[Penguin walk] Hokkaido Asahikawa 1-day tour: Asahiyama Zoo & Ningle Terrace & Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike) & Shirahige

Hokkaido's popular winter 1-day tour, checking in at Asahiyama Zoo, Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike), Shirahige Waterfall, and Ningle Terrace all in one stop — gathering all the northern fairy-tale wonders into your journey! Depart from Sapporo in the morning and head to Asahiyama Zoo in Japan's far north to encounter the famous penguin snow parade and meet adorable animals up close; then head to Biei to admire the dreamy blue-toned Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike) and the picturesque ice-frozen Shirahige Waterfall, immersing yourself in Hokkaido's natural snow scenery. In the evening, arrive at Ningle Terrace in the forest, where warm-lit wooden cabins house handmade craft shops — the atmosphere is simply enchanting~

The itinerary is comfortably paced without rushing, with smooth transitions between attractions, saving you the hassle of self-drive. There is ample time to enjoy, making it suitable for family-friendly trips or couples traveling together—unlock a perfectly healing Hokkaido winter romance!

Itinerary highlights at a glance

Asahiyama Zoo (stopover time is 110 minutes, including lunch time)

Winter exclusive · penguin walk: During the snowy season from late December to mid-March each year, the park hosts the famous "penguin walk." There are usually two sessions daily at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., when flocks of penguins waddle in a line alongside the visitor path, just about 1 m away from visitors, making it one of Hokkaido's most heartwarming winter experiences.

Asahiyama Zoo closure dates:November 4–10, 2026, December 30, 2026 – January 1, 2027, April 8–28, 2027, November 4–10, 2027

Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike) (stop for 20 minutes)

A trendy hidden gem in the forests of Biei, Shirogane. The pond water takes on a dreamy milky blue hue due to natural minerals, with withered pine trees standing in the water—it is the filming location of a famous Mac wallpaper. In winter, blanketed in snow, it feels even more like an ethereal wonderland.

Shirahige Waterfall (stay 15 mins)

Shirogane Onsen in Biei, Hokkaido, Japan, is home to a very rare subsurface-flow waterfall in Japan. Backed by the majestic Tokachidake mountain range, it is known for its unique geological formation and the dreamlike "Biei blue" color, making it one of the core attractions for nature sightseeing in Hokkaido.

Ningle Terrace (stopover: 30 mins)

※During Ningle Terrace closures, traffic congestion, or traffic control periods, visit the cheese workshop/snow park

▸ During the closure of the November Sprite Terrace, proceed to the Cheese Workshop; the stop duration is adjusted to 40 minutes.

▸ From December 1 to March 31, if there is severe traffic congestion or traffic control, the itinerary will go to the snow park for a 70-minute stay (choose one of Shikisai-no-oka or Chiyoda Farm, arranged based on the queue situation at the snow park on the day, cannot be specified). The itinerary order will be adjusted to: Asahiyama Zoo - Snow park - Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike) - Shirahige Waterfall

18:00 Return to Sapporo Station north exit for disbanding

Meet-up:

Meeting point: Sapporo Station North Exit, departure time 8:00

It is recommended to arrive at the meeting point ten minutes in advance

Transfer

Hotel pick-up & drop-off available in designated areas of Sapporo, pick-up & drop-off time 7:30-8:00

Pick-up/drop-off outside the specified zone (additional charge) is not available

[Pick-up package: Minimum 2 people] Hotel pick-up and drop-off within the designated area of Chuo Ward, Sapporo. The pick-up order and timing will be arranged by the driver-guide based on factors such as travel distance. Please understand and cooperate with each other, and follow the driver-guide's arrangements. ※ The service will not wait for latecomers, so we recommend waiting at the meeting point 10 minutes before departure.

Important notice: Reference vehicle types: 10-seater Hiace (driver also serves as commentator, no guide provided), 14-seater Hiace ((driver also serves as commentator, no guide provided)), 18-22-seater medium bus, 22-49-seater bus. The vehicle type will be randomly arranged based on the group size.

Important note: If you have companions, please actively inform us when placing the order. For companions making separate bookings, if no special note is provided, they will be treated as individual guests by default and cannot be guaranteed to be arranged in the same vehicle. Please be advised.