Before Niseko is blanketed in snow, the region offers everything that makes Hokkaido’s short autumn so special: crisp blue skies, brilliant fall colors, delicious local cuisine, and relaxing hot springs. Let our sightseeing bus take you into the heart of the Niseko area, where mountains, forests, and crystal-clear streams create some of Hokkaido’s most beautiful landscapes.
About three hours after departing Sapporo, the first stop is Shinsen Marsh. Named for its otherworldly beauty, as if inhabited by gods or immortals, this mystical pond is one of Niseko’s hidden gems. A well-maintained boardwalk leads to the pond, about a 20-minute walk from the parking area. Enjoy the vivid autumn foliage and the pond’s mirror-like reflections of the surrounding scenery.
After your hike, enjoy a hearty Sukiyaki Hot Pot Set featuring herb-fed pork from Makkari Village. Niseko Nook Annupuri, located at the foot of Niseko Annupuri, serves dishes made with carefully selected local ingredients. Raised on herb-enriched feed in neighboring Makkari Village, the pork is known for its sweetness, richness, and exceptional flavor, all of which can be fully appreciated in this warming hot pot meal.
After lunch, enjoy free time in the surrounding area. Nearby attractions include the Niseko Annupuri Gondola, Ikoi no Yuyado Iroha hot spring, and Niseko Distillery. Optional activities include an autumn gondola ride above the colorful landscape, a soak in a hot spring renowned for its skin-beautifying waters, or a tasting of award-winning gin recognized as the world’s best at an international competition. (Gondola operating dates had not yet been determined as of May 25.)
Next, visit Niseko Milk Kobo, located in a scenic setting with views of Mt. Yotei. Famous for its sweets made with fresh milk from the adjacent Takahashi Dairy Farm, the shop offers a tempting selection of soft-serve ice cream, drinkable yogurt, cream puffs, pudding, roll cakes, and more, all highlighting the natural flavor of the milk.
The final stop is Kyogoku Fukidashi Park. Around 80,000 tons of snowmelt from Mt. Yotei gushes from the ground here every day, making it one of Japan’s finest natural spring water sites. The spring has been selected as one of the Ministry of the Environment’s 100 Remarkable Waters of Japan and as a Hokkaido Heritage site. The park features walking trails that make the most of its abundant water and natural surroundings, along with numerous spring water collection points. Visitors can drink the water on-site or take some home, so bringing a bottle or other container is recommended. The adjacent roadside station, Meisui-no-Sato Kyogoku, is also popular for products such as spring water coffee and coffee jelly made with the famous water.
Every stop on this tour showcases the natural beauty of Niseko and the majestic presence of Mt. Yotei. Enjoy Niseko’s fleeting autumn season before the arrival of winter.
Category Archives: 秋の北海道を楽しむコース
Autumn Hoheikyo, Red Leaves Gondola and Exploring Otaru Tour (Excluding Multilingual Audio System)
As autumn deepens, the Jozankei area transforms into one of Sapporo’s most spectacular fall foliage destinations. Admire vibrant crimson and brilliant gold landscapes from prime viewing spots at a scenic dam and soaring gondola, making this the perfect tour to experience the beauty of autumn in all its glory.
Hoheikyo Dam is both a vital water source for Sapporo and one of the region’s most impressive scenic landmarks. Steep rocky cliffs, brilliantly colored autumn forests, and the dam’s graceful arch combine to create a truly breathtaking panorama. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a vivid rainbow forming in the mist of the dam’s water discharge.
Next, enjoy an aerial stroll aboard the gondola at Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort. The colorful mountain slopes spreading out below offer a completely different kind of beauty from Hoheikyo, resembling a grand autumn picture scroll. Take in the magnificent scenery painted by nature at your leisure.
After traveling through the mountains, you’ll arrive in charming and nostalgic Otaru, where you’ll have free time to explore. Stroll along Otaru Canal, browse the many shops lining Sakaimachi Street, including Kitaichi Glass, the Otaru Music Box Museum, Kitakaro, and the Nitori Museum of Art, and enjoy local specialties wherever you wish.
To conclude the journey, visit Shiroi Koibito Park※, Hokkaido’s famous confectionery theme park. Highlights include its beautiful English garden and the delightful mechanical clock tower parade that takes place every hour.
*Admission to paid areas is optional.
Experience the vibrant yet delicate beauty of autumn created by Hokkaido’s dramatic temperature changes. Enjoy these unforgettable seasonal landscapes on a relaxed and comfortable sightseeing bus tour.
Drive along the deepening autumn coast and enjoy a hot spring bath!
Spectacular Autumn Cape Shakotan Tour: Take a Bath at Misaki no Yu Shakotan (Meal Included)(Excluding Multilingual Audio System)
Jutting out into the Sea of Japan, the Shakotan Peninsula is known for its jewel-like waters called “Shakotan Blue,” dramatic cliffs, and striking rock formations. A scheduled sightseeing bus is the perfect way to enjoy this scenic coastal area.
This tour visits three spots in Shakotan: Cape Kamui, Misaki no Yu Shakotan, and Shimamui Coast.
Cape Kamui sits at the northwestern tip of the Shakotan Peninsula, offering sweeping views of the open sea. Take in the rugged, majestic cape as it extends into the sparkling water beneath the autumn sky.
After viewing Cape Kamui, enjoy lunch and a bath in the hot springs at Misaki no Yu Shakotan. Lunch features a hamanabe seafood hot pot prepared with plenty of seasonal seafood, perfect for warming up after the cool autumn sea breeze. After lunch, relax in the hot spring while gazing out over the vast sea.
Once you have warmed up to the core, continue to Shimamui Coast. Selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Beaches, this scenic site is reached by passing through a 30-meter tunnel once used to transport herring. When you emerge from the dark tunnel, the emerald-green sea opens up before you in a truly breathtaking view.
Two more highlights are Roadside Station Space Apple Yoichi on the outbound route and Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikkogura on the return route. Roadside Station Space Apple Yoichi is popular for its apple pies made with Yoichi-grown apples and its creamy soft-serve ice cream. At Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikkogura, you can shop for local Otaru sake and enjoy tastings.
This course follows a varied and dramatic coastline, making the scenery from the bus window part of the journey itself. Enjoy the spectacular views at each stop on a comfortable scheduled sightseeing bus tour.
