This premium sightseeing course brings together two of Hokkaido’s signature attractions, Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa and the Shirogane Blue Pond, in a single day.
The journey begins in Sapporo, traveling to Asahiyama Zoo for approximately two hours of exploration, followed by a visit to the Shirogane Blue Pond. While the route covers a considerable distance, the experience remains engaging aboard a guided sightseeing bus. A stop is also included at Sunagawa Highway Oasis, offering time to rest and shop. This hub for Sorachi specialties is an excellent place to pick up local souvenirs and sweets.
Asahiyama Zoo is designed to showcase the animals’ natural abilities and behaviors to their fullest. Known as “behavioral exhibits,” these features allow close observation of dynamic scenes, from orangutans crossing overhead ropes to polar bears diving and swimming in pools, all in environments that closely resemble their natural habitats.
After the zoo visit, the tour continues to the Shirogane Blue Pond in Shirogane, a scene of striking, almost painterly beauty. Depending on the weather and angle of light, the water shifts between cobalt and emerald blue, with standing larch trees rising from its surface, creating a truly mesmerizing natural landscape.
The return journey features sweeping views of Biei’s hills, the Patchwork Road, and the iconic Seven Stars Tree, offering classic Hokkaido scenery from the window.
Covering nearly 320 km, this route would be demanding to drive independently. A scheduled sightseeing bus allows the journey to unfold comfortably under the care of professional drivers. Discover Hokkaido’s green season with ease and comfort.
Tag Archives: Blue Pond
Scenic View of Biei’s Rolling Hills and the Iconic Seven Stars Tree from the Window
Farm Tomita, Shikisai-no-Oka and Blue Pond Tour (With Lunch, Multilingual Audio Tour)
Travel by bus equipped with a multilingual guidance system in four languages, Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, as you explore the highlights of Furano and Biei, where colorful flower fields and rolling hillscapes stretch as far as the eye can see.
The first stop is Furano Wine House, a hilltop restaurant with sweeping views over Furano City. Dine while taking in lavender fields, vast pastoral scenery, and a panoramic view of the Tokachidake mountain range. Here, diners can enjoy a set meal featuring a petit fondue made with Furano cheese and a hamburger steak made with Kamifurano pork. Savor the flavors of Furano and Biei through a meal made with local ingredients.
True to its name, the Wine House also offers a wide selection of products, including wine, 100% natural grape juice, and lavender-themed goods.
After a meal, continue to Farm Tomita, a sightseeing flower farm that has been cultivating lavender since 1958. Centered around lavender, its 14 flower fields create a vibrant landscape filled with seasonal blooms. The grounds also feature shops stocked with original items such as soaps, perfumes, and massage oils, along with a café, gallery, and lavender distillery, offering plenty to see and enjoy.
Passing along the dramatic Roller Coaster Road, the next destination is Shikisai-no-Oka. More than 30 varieties of flowers are planted here, blooming one after another from May through late October. The best season is from late July to late September. The sight of the gently sloping hills painted in patchwork colors is truly breathtaking.
A ride on the tracor bus, the Shikisai Norokko-go, is also recommended for a leisurely 15-minute tour around the grounds (optional, extra charge). Shikisai-no-Oka is also home to alpacas, and as an optional activity, visitors may enter the farm area. Enjoy meeting animals up close and even feeding them.
On the return journey to Sapporo, enjoy views from the bus of the Patchwork Road and the famous Seven Stars tree. The final highlight of the tour is the Shirogane Blue Pond. Now one of the most iconic and sought-after sights in the Biei area, it draws visitors from across Japan and beyond. Its cobalt-blue waters, paired with the stark silhouettes of standing dead larch trees, create a dreamlike, almost painterly scene. The way its appearance shifts with the weather and the angle of the light makes it feel truly mysterious.
In the Furano and Bieo area, gently rolling hills unfold beneath a tapestry of colorful flower fields. From the bus window and at each stop along the way, unforgettable scenery awaits at every turn.
Highland Furano, Farm Tomita, Shikisai-no-Oka, and Blue Pond Tour (With Lunch, Multilingual Audio Tour)
Travel by bus equipped with a multilingual guidance system in four languages, Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, as you explore the highlights of Furano and Biei, where vibrant flower fields and rolling hillscapes stretch across the landscape.
Departing from Sapporo Station, your first stop is Highland Furano, a nature-rich hot spring resort surrounded by expansive forests and lavender fields. The vivid purple stretching across the landscape truly feels like a “sea of lavender.” Walking paths are also available, allowing visitors to enjoy bathing in the air of the forest and observing seasonal plants and wild birds.
Lunch here features a set meal with a petit fondue made from Furano cheese and a hamburger steak made with Kamifurano pork. Savor the flavors of Furano and Biei through a menu crafted with local ingredients.
After a meal, continue to Farm Tomita, a sightseeing flower farm that has been cultivating lavender since 1958. Centered around lavender, its 14 flower fields create a vibrant landscape filled with seasonal blooms. The grounds also feature shops stocked with original items such as soaps, perfumes, and massage oils, along with a café, gallery, and lavender distillery, offering plenty to see and enjoy.
Passing along the dramatic Roller Coaster Road, the next destination is Shikisai-no-Oka. More than 30 varieties of flowers are planted here, blooming one after another from May through late October. The best season is from late July to late September. The sight of the gently sloping hills painted in patchwork colors is truly breathtaking.
A ride on the tracor bus, the Shikisai Norokko-go, is also recommended for a leisurely 15-minute tour around the grounds (optional, extra charge). Shikisai-no-Oka is also home to alpacas, and as an optional activity, visitors may enter the farm area. Enjoy meeting animals up close and even feeding them.
On the return journey to Sapporo, enjoy views from the bus of the Patchwork Road and the famous Seven Stars tree. The final highlight of the tour is the Shirogane Blue Pond. Now one of the most iconic and sought-after sights in the Biei area, it draws visitors from across Japan and beyond. Its cobalt-blue waters, paired with the stark silhouettes of standing dead larch trees, create a dreamlike, almost painterly scene. The way its appearance shifts with the weather and the angle of the light makes it feel truly mysterious.
In the Furano and Bieo area, gently rolling hills unfold beneath a tapestry of colorful flower fields. From the bus window and at each stop along the way, unforgettable scenery awaits at every turn.
