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Hokkaid: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival and Lake Toya Day Trip in Sapporo

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Activity provider: JRT Group
Hokkaid: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival and Lake Toya Day Trip in Sapporo
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Full-day tour in Sapporo, taking in Toya National Park Silo Observation Deck, Toyako Onsen 100th Anniversary Monument and 氷濤 氷の美術館. Run by JRT Group, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Bus/coach
  • Toya National Park Silo Observation Deck
  • Toyako Onsen 100th Anniversary Monument
  • 氷濤 氷の美術館
  • Runs 9 hours
  • Round-trip transportation in a comfortable vehicle (from and back to designated Sapporo locations)

Hokkaid: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival and Lake Toya Day Trip in Sapporo: Key Facts

PriceFrom $82.5 per person
Duration9 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 9-hour experience from Sapporo, built around Bus/coach, Toya National Park Silo Observation Deck and Toyako Onsen 100th Anniversary Monument. It is run by JRT Group, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.

Hokkaido is Japan's northern island, a different climate and a different scale: Sapporo is its city, with the beer museum, the ramen alley and the February snow festival; Otaru, 40 minutes away, has the canal and the glass and music-box shops; Noboribetsu is the hell-valley hot springs; Lake Toya and Lake Shikotsu are caldera lakes; and Biei and Furano in the centre are the flower fields and lavender of July. Winter brings two metres of snow to Sapporo and the powder that made Niseko famous. Distances are long and trains are few, so day tours from Sapporo are mostly by bus and run eight to ten hours.

The price covers Round-trip transportation in a comfortable vehicle and guide service. It does not cover Personal/travel insurance, Lunch, Snowmobile surcharge and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival admission ticket, so budget for those separately. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.

JRT Group sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with JRT Group before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Starting location

北１条

Bus/coach

(2.5 hours)

Bus/coach

(30 minutes)

Toya National Park Silo Observation Deck

Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (30 minutes)

Toyako Onsen 100th Anniversary Monument

Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Shopping (1 hour)

Bus/coach

(1 hour)

氷濤 氷の美術館

Break time, Visit, Shopping, Sightseeing, Walk (1.5 hours)

Arrive back at

北１条

Detailed Itinerary

Starting location: 北１条

Bus/coach: (2.5 hours)

Bus/coach: (30 minutes)

Toya National Park Silo Observation Deck: Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Sightseeing (30 minutes)

Toyako Onsen 100th Anniversary Monument: Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Free time, Shopping (1 hour)

Bus/coach: (1 hour)

氷濤 氷の美術館: Break time, Visit, Shopping, Sightseeing, Walk (1.5 hours)

Arrive back at: 北１条

Includes

  • Round-trip transportation in a comfortable vehicle (from and back to designated Sapporo locations)
  • Professional guide service

Excludes

  • Personal/travel insurance
  • Lunch
  • Snowmobile surcharge
  • Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival admission ticket

Important information

Meeting point

JRT Group sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 9 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $82.5
$82.5
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

JRT Group sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
The price does not cover personal/travel insurance, lunch, snowmobile surcharge and lake shikotsu ice festival admission ticket. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Hokkaido is cold: winter days are often below freezing with snow on the ground from December to March, and even summer evenings are cool. Waterproof shoes with grip, a warm hat and gloves, and layers. Tour buses are heated, and the stops are outside.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Round-trip transportation in a comfortable vehicle (from and back to designated Sapporo locations), Professional guide service
The duration of the Hokkaid: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival and Lake Toya Day Trip in Sapporo is typically 9 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
February for deep snow and the Snow Festival, or late June to mid-July for Furano's lavender. Note that Sapporo's cumulative snowfall of 4.7–5 m is often misread — actual ground depth peaks around 80–100 cm in February. Full month-by-month detail in our best time to visit Sapporo guide.
The 2027 festival runs 4–11 February across Odori, Susukino and Tsudome, and entry to all three sites is free. Hotels sell out 6–9 months ahead and rates run 2–3× normal — our Snow Festival guide covers whether that premium is worth paying.
The subway covers most of the city at ¥210–380 a ride, and the weekend Donichika pass is just ¥520 — far better value than the ¥830 weekday version. The airport train is ¥1,230 (33–37 min). See getting around Sapporo.
Yes — it's 30 minutes and ¥800 by JR, making it the easiest day trip in Hokkaido. The canal, glassworks and sushi street fill a comfortable day. Timing tips and the Snow Light Path dates are in our Otaru day trip guide.
Miso ramen (invented here around 1954), jingisukan lamb BBQ, soup curry, and Nijo Market seafood. Bowls run ¥900–1,500. Where locals actually eat — and which famous spots to skip — is in our Sapporo food guide.
Niseko has the deepest snow (~15 m a season) but the highest prices — a 2026-27 peak day pass is ¥13,500. Rusutsu, Kiroro and Sapporo Teine (¥8,400 online) offer similar powder for less. Honest comparison in our Niseko and Hokkaido ski guide.
Three days works well: one for the city, one for Otaru, and one for a day trip or ski day. Our Sapporo 3-day itinerary has winter and summer variants with realistic timings.
Starting from$82.5