Day Trip from Sapporo: Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, Sake Culture, and Salmon Experience
- Visit a historic Hokkaido sake brewery! Experience Hokkaido's sake culture at Kobayashi Brewery
- Enjoy the salmon town of Chitose! Free time to explore Roadside Station Salmon Park Chitose
- A winter-exclusive masterpiece! Visit the Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival that illuminates Lake Shikotsu
- Enjoy Hokkaido from evening to night! Experience a magical winter landscape different from the daytime
- Convenient departure and arrival at Sapporo Station! A day bus tour that lets you enjoy travel and sightseeing together
- Visit the shores of Lake Shikotsu (Ice Festival venue)! Enjoy the beautiful lake and Hokkaido's winter all at once
Package Options
Sightseeing Tours
| Tour Type | Shared tour |
| Transportation method | Transfer from meeting point |
| Meal arrangement | Arrange yourself |
| Transport | Bus tour |
Product Info
- Kobayashi Brewery
Located in Kuriyama, Hokkaido, Kobayashi Brewery is a historic sake brewery founded in 1878. Known for its signature brand 'Kita no Nishiki,' the site features brick and stone brewery buildings that evoke the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras, offering a historic landscape to enjoy. As you tour the buildings designated as National Tangible Cultural Properties, you can experience the sake culture nurtured alongside Hokkaido's rich nature in this charming tourist spot.
- Roadside Station Salmon Park Chitose
Roadside Station Salmon Park Chitose is a popular stop where you can enjoy the unique charms of Chitose, a city synonymous with salmon in Hokkaido. In addition to local specialties and gourmet food, the adjacent Salmon Aquarium allows you to see the ecology of salmon and other freshwater fish up close through underwater observation zones that look directly into the Chitose River. It is a must-visit spot to enjoy Hokkaido's nature, food, and salmon culture all at once.
- Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
The Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, created by freezing the water of Lake Shikotsu—which boasts some of the clearest water in Japan—is a signature winter event in Hokkaido. The venue is filled with ice sculptures of various sizes that shine in a beautiful blue color known as 'Shikotsu Blue' during the day. At night, they are illuminated, transforming into a magical world of ice, allowing visitors to enjoy the different expressions of the festival from day to night. Experience the grand and fantastic scenery created by Hokkaido's harsh winter.
Kobayashi Brewery
Roadside Station Salmon Park Chitose
Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival
Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival
Purchase Notice
[Travel conditions]
Departure point/Destination: Hokkaido
Trip duration: Day trip
Transportation used: Chartered bus
Bus company: Elm Kanko Bus Co., Ltd. or equivalent class bus
Meal plan: Breakfast 0 times, Lunch 0 times, Dinner 0 times
Accommodation used: None
Minimum number of participants: 5 (may vary depending on the plan.)
Tour guides: 0
Guide: 1
[Travel planning/execution]
Company Name: WILLER ACROSS Co., Ltd.
Address: 1-13-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Registration Number: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Registered Travel Agency No. 2-8278
Affiliated travel industry association: Japan Fair Trade Council for the Travel Industry
[Consignment Sales]
KKDAY JAPAN Co., Ltd.
2nd Floor, WESTALL Yotsuya Building, 1-22-5 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004, Japan
Registered Travel Agency No. 2045, Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency
Member organization: Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA)
Reminders
A minimum of 5 traveler(s) are required for the tour to depart. If the number of participants does not reach the minimum requirement, the tour will be canceled. An email regarding tour cancellation will be sent 1 day(s) before the departure date
In the event of inclement weather such as typhoons or snowstorms, a decision on whether to cancel the tour will be made 1 day(s) before departure (local time 18:00). Notifications will then be sent via email
Please arrive at the designated location 10 minute(s) before the scheduled departure time, as the tour will depart on time
The venue is covered in hard-frozen ice and snow, making it slippery underfoot. Young children and the elderly should be especially careful to avoid falls, and walk slowly with small steps.
At Kobayashi Brewery's tasting corner, please dispose of any leftover drinks in the designated containers. Spitting out alcohol after tasting is prohibited. Also, please be considerate of others during busy times and help reduce waste. Eating and drinking are generally prohibited within the tour area. Furthermore, animals are not allowed inside the buildings or gardens.
FAQ
1. Is the Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival worth visiting for travelers seeking a unique winter experience?
Yes, the Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival is highly recommended for its unique winter spectacle. It features stunning ice sculptures created from the clear waters of Lake Shikotsu, illuminated nightly to transform the area into a fantastical world. Visitors can enjoy a magical atmosphere different from daytime, making it a memorable part of a Hokkaido winter trip. It offers a breathtaking experience for all ages.
2. What unique ice sculptures and lighting displays can be seen at the Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival?
At the Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival, visitors can marvel at intricate ice sculptures crafted from the exceptionally clear water of Lake Shikotsu. These sculptures are beautifully lit up at night with colorful lights, creating a dreamlike and fantastical winter wonderland. The displays showcase various forms and structures, offering picturesque photo opportunities against the winter night sky.
3. What cultural activities related to sake and salmon can visitors experience at Kobayashi Brewery and Salmon Park Chitose?
At Kobayashi Brewery, visitors can explore a long-established sake brewery in Hokkaido, immersing themselves in Japan's sake culture and observing the brewing process. At Roadside Station "Salmon Park Chitose," guests can experience Hokkaido's unique salmon culture, learning about the local ecosystem and the importance of salmon, with freedom to explore the facility.
4. How can travelers conveniently reach the Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival and other Hokkaido winter attractions from Sapporo?
Travelers can conveniently visit the Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival and other attractions by joining a day trip bus tour departing from and returning to Sapporo Station. This eliminates the need to plan individual transportation routes, allowing for an efficient way to enjoy Hokkaido's winter sightseeing, including the festival, Kobayashi Brewery, and Salmon Park Chitose.
5. Is Lake Shikotsu suitable for winter water sports or activities like swimming?
During winter, Lake Shikotsu is primarily known for its stunning frozen landscapes and the Ice Festival. While the lake itself is exceptionally clear, the frigid temperatures make it unsuitable for water sports like swimming. Visitors typically enjoy the scenery from the shore, the ice sculptures, and the magical atmosphere of the festival rather than entering the water.
6. What makes the winter scenery around Lake Shikotsu particularly magical, especially during the evening?
The winter scenery around Lake Shikotsu becomes truly magical in the evening due to the "Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival." The ice sculptures, made from the lake's beautiful waters, are illuminated with colorful lights, transforming the entire area into a fantastical and breathtaking winter wonderland. This creates a distinct and enchanting atmosphere different from the daytime.
7. Besides the Ice Festival, what other notable attractions are included in a winter day trip around the Chitose/Lake Shikotsu area?
A winter day trip around the Chitose/Lake Shikotsu area typically includes visits to Kobayashi Brewery, where you can experience Hokkaido's sake culture, and Roadside Station "Salmon Park Chitose," which offers insights into local salmon culture. These stops provide diverse cultural experiences in addition to the natural beauty of Lake Shikotsu and its Ice Festival.
8. When is the Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival typically held each winter?
The Chitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival is a significant winter event that transforms Lake Shikotsu with ice sculptures and illuminations. It is held annually during the winter season, typically for several weeks. The festival is designed to showcase the beautiful waters of Lake Shikotsu in a fantastical, illuminated setting, best enjoyed from evening into the night.
