When Hokkaido’s long winter arrives, the landscape turns into a world of silver-white snow. Just before that season begins, set out on a late-autumn journey to some of the best sights in the Toya and Noboribetsu area. Feel the end of the green season and the coming of winter in the crisp air.
After departing Sapporo Station, the first stop is the roadside station Boyo Nakayama, located at the top of Nakayama Pass. It is also a scenic viewpoint with views of Mt. Yotei. Its local specialty is ageimo, deep-fried potato balls that sell around 300,000 servings a year and have remained a bestseller for more than 50 years.
Next, visit Silo Observatory at Lake Toya. Here, enjoy lunch and a sweeping panoramic view of Lake Toya from above. Lunch features Kitano Kaisen Nabe, a hearty hot pot filled with seafood. The special miso soup is rich with the flavor of the seafood, and can be enjoyed to the very last drop with udon noodles added at the end.
After lunch, take an aerial ride on the Usuzan Ropeway and enjoy the magnificent scenery shaped by nature from the mountaintop terrace and walking trails. You may also visit Showa-Shinzan Bear Ranch as an optional activity. Watch the bears playing and relaxing, or try feeding them yourself.
The final highlight of this course is Noboribetsu Jigokudani Valley. This massive explosion crater was formed by volcanic activity, and the sight of volcanic gas and steam rising from the rugged rock surface truly lives up to its name, “Hell Valley.” A wide variety of hot spring waters that make up the Noboribetsu Onsen area gush from this site, totaling 10,000 tons per day. Walk through the sulfur-scented valley and experience the power of the earth with all five senses.
Hokkaido’s autumn, tucked between its long summer and winter, passes in the blink of an eye. Yet this season offers many sights found only at this time of year, from autumn foliage and clear skies to trees shedding more leaves with each passing day. Set out on a bus journey and enjoy the atmosphere of late autumn.
Tag Archives: Dam・Marsh・Lake
A journey through the lakes and mountains of the Toya and Noboribetsu area in autumn
Crystal-clear waters and lush green forests… Experience Hokkaido’s great outdoors up close!
Lakes and Mountains of Hokkaido: Lake Shikotsu, Niseko, and Mt. Yotei Tour (With Lunch, Excluding Multilingual Audio System)
This guided bus tour takes you through the stunning summer landscapes of Niseko and Lake Shikotsu.
The first stop is Kyogoku Fukidashi Park, one of Japan’s most renowned natural spring sites. Around 80,000 tons of snowmelt from Mt. Yotei flows here daily, earning recognition as one of the Ministry of the Environment’s “Top 100 Waters” and a designated “Hokkaido Heritage” site. The park features scenic walking paths and numerous water-drawing points, where visitors can drink or take home the fresh spring water. Bringing a bottle is recommended. The adjacent roadside station, Meisui-no-Sato Kyogoku, is also popular for treats like spring-water coffee and coffee jelly.
Lunch is served at Niseko Nook Annupuri, located at the base of Mt. Niseko Annupuri. The highlight is a sukiyaki-style hot pot set featuring herb-fed pork from nearby Makkari Village. Raised on herb-infused feed, the pork is known for its rich flavor and natural sweetness, fully brought out in this hearty sukiyaki dish.
After lunch, visit the Niseko Distillery, established in 2019 and specializing in whisky and gin. It is part of the Hakkaisan Group, a long-established sake brewery from Niigata. Its high-quality gin has won top honors at international competitions. Tastings are available, including gin, plum wine, and shochu.
Niseko Milk Kobo, set against the backdrop of Mt. Yotei, is known for its sweets made with fresh milk from the nearby Takahashi Farm. Enjoy a wide range of treats, including soft-serve ice cream, drinkable yogurt, cream puffs, pudding, and roll cakes, all highlighting the natural flavor of the ingredients.
Leaving the Niseko area, the final stop is Lake Shikotsu, one of Japan’s clearest lakes. Step off the bus and take in the deep blue waters shimmering with reflected light. The nearby Lake Shikotsu Visitor Center offers insights into the lake’s volcanic origins and surrounding wildlife. Optional activities include sightseeing boat cruises with underwater viewing and swan boat rides across the lake.
With over 230 kilometers of travel, this tour offers a safe and comfortable journey with professional drivers. A relaxed way to explore Hokkaido’s vast landscape, this bus tour lets you experience nature at your own pace.
Niseko Nature Discovery Tour: Hidden Gem Shinsen Marsh, Local Flavors, and Kyogoku’s Famous Spring Water (Excluding Multilingual Audio System)
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.
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.
Visit Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya, both famed for their beautiful waters, plus Mount Usu, part of a UNESCO Global Geopark, all in one day!
Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya Tour (Multilingual Audio Tour)
Travel through Hokkaido’s magnificent natural landscapes aborad a bus equipped with a multilingual guidance system in four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
Lake Shikotsu was once ranked No. 1 in Japan for water quality for 11 consecutive years, and is known for having some of the clearest water in the country. Step off the bus and take in the lake’s deep blue waters, shimmering as they reflect the surrounding light. Near the shore, the Lake Shikotsu Visitor Center is a place where sightseers can learn more about the area’s dramatic volcanic history as well as the plants and animals that inhabit the surrounding landscape.
After enjoying Lake Shikotsu, the tour continues on to Lake Toya, with a rest and shopping stop along the way at Kinoko Oukoku Otaki Main Store. With more than 2,000 kinds of souvenirs on offer, it is a great place to browse, especially for specialty mushroom products, just as the name suggests.
Lake Toya is a caldera lake formed by a volcanic eruption around 100,000 years ago. Lunch will be served at Toyako Kohantei on the lakeshore*. Enjoy a set meal generously prepared with locally sourced seafood, vegetables, pork, and other regional ingredients, for a true taste of Hokkaido’s abundant nature. As the planned stay here is approximately 70 minutes, those wanting some fresh air can also enjoy a stroll along the lakeside after lunch.
*During certain periods, lunch will be at the traveler’s own discretion instead, with approximately 60 minutes allotted for the stay and meal at Kinoko Oukoku.
After taking in the scenery at Lake Toya, head to Mount Usu, the first site in Japan to be recognized as a Global Geopark, a natural heritage designation for areas of major geological significance. Ride the Usuzan Ropeway for a scenic journey through the air, then admire the dramatic natural vistas from the summit terrace and walking trails. As an optional stop, visitors can also go to the Showa Shinzan Bear Ranch, where the bears play and relax, and even enjoy a feeding experience.
This course is perfect for becoming immersed in the natural beauty created by Hokkaido’s lakes, forests, and mountains. Sit back, relax, and set out on a grand Hokkaido journey in comfort with a professionally operated bus tour!
