Asahikawa

The overall itinerary was excellent. Our guide, Xiaotian, was humorous and witty, and her introductions to various attractions and local specialties were very professional. She also worked diligently to coordinate with the hotels and icebreaker operators throughout the trip. Aside from the Asahiyama Zoo being too large, allowing only enough time to see the penguin parade and other key animals, the rest of the itinerary was perfectly planned and timed. The buffet at the overnight hot spring hotel was fantastic, and the snowmobiling was fun—it would have been even better if the route were longer. The evening Sounkyo Icefall Festival featured a fireworks show, ice skating, and the distribution of mochi (glutinous rice balls), creating a lively atmosphere. We successfully saw drift ice on the icebreaker, and on the return journey, we saw many wild Ezo deer along the way. Aside from the heavy snow obscuring the view of the Milky Way and Meteor Falls, the entire trip was fulfilling and enriching, and I highly recommend it.

It was a great experience, even though the itinerary was a bit rushed. Xiao Gu 7 (the car's name) took us straight to the best spots for photos. The driver was very steady, which made us feel quite safe throughout the trip.

Kkday offers assessments to confirm availability and find car rentals reasonable, but due to the large number of people during winter break, it's best to plan ahead to avoid not finding a suitable vehicle.