[Travelogue] 2026 Hokkaido Sapporo 6-Day Trip — Sapporo City, Jozankei Onsen, Hokkaido Light-Up (Furano Fairy Platform & Biei Blue Pond) One-Day Tour
Complete Record of Walking in Sapporo City, Soaking in Jozankei, and Illuminations at Furano Fairy Hill and Biei Blue Pond
I have been working at my new job for almost half a year and just finished a project. Since I have never been to snowy Japan, I decided to take a trip to Hokkaido in mid-March.
Preparation Before Departure
Plan
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Day 1: After arriving in Sapporo, head straight to Jozankei Onsen for an overnight stay
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Day 2: Return to Sapporo City for sightseeing
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Day 3: Otaru, Otaru Aquarium
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Day 5: Shopping and Hokkaido Shrine
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Day 6: Head to the airport for departure
Line
Flight — China Airlines
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🛫 03/15 Departure CI130: TPE Taoyuan International Airport T2 08:35 (actual delay 3 minutes) -> CTS New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido 13:15 (actual delay 7 minutes)
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🛬 03/20 Return Flight CI131: CTS New Chitose Airport 14:20 (actual delay 8 minutes) -> TPE Taoyuan International Airport 18:15 (actual arrival 3 minutes early)
Price: NT $24,356 per person
*Because the snow season is not over yet, prices are still high. Returning on Friday is better since weekends are even more expensive…
Sapporo Station <-> Jozankei Round-Trip Bus Ticket
https://jozankei.jp/tw/news/newaccess/
There are many JR trains from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station, and since the flight arrival time is uncertain, I didn’t buy tickets in advance. To get to Jozankei Onsen, you can only take a bus. According to the latest transportation information as of December 2025, there are three routes to choose from:
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[Reservation required][About 60 minutes] Sapporo Station → Take the Kappa Liner bus → Jozankei Onsen.
Click here to view the timetable -
[No reservation needed][About 70 minutes] Sapporo Station → Makomanai Station → Bus → Jozankei Onsen.
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[No reservation required][About 120 minutes] New Chitose Airport → Airport Bus (Hokuto Kotsu) → Makomanai Station → Jozankei Onsen.
Route (1) — かっぱライナー号 / Kappa Liner is the most direct and convenient option, I checked the schedule and found that after the plane lands, clearing customs, and taking the JR to Sapporo Station, the 4:00 PM departure (winter season only) is more than enough time. So I booked it online in advance (foreigners can book too!).
Outbound: Sapporo Station -> Jozankei:
https://www.jotetsu.co.jp/bus/kappa_liner/index.html
- Note that the trips marked in red only operate in autumn and winter, and the departures from Sapporo Station at 16:00 and 17:00 only go as far as the Jozankei Bus Garage.
Return Trip Jozankei -> Sapporo Station:
https://www.jotetsu.co.jp/bus/kappa_liner/index.html
- For the return trip, I planned to check out at 11:00 and stroll around the hot spring street before leaving, so I booked the 13:15 departure bus (boarding at Shiraito Falls at 13:31).
Reservation Method:
- Register as a member on the official reservation website
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Email / Taiwan phone number OK.
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Be sure to remember your account and password, as the e-ticket is activated online directly for the driver to verify.
- Choose to purchase かっぱライナー号 / Kappa Liner round-trip or one-way tickets
- Select Number of People
- Select the departure date and flight/train (times are shown as departure from Sapporo)
- Choose the boarding and alighting locations for the outbound trip
Boarding and alighting stations can be referred to in the chart below:
https://www.jotetsu.co.jp/bus/kappa_liner/index.html
Our hotel is closer to (2) Shiraito Falls/白糸の滝/Shiraitonotaki, so we booked to get off at this stop.
Later, I found out you can continue riding the loop and get off at (7) Jozankei Onsen Higashi 2 Chome / 定山渓温泉東2丁目 stop, which is right at the hotel entrance.
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Select the return date and departure time (times are based on the departure station), as well as the boarding and alighting locations
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Complete payment online with credit card
Price: ¥2,920 JPY/adult.
You will receive an email notification once your reservation is confirmed. No need to exchange tickets in person; simply activate them online at the ticket website and show it to the driver.
eSIM
Also purchased the 5G unlimited eSIM on KKday. This time in Hokkaido, the signal was only lost once in the remote mountains of Biei; otherwise, it worked fine. This time, I specifically chose a plan that supports ChatGPT for easy information lookup.
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KKday Purchase: Japan eSIM｜Docomo / KDDI / SoftBank / Rakuten｜ Supports ChatGPT and Gemini
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The eSIM must be activated while connected to the internet, preferably before boarding the plane at the airport in Taiwan.
Price: NT $343/6 days, unlimited data (subject to fair usage policy)
Visit Japan
Stay
03/15–16 (1 night) — Jozankei Yurakusoan ゆらく草庵 Japanese Onsen Hotel
3 Chome-228–1 Jozankeionsenhigashi, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061–2301 Japan
Located at the entrance of Jozankei Onsen Street.
Price: ¥52,150 JPY — 1 night double room / includes hearty Japanese breakfast / private hot spring bath / non-smoking (Hollywood Twin Room with Tatami — Non-Smoking)
03/16–20 (4 nights) — Keio Prelia Hotel Sapporo / 京王プレリアホテル札幌 / Sapporo Keio Prelia Hotel
4 Chome-11–1 Kita 8 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060–0808 Japan
Located about a 5-minute walk from the back exit of Sapporo Station.
Price: ¥58,389 JPY — 4 nights in a comfortable queen room/non-smoking.
Fun
KKday One-Day Tour: Hokkaido Illumination Trip ｜ Furano Fairy Hill & Biei Blue Pond & Shirahige Falls One-Day Tour ｜ Departure from Sapporo
- [Relaxed 11:50 Departure Plan B] March & April 2026 \| Daytime Furano Fairy Hill & Christmas Tree & Shirahige Falls & Nighttime Blue Pond Illumination (No Shikisai-no-oka)
Price: NT $1,807 TWD per person.
KKday — 【 Official Sale】Otaru Aquarium Admission Ticket, Hokkaido (Instant Use/Valid Within 30 Days of Purchase)
【Official Sale】Hokkaido Otaru Aquarium Ticket (Instant Use / Valid for 30 Days After Purchase)
- Features include outdoor port enclosures, many performances, and a penguin walking tour during winter.
Ready! Set! Go!
Day 1 (03/15) — Arrival in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Jozankei Onsen Hotel
05:00 Airport Transfer Departure
05:35 Airport Transfer Arrive at TPE Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 2 (T2)
Assigned to the far corners, the counter opens only at 06:10.
Activate the Japan eSIM during your free time.
06:40 Completed Check-in + Baggage Drop + Immigration Security Check
Check-in and baggage drop likely took little time because we arrived early. There were many people at immigration, but the process moved quickly. We cleared immigration around 06:40.
Enjoying a leisurely breakfast Zzzzz.
07:30 Waiting at the gate — D6 Boarding Gate
There is still some time before boarding, so first go to D1 to use a free massage chair (tokens can be requested from nearby shops).
07:50 Preparing to Board
08:38 Plane Departure TPE -> CTS
The flight was on a newer China Airlines aircraft, the Airbus A330–300, which has a spacious cabin and well-equipped in-flight entertainment system.
The food was just… so-so.
Flight time: about 3 hours 50 minutes, snacks will also be provided.
13:22 Plane lands TPE -> CTS
14:10 Completed immigration and baggage claim
Immigration was quite fast, but the luggage took a long time to arrive. Not sure if it was because there were too many people (all seats were sold out).
Follow the signs for “Domestic Flights, JR Line” all the way from the airport.
After reaching the other building’s lobby, go down to B1F to find the JR station. (If using the escalator, you need to take a little detour.)
14:29 Take the Rapid Service from New Chitose Airport Station to Sapporo Station
https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/chinese/travel/airport.html
You can enter the station directly with a Suica card, but I wanted to break some bills, so I still bought a ticket with coins.
15:06 Arrive at Sapporo Station
- Used the restroom and bought some food, then continued walking to bus stop 27.
15:15 Head to Sapporo Station Bus Stop No. 27 (Kappa Line Boarding Point)
15:25 Arrive at Sapporo Station Bus Stop No.27 (Kappa Line Boarding Point) Waiting for the bus
Exit Sapporo Station Front Exit, turn left, then turn right at the next intersection. You will see it, with a red building behind it.
- Japanese service is reliable; here, staff will also confirm that you are going to Jozankei and have a reservation.
16:00 Departure to Jozankei Onsen
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Show the mobile login reservation ticket activation to the staff, and you can board directly.
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Since this is a sightseeing bus, you can hand your suitcase directly to the staff to store it in the luggage compartment.
- The drive takes about 50 minutes. By mid-March, there is little snow in the city, but some snow remains in the outskirts.
16:50 Arrive at Jozankei Onsen (2) Shiraito Falls / 白糸の滝 Stop
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The Kappa Line bus design features the mascot of Jozankei Onsen — the kappa.
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Show the electronic ticket to the driver when getting off and inform them that you need to collect your luggage
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Get off the bus and walk straight across the street to reach the hot spring hotel where we will stay today!
17:00 Arrive at Jozankei Yurakusoan ゆらく草庵 Japanese Onsen Hotel
Very traditional Japanese style, the entire hotel is made of wood. Upon entering the lobby, there is tatami flooring where you need to change shoes and put them in the shoe cabinet.
- 房間很大有獨立的廁所、私人衛浴/湯屋、客廳跟床；厲害的是雖然是傳統木造榻榻米但是整體維護的非常好， 沒有任何髒髒舊舊或是霉味的感覺 。
- 也有公共的私人湯屋可以使用 (有好幾間，沒人就可以進去)
18:00 Head out for dinner
The hotel offers half board, but we booked a plan with only breakfast; we went out to find food for other meals.
18:10 Kita no Kuni｜Jozankei Manseikaku Hotel Milione 3rd Floor
The hot spring street mostly offers lodging with meals, so there are few restaurants outside; finally, we walked to the izakaya on the 3rd floor of another hotel, 万世閣, for dinner.
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First Drink: Draft — Sapporo Draft Beer
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Ate pork cutlet rice and the specialty fried crucian carp (very delicious).
19:30 Return to the hotel for hot spring bath and rest
- Fortunately, there were many convenience stores along the way, so I stopped by FamilyMart to buy a late-night snack.
Although it stopped snowing, it still gets very cold after sunset. After a long day of traveling, I returned to the hotel early to soak in the hot spring and rest.
Day 2 (03/16 Mon) — Jozankei Onsen Street, Sapporo City Attractions
09:00 Breakfast
I happened to get a window seat, and the view outside was very beautiful.
Breakfast was very hearty: mainly rice/vegetable rice, miso soup, (1) steamed pork with vegetables in the center, (2) cold salmon — can be heated using the alcohol lamp and aluminum foil in the center, (3) tamagoyaki.
11:00 Checkout, Store Luggage, Walk Around Jozankei Onsen Street Nearby
There was still some time before boarding the return bus at 13:31, so I took a walk around the entire Jozankei Onsen area.
11:10 Jozankei Shrine
The entire shrine was frozen under heavy snow and ice.
11:30 Kappa Family’s Wishing Hand Bath
Wash your hands briefly.
The slope beside leads down to the hot spring park.
11:40 Jozankei Gensen Park
The park has a public footbath and a hot spring outlet where you can boil eggs.
If you want to try cooking onsen eggs, you can cross the bridge to the opposite side at ㈱Jozankei Bussankan Central Store to buy onsen eggs, cook them, and then bring them back to the shop to eat.
12:00 Passing by ふる川果日 J.glacée
Continuing uphill, I passed a bakery that had freshly baked apple croissants. I bought one to try, and it tasted good.
12:15 Passing by Iwato Kannon Hall
After passing here, go forward and then down to return to the starting hotel.
You can imagine how heavy the snowfall was before—the suspension bridge over the stream was completely frozen with snow and ice!
12:30 Walk back to the hotel
With some time left, we continued to visit the nearby Shiraito Falls.
I had to take a detour downhill; unfortunately, it was also closed due to being frozen by snow and ice.
13:10 Return to the hotel to pick up luggage
13:15 Arrive at (2) Shiraito Falls Bus Stop (opposite side from arrival)
Our bus departs from the starting station at 13:15 and is expected to arrive at Shiraito Falls station at 13:31. The waiting time is boring, so we stepped on the snow.
13:40 Board the bus back to Sapporo Station
- Show the electronic ticket to the driver once when boarding and once when alighting.
14:50 Return to Sapporo, check in at Keio Prelia Hotel Sapporo : 京王プレリアホテル札幌 : 札幌京王普雷利亞飯店
- 飯店很新、設備齊全，房間算大。
- 地點在後站比較不熱鬧，要走一小段、札幌站也沒藥妝店； 相較之下大通站周邊比較熱鬧。
Around 15:20, got ready and set off again. Didn’t have lunch, planning to have dinner near Odori Park earlier.
15:30 Yodobashi
On the way from the hotel to the JR/subway station, there is a Yodobashi (with a McDonald’s nearby). I went to check out the capsule toy machines.
16:10 Arrive at Susukino Station
Take the train to Susukino Station to enjoy the famous “lamb” barbecue in Sapporo.
16:15 Genghis Khan Daruma Main Store Start Eating
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Ordered two signature dishes, one regular meat, white rice, and draft beer (large size… a bit too large).
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The meat was very delicious, with no gamey taste at all, and the texture was very tender.
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The cost for this amount was about 700 TWD per person.
The restaurant is small, and there are other branches nearby. By the time we finished eating close to 5 PM, there were already many people lining up outside.
17:00 Susukino Station Intersection
After eating, we slowly walked back to Odori Station, intending to visit the Sapporo TV Tower. On the way, we passed by Sapporo’s most famous intersection.
17:15 Passing by Tanukikoji for some gacha and Don Quijote shopping
There is a whole building MEGA Don Quijote here.
17:41 Sapporo TV Tower
18:30 Sapporo TV Tower Night View
Stayed at Sapporo Tower until about 18:30 and came down after enjoying the night view.
You can also collect stamps while gathering postcards.
18:40 PARCO Sapporo Shopping
Right after exiting the TV Tower, the next intersection is Parco Sapporo store. Let’s go shopping.
20:30 Buy late-night snacks at the convenience store and return to the hotel to rest
Dinner was early, so I had to eat more for a late-night snack; I bought convenience store instant noodles, skewers, fried chicken, and strawberry fruit wine (delicious), plus Hokkaido The Sapporo Bar collaboration whiskey chocolate ice cream (it really has alcohol flavor and tastes quite good).
Day 3 (03/17 Tue) — Otaru, Otaru Aquarium
09:30 Leave the house
Bought a McDonald’s breakfast to eat in the car.
10:00 Board at Sapporo Station to Otaru Station
The train was a local train, very crowded, so I had to stand, there was no way to eat on the train.
10:42 Arrive at Otaru Station
You can tell many people come to Otaru by looking at the crowd.
10:45 Otaru Station
Exit Otaru Station from the front, cross the street, and the bus stop is on the right. Wait at platform 3 for the 10 Otaru Aquarium Line:
Image source: Google Map - K T (torute)
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10 Otaru Aquarium Line: It is almost direct and takes about 20 minutes to reach Otaru Aquarium.
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11 Shukutsu Line: Not direct, but it goes there; takes about 30 minutes.
11:10 Arrive at Otaru Aquarium
Simply show the QR code of the online purchased 【Official Sale】Hokkaido Otaru Aquarium Admission Ticket (Instant Use/Valid Within 30 Days After Purchase) at the counter to enter directly.
Otaru Aquarium Homemade Map
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The Ferris wheel is closed in winter. It is outside the aquarium area and requires a separate ticket.
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Although Otaru Aquarium is small, it has a rich variety of species and is well maintained; there are many shows, making the overall experience quite enjoyable.
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The red line marks the penguin walking route.
Opening hours may vary by season. Please refer to the official website.
Turn right after entering and walk down — Marine Mammal Park
There is only an escalator going uphill here; the downhill is quite shaky.
All outdoor performances are here:
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Seal Activity: At 11:20 when we arrived, a show was in progress
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Sea Lion Show (Giant Sea Lion): 11:40
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Penguin Picnic: 12:00
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Penguin activity: Not seen
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Walrus feeding explanation: Not seen
11:40 Sea Lion Show
Arrived early and stood in the front row. The sea lions are really huge!
Seals
Next to the show is the seal pool, where each seal looks very relaxed.
You can buy fish to feed the seals and sea lions for interaction. There is a limited quantity, and some pools do not allow feeding, so please check the signs.
12:00 Penguin Walk
The complete route is shown by the red line in the above image, ending at the penguin pool for a splash.
After watching the sea lions, I went to the penguin walking route. There is a white line on the floor; stand outside the line and wait for the penguins to pass by. I stood at the corner here (where the person is in the photo above).
They are little penguins, somewhat like the ones in Nankan.
Finally, we will walk to the penguin pond to splash some water:
Also go see other indoor animals: (seals, walruses)
After watching, head towards the dolphinarium:
Outside the dolphinarium, there is also a small penguin pool:
12:40 Sea Lion + Dolphin Show
After the visit, return to the main building to explore the marine life in the city:
The species are also quite diverse.
Japan’s Oldest Asian Small-Clawed Otter:
This otter is elderly and moves slowly and unsteadily. Please do not disturb it as it enjoys its later years.
After visiting the souvenir shop, we returned to the bus stop where we arrived to wait for the bus.
14:00 Take the bus back to Otaru Station
14:20 Return to Otaru Station
Walk along Ekimae Avenue toward the Otaru Canal.
Near the end of the street, you can see LeTAO Canal Shop:
Here, they sell souvenirs, ice cream desserts, and also have a deli café ルタオ小樽運河店 三番庫カフェ.
The cookies were quite tasty, but the other tin box with dried strawberry chocolate was a bit too sweet.
14:40 LeTAO Otaru Canal Store Third Warehouse Cafe Lunch
I casually ordered a cooked Italian pasta to fill my stomach, along with a dessert set (the cake was delicious).
16:00 Stroll along Otaru Canal
After eating, continue walking along the Otaru Canal, heading towards the Otaru Steam Clock.
There are many small shops, souvenir stores, and glassware shops around the Otaru Steam Clock.
Bought many cookie souvenirs here, especially the exclusive Hokkaido brand — Rokkatei.
Must-buy at Rokkatei — Rum cookies (short shelf life, taste better chilled), liqueur chocolates (contain real alcohol)
There is a Kitaichi Glass Outlet on the way that sells Hokkaido local sake with free tasting.
Bought a bottle of muskmelon liquor to enjoy later.
Has a thick texture with Hami melon pulp, and a strong Hami melon flavor. It’s better to drink with ice cubes and sparkling water.
17:10 Walk to the end of the street to Otaru Steam Clock
It’s getting close to evening, so we started heading back.
18:10 Return to Otaru Station
Missed the 18:00 express airport bus to Sapporo, so took a random slower bus back.
19:00 Return to Sapporo Station
19:30 Savoy Sapporo Station Kitaguchi Hokkaido Soup Curry
There is a highly-rated soup curry place near the hotel that offers takeout (too tired to dine out), so we bought it back to the hotel to eat.
The ingredients are very fresh, and the curry flavor does not overpower them. It is light and delicious.
Late-night snack was a convenience store hot dog + melon liqueur (not bad) + Yakult 1000 reduced sugar version, to replenish probiotics (actually drink it every day, just too lazy to take photos).
Day 4 (03/18 Wed) — KKday Hokkaido Illumination Tour ｜ Furano Fairy Hill & Biei Blue Pond & Shirahige Waterfall One-Day Tour｜Departing from Sapporo
We chose the Relaxed 11:50 Departure Plan B, but it will be a late night, expected to return to Sapporo Odori Station at 21:40.
Meeting point: Odori Subway Station Exit 31. You will receive a pre-trip notification email the day before with contact details for the guide/driver.
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11:50 is the departure time, please arrive by 11:40
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11:50 is the departure time, please arrive by 11:40
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11:50 is the departure time, please arrive by 11:40
10:00 Leave to Odori Station
10:30 Go to the nearby Komeda Coffee Odori Nishi 2-chome Branch for breakfast
- Order a drink and get a free meal bun + a la carte fried shrimp burger
Because the trip is long, I wanted to save more energy.
Arrive around 11:30 at Odori Subway Station Exit 31 to wait for the bus at the park
Almost all day tours gather around this park. Make sure to confirm with the guide that you are in the right group, or you might get on the wrong bus.
11:40 Tour guide arrives, board the bus
Last time, I joined a large group tour with a bus driver and guide for the KKDAY Takachiho One-Day Tour, Takachiho Shrine, Takachiho Gorge, Amano-Iwato Shrine, Amano-Yasugawara. This time, I joined a small group of 6 people with only a driver-guide. The advantage is that with fewer people, moving around is faster.
First the highway, then entering the mountain road deep in the forest—it’s really quite far.
Travel time to the first attraction: about 1 hour 50 minutes.
13:30 Furano Forest Elf Terrace - Daytime
There is a tourist center here with restrooms, and right behind it is the Furano Ski Resort.
Furano Forest Fairy Terrace is a wooden boardwalk in the forest with many small cabins selling handmade goods. The area is small, and it takes less than 10 minutes to walk around. In winter, you can enjoy the snowy scenery during the day and illuminated night views in the evening.
Photography is prohibited at the store entrance and inside the store.
Bought a wooden moon-shaped handmade souvenir
Because we arrived early, we stayed here for 50 minutes.
14:20 Depart for Herb Garden Furano (HERB GARDEN FURANO)
Drive time: about 30 minutes.
Rest stop (shopping area) itinerary, no forced sales, the ice cream inside is delicious!
Stay for about 30 minutes.
15:40 Arrive at Biei Station
Biei Station Very small and quite remote nearby, mainly for taking photos, using the restroom, and buying some food nearby to bring as dinner on the road.
There is a 7–11 and a bakery nearby to choose from.
Bought a bread and convenience store ready-to-eat meal for dinner on the road.
Stay for about 50 minutes.
16:30 Depart for Biei Christmas Tree
About a 10-minute drive, roadside attraction.
16:40 Arrive at Biei Christmas Tree
Each season offers different scenery. Today features a snowy landscape with the sunset faintly visible.
Stay for about 20 minutes.
17:00 Depart for Shirahige Falls
About a 30-minute drive, a bridge sightseeing spot.
17:30 Arrive at Shirahige Falls
Looking down from this pedestrian iron bridge is the frozen Shirahige Waterfall.
Stay for about 20 minutes.
As evening approaches, the weather is cold; the bridge surface is icy, so walk carefully.
17:50 Depart for Shirogane Blue Pond
About a 5-minute drive.
17:55 Arrive at the final spot Shirogane Blue Pond
Stay for about 30 minutes, there is a visitor center restroom.
Walk up from the parking lot to see the Blue Pond.
is a tranquil spot where the frozen, silent pond shows a hint of life through shifting light and shadows.
18:30 Return Odori Subway Station Exit 31
Drive time: about 2 hours 30 minutes, with a rest stop around 20:00 for everyone to use the restroom.
20:55 Arrive at Odori Subway Station Exit 31
Overall, it was similar to my previous experience with “KKDAY Takachiho One-Day Tour: Takachiho Shrine, Takachiho Gorge, Ama-no-Iwato Shrine, Amano-Yasugawara”: it’s mostly a quick bus tour. Visiting these spots on your own is quite troublesome since half the route is highway and the other half is mountain roads through unpopulated areas (which feel like bear country). This time, we were in a small group and the driver sped aggressively, so we returned to the city earlier than expected.
21:30 Return to Sapporo Station
After walking around near Odori Station, we returned to Sapporo Station. Most of the food places were already closed.
Sapporo Tsunagu Yokomachi
I checked and found there was a night market still open near the station, so I decided to walk over and take a look. Anything would do, just to grab a bite.
Randomly picked a place with grilled skewers (mainly grilled eel) to have a quick bite.
This place is only open until March. I originally wanted to eat chicken wings but ended up choosing the wrong restaurant.
22:30 Return to the hotel
Still a bit hungry after eating, went to a nearby convenience store to buy some late-night snacks to eat back at the hotel.
S eicomart sells some items that Lawson, 7-Eleven, and FamilyMart do not have.
Day 5 (03/19 Thu) — Shopping and Hokkaido Shrine
10:00 Head out for breakfast at McDonald’s
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McGriddles Pancake Sandwich (not sold in Taiwan) — Bacon, cheese, and egg with a sweet and salty honey flavor
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Strawberry Cheesecake Pie (also later sold in Taiwan) — strawberry jam + cheese
10:00 Odori and Tanukikoji continue exploring capsule toy machines and shopping at Don Quijote
There’s not much to shop at Sapporo Station; there are more things to explore here.
Twisted a fire alarm and some interesting capsule toys.
13:30 Return to Sapporo Station hotel to drop off items, continue shopping and eating at department stores
For lunch, I casually had chirashi sushi and soba noodles at the department store.
LE LABO Le Labo Sapporo Daimaru Store
Quick glance at Le Labo 2026 / Sapporo prices:
- 50ml ¥31,350 same as 2025 Tokyo price
Shopping and strolling, then depart around 15:00 to Hokkaido Shrine.
From Sapporo, take the Namboku Line to Odori Station, then transfer to the Tozai Line to Maruyama Park Station. The ride takes about 30 minutes.
15:40 Arrive at Maruyama Park Station
If you go early, you can first take a seat at the nearby famous Hokkaido seafood conveyor belt sushi Toriton.
Exit Maruyama Koen Station at Exit 3, then walk straight into the park towards Hokkaido Shrine.
Distance: about 850 meters / 15 minutes
Just cross the street, and you’ll reach the park entrance:
When you meet your friends at Maruyama…
Me: Maruyama Park 💁
First, pass through Maruyama Park (there is still a lot of snow here), and you will see the entrance to the Jingu Torii gate:
15:50 Jingu Chaya
Continue walking and you will pass Jingu Chaya, where you can first enjoy some Hokkaido milk ice cream.
Rich and delicious.
Eating is not allowed inside the shrine; please finish eating at the teahouse before leaving.
16:15 Hokkaido Shrine
Worship: Throw a 5-yen coin (symbolizing good luck) -> Bow twice -> Clap twice -> Make a wish -> Finish with one bow
Bought two omamori charms. The special one is the traffic safety charm, which can be hung inside a car, and it comes with a sticker that can be placed on a motorcycle, bicycle, or helmet.
16:30 Leave Hokkaido Shrine
Walked slowly back from the shrine and park to the subway station, preparing to return near Sapporo Station for dinner.
17:20 Passing by Sapporo Hokkaido Government Office Red Brick Building
Just passing by, mainly heading to the neighboring Sapporo Mitsui for yakiniku:
17:30 Yakiniku Bar Tamura Yakiniku (Grilled Meat)
Let’s try Hokkaido Wagyu beef.
Ordered the Hokkaido beef set + salad + beer + drink + cold noodles, totaling about NT$3,100; the wagyu beef was fatty and melted in the mouth, the steak was also very good, and the most impressive was the beef tongue, which was very chewy and tasty.
19:00 Sapporo Tokyu Department Store
After eating, we took a final stroll to Tokyu Department Store.
There are also toys and capsule toys upstairs here.
20:00 Return to Sapporo Station
The department store is about to close, so let’s take one last look around.
Sapporo Station — Sandwich Workshop Sandria
On the way back to the hotel, I bought sandwiches from a vending machine near the JR station that had a long line of people every day.
Limited to two per person. I bought one pork cutlet for a late-night snack and a potato egg salad for tomorrow’s breakfast.
22:30 Late-night snack on the last night in Sapporo
Had strawberry wine and Hokkaido milk ice cream on the first day.
Day 6 (03/20 Fri) — New Chitose Airport, Return Trip
10:00 Wake up and have breakfast in the room
After eating and packing up, we checked out and headed straight to the airport.
11:05 Waiting for the bus at Sapporo Station
11:19 Take the train from Sapporo Station to New Chitose Airport
Rapid Airport 68 Rapid New Chitose Airport, 38 minutes
12:00 Arrive at New Chitose Airport
JR New Chitose Airport, Domestic Terminal Lobby
Take the subway up to the 1st floor lobby, where there are many food options and souvenirs. If you haven’t bought enough, you can find more here.
Time to head back… retracing the route we came from
12:17 Arrive at the International Terminal Hall
Assigned to the check-in counter at the far end, and you have to walk 165 meters to reach it:
Hokkaido Varied Tit:
12:22 Arrive at the check-in counter
The site is crowded, but online check-in is less busy. Therefore, be sure to complete seat selection and online check-in at least three days before the return trip to save queuing time.
There is also a Don Quijote nearby for last-minute shopping before check-in:
13:03 Check-in and luggage drop-off completed
13:17 Completed Security Check and Immigration Inspection
Airport security in Japan is stricter; if you wear boots, you must take them off for the X-ray.
13:20 Browse While Waiting for the Flight
There is a food street where you can eat. I only bought bread, fried chicken, and melon ice cream as light snacks.
The first floor has a whole row of souvenir shops where you can buy almost anything; however, there are fewer boutique stores.
There are also some souvenirs on the second floor.
14:30 Boarding completed
Same as the flight here, it’s a new Airbus plane with spacious seats and updated entertainment systems.
15:00 Departure, Goodbye — Sapporo
The airplane meal was just so-so:
18:15 Landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
19:15 Immigration + Baggage Claim, Go Home and Rest
This time, the luggage took forever to arrive…
Thank you for reading
Thank you for reading this far and experiencing the various sights of Hokkaido with me. See you at the next destination!
Free WiFi on the Plane
This flight offers full in-flight WiFi service through China Airlines, allowing you to chat and message with friends.
If your phone has AdGuard DNS or a similar DNS ad-blocking service installed, you need to go to Settings -> General -> VPN & Device Management -> Restrictions and Proxy Servers -> DNS -> change back to Automatic.
Otherwise, you won’t be able to connect to the onboard WiFi.
Souvenirs
- Sapporo Agricultural School (milk cookies) and roasted corn crackers (puffed) are also good.
Toys
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Twisted railroad crossing, signboard lights, car keys, fire alarm, Don Quijote figurine, Japan team jersey
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Wooden handmade musical instrument bought at Furano Fairy Hill
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