A Snowy Winter Trip to Hokkaido | 10-Day Itinerary in Sapporo, Otaru, Asahikawa & Biei

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A Snowy Winter Trip to Hokkaido | 10-Day Itinerary in Sapporo, Otaru, Asahikawa & Biei | JAPAN VLOG

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Explore Hokkaido's winter wonderland over 10 days, from the Sapporo Snow Festival to Otaru's charming canals, Asahikawa's omakase sushi, and Biei's snowy landscapes, including an open-air onsen.

6 days · 25 places · 4 experiences

Day 2 · 7 places · Otaru, Japan

Otaru Day Trip: Canal, Shops & Music Boxes

“Today we're headed to Otaru, about an hour from Sapporo. It's a small port town known for its canal and nostalgic charm. I explored the canal, the main shopping street, had tea at an oil lamp-lit cafe, visited the Snoopy shop, the Music Box Museum, and tried fish cakes.”

1
Otaru Canal
Tourist attraction · Otaru
4.4 (28,272)Closed
Creator's voice
Otaru's famous canal, lined with old warehouses and gas lamps, looks straight out of a postcard. It's especially beautiful at night when lit up.
Otaru Canal, 5 Minatomachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0007, Japan
2
Sakaimachi Hondori Street
Tourist attraction · Otaru
4.5 (205)Open now
Creator's voice
The main shopping street in Otaru, full of cafes, souvenir shops, and food stalls. It's a charming street to walk along, especially for its glass and music box shops. Shops close early, around 4:30-5 PM.
Japan, 〒047-0027 Hokkaido, Otaru, Sakaimachi, 2 Sakaimachi Hondori Street, 堺町本通り
3
Kitaichi Hall
Coffee shop · Otaru
4.4 (5)Closed · opens tomorrow 9 AM
Creator's voice
A cafe tucked away behind a glassware store, uniquely lit by oil lamps, creating a warm and cozy mood. They sometimes have live piano performances.
Kitaichi Hall, 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
- Chiffon cake and tea set — I got the chiffon cake and tea set. It's the perfect place to take a little break from the cold and enjoy the cozy atmosphere.
4
Snoopy Cha-Ya Otaru
Novelty store · Otaru
4.3 (1,020)Open · until 5:30 PM
Creator's voice
A must-visit for any Snoopy fans, offering a lot of exclusive Otaru-themed merchandise.
Snoopy Cha-Ya, １F 6-4 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
5
Otaru Music Box Museum
Music box store · Otaru
4.2Closed · opens Friday 9 AM
Creator's voice
Located at the end of Sakaimachi Hondori Street, this famous museum houses an impressive collection of music boxes, each with a unique design and tune. A clock tower outside plays a tune every hour. There's also a small Ghibli section on the third floor.
Otaru Music Box Museum, 4-1 Sumiyoshicho, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0015, Japan
- Baked potato with butter and soy sauce — The potatoes in Hokkaido are incredibly sweet and go perfectly with rich butter and soy sauce. A great snack after exploring.
6
Kamaei Factory Outlet
Japanese delicatessen · Otaru
4.2Closed · opens tomorrow 9 AM
Creator's voice
A famous fish cake factory that also sells freshly made fish cakes in-store.
Kamaei Factory Outlet, 3-7 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan
- Cheese chikuwa and prawn fish cake — I tried the cheese chikuwa and prawn fish cake. They tasted good because they were made fresh, but nothing too special.
7
Otaru Denuki Koji
Tourist attraction · Otaru
3.6 (237)Closed
Creator's voice
A charming little alleyway filled with local restaurants, perfect for dinner in Otaru.
Otaru Denuki Koji, 1 Chome-1-1 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0031, Japan

Day 3 · 2 places · Sapporo, Japan

Sapporo Snow Festival & Ramen Night

“Today is the first day of the Sapporo Snow Festival, so let's go check it out. After exploring the festival, I had ramen for dinner.”

8
Odori Park
Park · Sapporo
4.5 (22,346)Closed
Creator's voice
The main venue for the Sapporo Snow Festival, held every February for one week. It features over 200 ice sculptures, some of which are massive, along with activities like ice skating and slide riding, and food stalls.
Odori Park, １〜１２丁目 Odorinishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0042, Japan
- Deep fried potato — After all that walking at the festival, a deep-fried potato hit the spot. It looked incredibly good and was a perfect warm snack.
- Hot chocolate — A hot chocolate was perfect to warm up after spending 2-3 hours walking around the snowy festival.
9
Ganso Ramen Yokocho Sapporo
Tourist attraction · Sapporo
4.8 (4,336)Open now
Creator's voice
Sapporo's famous Ramen Alley, where you can find many ramen shops. The most popular ones can be booked out early, so it's best to come early if you want a specific shop.
Ganso Ramen Yokocho Sapporo, Ｎ・グランデビル 1F, 3 Chome-8 Minami 5 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0805, Japan
- Spicy miso ramen — I chose a small shop with no long wait and got the spicy miso ramen. The soup was thick and quite spicy, perfect for a cold winter night.

Day 4 · 2 places · Asahikawa, Japan

Asahikawa Snow Festival & Omakase Dinner

“We'll be spending the next 2 days in Asahikawa. I dropped off my bags and headed to check out the Asahikawa Snow Festival, then had an omakase sushi dinner.”

10
Asahikawa Winter Festival
Festival · Asahikawa
3.8 (12)
Creator's voice
A smaller-scale snow festival compared to Sapporo, but with no crowds, allowing you to take your time and walk around. It also features high school contestants' sculptures.
Asahikawa Winter Festival Executive Committee, 7 Chome-1070 5 Jodori, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 070-0035, Japan
- Warm apple pie — A warm apple pie sounded like a good idea for a snack at the festival.
- Latte art coffee — I was pleasantly surprised to find a coffee stall with impressive latte art. A hot coffee hits differently in the cold.
11
Sushi Dokoro Miura
Sushi restaurant · Asahikawa
4.4 (128)Closed · opens 11:30 AM
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A cozy sushi restaurant with great reviews, offering an omakase set with super fresh ingredients.
Sushi Dokoro Miura, 7 Chome 2 Jodori, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 070-0032, Japan
- Omakase sushi set — I ordered the omakase set, and everything was super fresh. The spring onion sushi was surprisingly good, and I also tried a sushi I'd never had before, along with some uni.

Day 5 · 3 places · Asahikawa, Japan

Asahikawa Zoo & Cozy Cafe Night

“I had a bit of a sleep-in today, so I looked for a place for coffee, breakfast, and lunch. My only other plan was to go see the penguins walk at the zoo, and then visit a cozy night cafe.”

12
ドゥカフェ (DeuxCafe)
カフェ・喫茶 · Asahikawa
4.6Closed · opens Monday 11 AM
Creator's voice
An old-style kissaten that serves coffee, breakfast, and lunch. Everything at the cafe, from the carbonara to the fruit cake, was excellent.
Japan, 〒070-0032 Hokkaido, Asahikawa, 2 Jodori, 8 Chome ドゥカフェ (DeuxCafe)
- Carbonara set — I ordered the carbonara set, and it was really good. I love it when they make the blend coffee steaming hot.
- Fresh cream fruit cake — For dessert, I had this fresh cream fruit cake. Everything at the cafe was so good.
Experience · 1 place
Watching the penguin parade
The highlight of Asahiyama Zoo is the penguin parade. Only the penguins that want to go for a walk light up in front of the gate. They walk incredibly slowly, so you'll have more than enough time to watch them waddle by. I came for the 2:30 PM session, but if you want to look around the zoo more, the morning session is better as the zoo closes at 3:30 PM.
13
Asahiyama Zoo
Zoo · Asahikawa
4.5 (137)Closed · opens tomorrow 9:30 AM
Creator's voice
Located about 50 minutes from Asahikawa station, this zoo is famous for its penguin parade, held twice a day at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM. The zoo closes at 3:30 PM, so the morning session is better if you want to explore more.
Asahiyama Zoo, Kuranuma Higashiasahikawacho, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8205, Japan
Corn miso ramen souvenir — Hokkaido has the best souvenirs, like this corn miso ramen.
Cheesecake souvenir — There's so much cheesecake available as souvenirs. If you try one thing, I highly recommend this one.
14
SWITCH FLAVOR
Cafe · Asahikawa
4.8Closed · opens Monday 6 PM
Creator's voice
A super cute cafe that opens late, from 6 PM. Each table has its own little space and unique design, creating a cozy nook for yourself. They sell coffee, tea, jam, and offer desserts and wine. You can also borrow books and magazines.
Japan, 〒070-0034 Hokkaido, Asahikawa, 4 Jodori, 6 Chome−825 パリ街 SWITCH FLAVOR
- Dense custardy pudding — I had a big dilemma between the spiced carrot cake and the pudding, but I ended up going with the pudding. It was one of those dense, custardy puddings. The atmosphere was perfect for some reading.

Day 6 · 3 places · Biei, Japan

Biei Patchwork Tour & Blue Pond

“We're off to the next city, Biei, where we'll be spending the next 2 days. I explored the town, visited the observatory, and joined a bus tour to see the famous trees and the Blue Pond.”

15
Biei Observatory
Park · Biei
4.0 (2,004)Closed
Creator's voice
This observatory is free to enter and offers a view of the entire Biei town and the surrounding mountains.
Hokusei-no-oka Observatory Park, 協生大久保 Omura, Biei, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido 071-0216, Japan
Experience · 2 places
Biei Patchwork Tour
I joined a bus tour (¥6,000 per person) that goes to all the famous tree locations in Biei, like the Ken & Mary Tree and the Seven Stars Tree. The tour starts in the afternoon, so there are fewer crowds. Seeing the Christmas Tree standing alone in the vast snow field at sunset was serene. The Blue Pond is frozen in winter, but the light-up is beautiful, and you can see a waterfall nearby. It's a great way to see the unique landscape of the region.
16
Biei Patchwork Road
Tourist attraction · Biei
4.3Closed
Creator's voice
A scenic area known for its famous trees, including the Ken & Mary Tree (featured in a 1972 Nissan commercial) and the Seven Stars Tree (used on cigarette packaging). The trees are about 10 minutes apart, showcasing a unique landscape.
Patchwork Road (Biei), 北海道上川郡美瑛町大久保協生, Biei, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido 071-0216, Japan
17
Blue Pond
Tourist attraction · Biei
4.3Closed · opens tomorrow 7 AM
Creator's voice
In winter, the Blue Pond is frozen over, but the light-up across the frozen pond is beautiful. You can also see the falling snow against the light. A waterfall is right next to the pond.
Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike), Shirogane, Biei, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido 071-0235, Japan

Day 9 · 2 places · Sapporo, Japan

Last Hokkaido Bites & Airport Delays

“It's my last day in Hokkaido. I have an afternoon flight, so there's time for one last cafe stop and soup curry. Then it was off to the airport, where flight delays turned into a cancellation.”

18
Suage+ Soup Curry
Japanese curry restaurant · Sapporo
4.3Closed · opens tomorrow 11 AM
Creator's voice
A highly recommended and popular soup curry restaurant in Sapporo.
Suage+ Soup Curry, 都志松ビル２階 5 Chome-6-1 Minami 4 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0804, Japan
- Soup curry — I had to have soup curry one last time, and many people recommended this shop. I can see why it was so popular; it was excellent.
19
COFFEE&WINE STANDARD COFFEE LAB.
Cafe · Sapporo
4.4 (384)
Creator's voice
A cafe offering excellent coffee and food, perfect for a last stop before a flight.
Japan, 〒060-0063 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Minami 3 Jonishi, 7 Chome−7−4 COFFEE&WINE STANDARD COFFEE LAB.
- Cheese toast and latte — For my last cafe stop, I got the cheese toast and a latte. Both the coffee and food here were excellent.

Also in this video

20
MASAJIN Genghis Khan Susukino
Mutton barbecue restaurant · Sapporo
4.9 (2,953)Closed · opens tomorrow 10:30 AM
Creator's voice
A very popular spot for Genghis Khan (lamb barbecue), a local Hokkaido delicacy. Expect a 30-minute wait during peak season. The staff recommend cooking the fresh meat medium-rare.
Masajin Susukino Main, 1F 5 Chome-7-1 Minami 4 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0804, Japan
- Genghis Khan (lamb barbecue) — The lamb barbecue is a local delicacy in Hokkaido. The meat was so tender and juicy, especially when cooked medium-rare as recommended by the staff.
21
BARISTART COFFEE
Coffee shop · Sapporo
4.1 (3,302)Closed · opens tomorrow 10 AM
Creator's voice
A small cafe that serves coffee with specialty Hokkaido milk options, including Tokachi Jersey Milk. There are no sitting areas, so it's a grab-and-go spot.
BARISTART COFFEE, 第二ビル 1F 札幌市中央区南１条西４丁目８番地 NKC1-4, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0061, Japan
- Latte with Tokachi Jersey Milk — I got a latte made with Tokachi Jersey Milk, which was incredibly rich and sweet. It's a must-try for milk lovers.
22
Seicomart
Convenience store · Sapporo
4.1Closed
Creator's voice
A convenience store chain exclusive to Hokkaido, known for its local snacks, Hokkaido-limited edition Sapporo beer, and a wide variety of Hokkaido ice cream.
Seicomart The Knot Sapporo, 3 Chome-16番地2 Minami 3 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0063, Japan
- Hokkaido limited edition Sapporo beer — Apparently, this Sapporo beer is exclusive to Hokkaido. A great local find.
- Melon soft serve — I was indecisive but the melon soft serve was a good choice. Hokkaido is famous for its dairy.
Experience · 1 place
Relaxing in a snowy open-air onsen
I was most excited for today: relaxing in an open-air onsen! The onsen is in the middle of nowhere, but free shuttle buses from Kami-furano station take about 30 minutes. I arrived before 10 AM when the baths opened, and luckily had the whole place to myself. It was going to be a snowy bath, which was amazing. After the onsen, milk is a must! Since buses aren't frequent, I had an hour wait, so I was glad I brought coffee and breakfast. There are no food stalls, so bring a bento, but I was happy to find a coffee truck outside.
23
Fukiage Hot Spring Health Center
Onsen · Kamifurano
4.5
Creator's voice
An open-air onsen located in the middle of nowhere, accessible by free shuttle buses from Kami-furano station (a 30-minute ride). The baths open at 10 AM. They have joint baths where swimsuits are allowed. There are no food stalls, so it's recommended to bring a bento.
Japan, 〒071-0579 Hokkaido, Sorachi District, Kamifurano, Fukiage, Fukiage Hot Spring Health Center, 温泉
Experience · 1 place
Fairytale evening at Ningle Terrace
Ningle Terrace is a little terrace in the forest of Furano, lined with cute wooden cottages selling specialty arts and crafts. I couldn't film inside, but the items were quite cute. I think the view is much better at night, so I came back then. All the lit-up cabins in the forest looked straight out of a fairytale, especially beautiful right at blue hour. It can be a little touristy, but there were actually fewer crowds at night. Before sunset, I checked out a cafe in the woods, where the view from the windows looked like a painting. I ordered the coffee jelly, which is limited to 15 bowls a day.
24
Ningle Terrace
Tourist attraction · Furano
4.1Open · until 7:45 PM
Creator's voice
A charming terrace in the forest of Furano, lined with cute wooden cottages selling specialty arts and crafts. It's especially beautiful at night when the cabins are lit up, looking like a fairytale. There's also a cafe with a view that looks like a painting.
Ningle Terrace, Nakagoryo, Furano, Hokkaido 076-8511, Japan
Coffee jelly — I ordered the coffee jelly, which is apparently limited to 15 bowls a day. It was a unique and refreshing dessert.
25
JR Tower Observatory T38
Observation deck
4.5 (80)Closed · opens tomorrow 10 AM
Creator's voice
Located right at Sapporo station, this observatory offers an amazing open view of the city, as there aren't many tall buildings. It also has a cafe and sitting area.
Japan, 〒060-0005 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Kita 5 Jonishi, 2 Chome−5−番地 JRタワ 38F JR Tower Observatory T38, 受付：JRタワーイースト6Ｆ（札幌ステラプレイスイースト6Ｆ
- Matcha latte — I ordered a matcha latte to relax and enjoy the amazing view of Sapporo from the observatory. The sky didn't even look real.

2 extraction issues

collection "Sapporo Winter Night Exploration": 1 member(s); a collection has at least 2
collection "Sapporo City Views & Souvenir Shopping": 1 member(s); a collection has at least 2