground. You will spend about 40 minutes here.

Admire the caldera lake from
Lake Toya and Silo Observatory

Continue to Lake Toya, a caldera lake formed by a massive volcanic eruption about 110,000 years ago. In winter, thick snow covers the surrounding mountains and the white peaks are reflected on the lake. After a short photo stop on the shore, head up to Silo Observatory for panoramic views of the lake, Nakajima Island and the volcanic rim. The two stops take about 40 minutes in total.

Enjoy snow and ice
at Snow World Toya

Snow World Toya is a winter theme park near Lake Toya where everything is made of snow and ice. Stroll through a gallery of hand-carved ice sculptures, slide down snow tracks and look around the ice bar. You will spend about 70 minutes here.

If you like, you can ride a snowmobile across the snowy terrain. Snowmobile rides cost ¥15,000 for one rider or ¥20,000 for two, payable in cash only on site, and drivers must be at least 16 years old.

See the blue ice and illumination
at the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

The final stop is the ice festival held on the shore of Lake Shikotsu every year from late January to late February. Giant ice structures are created by spraying clear lake water onto frames and letting it freeze in the Hokkaido cold, giving them a translucent blue glow known as "Shikotsu Blue."

Arriving around 3:30 PM, you can walk through ice tunnels and past ice walls and make a wish at the ice shrine. When the colored lights come on at 4:30 PM, the venue turns into a glowing blue world. Before boarding the bus, you can warm up with a bowl of ramen from the lakeside food stalls (at your own expense). The tour ends at Sapporo Station North Exit at around 6:00 PM.

※ Times are approximate and may change due to traffic, weather or road conditions.
※ The ice festival is held every year from late January to late February, and the dates vary by year.
※ Snow, ice sculpture and illumination conditions depend on the weather and are not guaranteed.