● Experience a Japanese Heritage Site: The Nostalgic Ambiance of the Otaru Canal
The Otaru Canal is beloved as a symbol of the city. Walk along the canal lined with stone warehouses, and you’ll feel as if you’ve slipped back to the early 1900s. These warehouses once served as a hub for good entering Hokkaido, symbolizing Otaru’s prosperity as the region’s economic lifeblood. They are part of the Japanese heritage site: Otaru – The Town Once Called the “”Heart”" of Hokkaido. The historic buildings and the calm waters of the canal create a soothing scene that warms the hearts of visitors. You can also explore attractions such as Kitaichi Glass, the Otaru Music Box Museum, and the Nitori Museum of Art.
● Enjoy Grilled Seafood at Otaru Bine, a Designated Historic Building of Otaru
For lunch, dine at Otaru Bine, housed in the renovated former Hokkaido Bank Head Office—a building steeped in history. The interior features high ceilings and stately decor, where you’ll enjoy a seafood grill lunch made with fresh, local catches from Otaru and Hokkaido. The building itself is a symbol of Otaru’s financial power, which supported Japan’s economy from the Meiji period onward.
● Former Nippon Yusen Otaru Branch (Closed Tuesdays and Dec. 29 to Jan. 3)
Completed in 1906, this was the second Otaru branch building of Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line).
Built during the port’s boom years, it stands as a symbol of Otaru’s prosperity as a thriving commercial and port city. It is also a Japan Heritage Site. Its refined interior include a marble side entrance, intricately carved wooden stair railings, and a finely crafted central ornament. Many imported materials were used, such as American steel shutters and German linoleum.
● Otaru Aquarium (Visited only on operating days from Dec. 13 to Feb. 23)
Home to around 250 species and 5,000 animals, the aquarium’s winter highlight is the “”Penguin Snow Walk,”" where you can watch penguins strolling across the snow up close. Up to 15 gentoo penguins, including chicks born in 2025, take part in this charming event. At the Dolphin Stadium, watch bottlenose dolphins perform spectacular jumps and playful tricks. Inside, take a look at northern species such as harbor porpoises, lumpfish, and sea angels—species that are kept only at Otaru Aquarium in Japan.
● Shiroi Koibito Park
This theme park offers factory tours of the production line for Hokkaido’s beloved “”Shiroi Koibiti”" cookies, exhibits on the history of chocolate, and hands-on sweets-making experiences. Its British-style buildings and gardens make for many picturesque photo spots. Visitors can enjoy exclusive sweets at the on-site shops and cafés, making it a favorite destination for families and tourists alike. (Note: From January 3 to July 31, 2026, parts of the 3rd-floor “”Chocotopia”" viewing area, including the production line, may be closed for renovations. Paid admission areas will remain open during construction.)
Category Archives: 2025冬
Lake Shikotsu Illumination and Ice Festival Tour (Excluding Multilingual Audio System)
This course coincides with the “Lake Shikotsu Hyoto Festival,” a festival of ice held on the shores of Lake Shikotsu each winter. The objects of ice are made from Lake Shikotsu’s clear water, and illuminated with a myriad of colored lights creating a fantastic and mystical atmosphere!
*Admission to the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is not included in this course. Each passenger must pay for the entry fee. (Adults: 1,000 yen; 11 years old and younger: free)
【Sapporo Afternoon Tour】The Mt. Okura Ski Jump Stadium and Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill Tour (Multilingual Audio Tour)
This bus is compatible with multilingual audio system in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean, will take you to some of Sapporo’s famous highlights in a short amount of time.
You will view Odori Park from the bus as it travels through downtown toward the west and south. Side stops include Mt. Okura Ski Jump Stadium and Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill, which allows you to visit two popular spots within a short time. From the bus you can enjoy viewing the Hokkaido Governor’s Official Residence tucked in a forest, Toyohira River which runs through central Sapporo and which is known for its fireworks display in summer, the sleek silver shape of Sapporo Dome and much more. Mt. Okura Ski Jump Stadium, located in Miyanomori, Sapporo, is owned by the city of Sapporo, and sits on the east slope of Mt. Okura 307 meters high. The Bakken record at the stadium is held at 145.0 and is a must see. At Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill where the bus stops for sightseeing, is the monument of famous professor “Clark.” In summer the city of Sapporo laid out beyond the green grassy fields is beautiful. The Clark monument is also rather large up close, and makes for a great photo opportunity. Take this opportunity to visit two of the most famous sightseeing spots most visitors go to, the Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill and Mt. Okura, on our Regular Sightseeing Bus.
Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya Winter Tour (Multilingual Audio Tour)
As you drive through the endless old growth forests, the road opens up to the beautiful blue “”Lake Shikotsu”" surrounded by lush nature. The ice-free (does not freeze during the winter) Lake Shikotsu is Japan’s northernmost lake of its kind. It has also been recognized by the Ministry of Environment as one of the most cleanest and clearest lakes in the nation. Nearby is Lake Toya, a large caldera lake created during a violent eruption over 100 thousand years ago. It is also surrounded by rich flora and is the habitat for a wide variety of fauna.
We will have lunch at Toya Kohantei that sits on the shores of Lake Toya.
After we leave Lake Toya the bus will head to Mt Usu, the first in Japan to be inducted as a Global Geopark in August, 2009. A Global Geopark is a natural park where visitors can explore and enjoy the Earth through nature trails, interpretive signs, and guided tours. The Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark, recognized alongside Itoigawa and the Shimabara Peninsula, is part of the Global Geoparks Network supported by UNESCO, and was among the 59th to 61st sites in the world to receive this designation. At Mt. Usu, visitors can take the ropeway to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
This course takes visitors to two of Hokkaido’s most popular lakes in just one day.
During the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival (February 1st to February 23th), you can take an optional tour of the Ice Festival. (The tour fee is at your own expense.)
*Meals are not included on some dates. You will have free reign to eat. (There will be a 50-minute meal time at Mushroom Kingdom.)
【Sapporo Morning Tour】Shiroi Koibito Park, the Mt. Okura Ski Jump Stadium and Central Wholesale Market Tour (Multilingual Audio Tour)
This course is operated with a multilingual audio system that provides explanations in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. All of the sights will be introduced within a short time. First we will visit “Mt. Okura Ski Jump Stadium.”
The bus will head for Mt. Okura Ski Jump Stadium. The ski jump stadium here is said to be the prince of all sports. It is said that the Baron Okura Kishichro heard the voice of the late Chichibu Prince, and commissioned the architectural design of the ski jump to Major General Olaf Helset of Norway. Numerous competitions have been held here and have contributed to the nurturing of many athletes. However, the ski jump was renovated in 1970 in preparation for the Winter Olympics which were to be held two years later, and became the stage for the 11th Sapporo Winter Olympics 90-meter ski jump venue. From the observation deck located at an elevation of 307 meters, the approach to the jump (runway), and the entire city of Sapporo and Ishikari Plains can be seen.
(Please note that during ski jumping competitions, the Okurayama Observatory Lift will be unavailable on competition days and practice days. Additionally, passengers using the regular sightseeing bus will be granted complimentary access to the ski jumping viewing area.)
line at CHOCOTOPIA Factory and the “tudor houses” of medieval Great Britain, along with the grand mechanical clock tower Grand Meister. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sapporo. Next door is the “Miyanosawa Shiroi Koibito Soccer Field,” home field of the Sapporo Consadole Soccer Team where visitors can sneak take a sneek peak of their practice.
After our visit at Shiroi Koibito Park, we will go to the Central Sapporo Wholesale Market.
The Sapporo Central Wholesale Market is the kitchen of Sapporo, where fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, crabs, and other fresh seafood can be purchased. There are also a number of restaurants to choose from that offer gourmet seafood bowls, fresh grilled fish combos, and much more, so this is where you will have free time to enjoy lunch. After you have filled your stomachs with great food and bought some souvenirs, we will stop by the Sapporo Clock Tower, an iconic tourist attraction of Sapporo. You can even get off here and sightsee downtown. This is a fulfilling course that takes you to a number of great attractions within a short amount of time.
Asahiyama Zoo Winter One-Day Tour (Excluding Multilingual Audio System)
This tour invites you to Asahiyama Zoo where many tourists visit. There is the‘Seal Aquarium’ and ‘Polar Bear Aquatic Park, where you can observe the animals’ natural behavior. The‘Orangutan Trapeze’, ‘Spider Monkey & Capybara’, “Chimpanzee’s Forest” are also highlights of the zoo. Get a feel for the animals up close at the ‘Lesser Panda Suspension Bridge’ and ‘Tancho-sha’. Many repeat tourists visit Asahiyama Zoo.
We will go to Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa directly from Sapporo. It will take much time to Asahikawa, but we do not lose your interest because of tour bus. Our tour guides will entertain you with their talk depending on each view or destination. Your destination is only Asahiyama, so you have much time to look around there. This is not a busy tour with many destinations, but relaxed so you can look around at the animals to your heart’s content.
On the way back to Sapporo, we will stop for a rest at the Sunagawa Highway Oasis, where you can enjoy shopping for special products of Hokkaido and taste good food in the cafeteria managed by the famous confectionery maker in Hokkaido. You can alight at ‘Sapporo Clock Tower,’the symbol of Sapporo, near Odori. Let’s go to Asahiyama Zoo to look for vigorous animals in comfortable tour bus.
