Asahikawa

Departing from Sapporo, the entire day's itinerary was perfectly planned, with precise time management yet no rushing. Our guide, Ko, was professional and attentive, seamlessly switching between Chinese, English, and Japanese for his explanations. Whether it was explaining the background of the attractions, historical stories, or thoughtfully reminding us of meeting times and important notes, his dedication and warmth were evident. ✔ Professional and warm guide ✔ Perfectly paced itinerary, not rushed or tiring ✔ Beautiful attractions worth revisiting ✔ Kids had a blast ✔ Excellent value for money buffet. If you're traveling with family or children and want a safe and enjoyable trip, this itinerary is highly recommended! 🌈👍

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.

You can buy it at Asahikawa Station and other places, but I bought it because I liked the fact that I could use KKDAY points. It's common to line up before entering Asahiyama Zoo in winter, so I think it was a good idea to line up early. It's a meal or souvenir worth 800 yen. If you're planning on eating or wanting original merchandise or sweets, it shouldn't be a problem, but be careful as there aren't many giveaway sweets. The coupons available at stores in the city were slightly different from those listed on KKDAY. I recommend checking the official website first before purchasing.

Although it was a little disappointing that we missed the penguin parade due to traffic, the trip went smoothly overall. I would highly recommend it to young people traveling with their families. You don't need to worry about the itinerary or route; just follow the guide!