Biei

We had planned to go skiing, but the weather forecast for the ski resort was very bad, so we booked the day before. We usually go by rental car, but being able to get around efficiently by bus was great. Asahiyama Zoo in winter was especially fun, with its sights completely different from those in summer. The crowds in Biei were well managed, so there were no problems at all. The driver and guide were both very nice, which made it even more enjoyable.

We set off on a snowy day in Sapporo! The two-day itinerary went smoothly, and a special thank you to our tour guide, Sunny, for making this trip so unforgettable; and thank you to our hardworking driver who drove us safely and steadily to every destination in the snow-covered landscape. On the first day, we visited Asahikawa Zoo, where we saw penguins walking, polar bears, red pandas, and rabbits that became part of the snowy scenery. At Shikisai-no-Oka, we experienced snowmobiling, rubber boating, and snow tubing, and even fed the adorable alpacas—everything was so much fun! A bag of Biei potato chips I randomly bought at a shop—oh my god! They were so delicious! That evening, we stayed at the Sounkyo Daiun Ryokan, enjoying a delicious buffet dinner and soaking in the hot springs, especially the outdoor bath—the sub-zero temperature experience was unforgettable. The next morning, we headed to the icebreaker cruise ship. Although there was no ice to break at sea, the lottery game on board brought laughter to everyone and created wonderful travel memories for the group members we met by chance. What a fantastic two-day trip! 👍

We exited from Exit 31. The app said KKday would send a letter the night before with the car number, tour guide's name, and contact information. However, after checking our mailbox and spam folder, we hadn't received it. We were a bit lost and had to ask each tour guide individually (most of them were busy and not very friendly). Later, we saw a purple flag with "Tongxin International" on it and went to ask, but it was probably too chaotic at the time and they didn't see my name. Later, our tour guide Masa called me, and I went to find him again. (I suggest that travel agencies add "KKday" or their name to their flags for easier identification.) Because some people, like me, might not have received their letters and wouldn't know who to look for, and I saw so many panicked people who only rushed over after the tour guide called because they were searching aimlessly beforehand. My advice is to just ask the person holding the flag if you dare, but be prepared for them to be a little unfriendly. This way, you might find them faster because there's a list so you can easily find your way back to the tour itinerary. The itinerary time and the time allotted at each attraction are well-arranged. Most importantly, everyone should be on time for the tour bus meeting point so that there's a longer stop at the last stop. Masa will chat with everyone and give brief explanations about Japan. If there's time, she'll even help take group photos. This tour is worth buying for those who don't plan to go to the zoo; it's pretty good. The return trip is a little over two hours because the driver was very steady, actually more comfortable than I expected. I was a bit shy and didn't ask the driver's name, but he was the Japanese driver who worked with Masa on January 20th. Playing snowmobiles at Shikisai-gaoka is quite fun, but the handlebars are quite heavy. Women with less strength might consider it, or two people can ride together. The stronger person can ride the first half for photos and then switch (the second half is shorter). The Biei Christmas tree was crowded, but we squeezed in to take pictures whenever there was an empty spot. We didn't go very far in, so we don't know the difference between taking pictures from the outside and inside. For lunch, we didn't book the buffet and ate at the food stall on the second floor. The Japanese rice was really delicious, and the food at the food stall was okay. The floor at Shirahige Falls was very slippery, so be careful. The area near the falls where you want to take pictures was also slippery, and the railings were very low, which we felt was dangerous. If you want to get close to take pictures, be careful not to get pushed or you'll fall. It's beautiful, but it's very slippery when taking pictures, and with so many people, you really have to be careful. I suggest crouching down a little, because everyone is squeezing for a spot, so be careful not to get pushed. The ice cream was delicious, rich and not too sweet. The biscuit part was slightly salty and sweet, which was also very tasty. The Fairy Terrace was, in my opinion, the most ordinary place. It was crowded, so it wasn't good for taking pictures. Finding the right angle and waiting for people to leave was possible, but there were too many people. It's good to have a record of the visit. The return trip was smooth. Many thanks to Masa and the driver!

On our last day in Japan, we went to the zoo and realized that two hours wasn't enough! 😂 But Xiaoyu had told us to buy meal tickets beforehand, saving us from the incredibly long queues for food later, although the queues for food pickup were also incredibly long. I really enjoyed Xiaoyu's explanations of Hokkaido, the origins and history of the attractions, etc., on the bus. It was very lively and interesting, not like a history lesson that made me want to sleep. The sake at Blue Pond was delicious! Better than ice cream! 😂 The blue part of the ice cream was similar to Calpis, a bit sour, which I thought was quite good, but the white part didn't have much flavor. The snow-capped mountain view on the other side of Blue Pond was even more beautiful than the pond itself! 🤩 Shirahige Falls didn't freeze, the whole place was gorgeous!! The final Fairy Terrace was really worth taking photos at… Although it was 40 minutes, 10 minutes longer than the itinerary, it took 20 minutes to walk there and back, and there were so many people, so you really had to hurry and take photos before leaving. It was still very worthwhile, and luckily, the whole trip went smoothly without any major snowstorms! Nothing unexpected happened, and we even saw penguins strolling around and entered the Fairy Terrace – so lucky! Most importantly, Xiao Yu's guided tour was fantastic, making the trip anything but a boring, mechanical experience. 👍👍👏👏

A very good charter service experience. Customer service contact was very quick. It was my first time in Hokkaido, and even though it was snowing heavily, driver Kevin was able to pick me up on time and answer my questions.

The tour guide for the December 27th group was friendly and nice, and the itinerary was relaxed and fun!!