Asahiyama Zoo, Shirahige Waterfall & Blue Pond Day Tour, Sapporo

Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa

Asahiyama Zoo opened in 1967 in Asahikawa, about two hours by expressway from Sapporo, and it is Japan's most northerly zoo. It became famous across the country for its behavioural exhibits, which let animals act as they would in the wild while visitors watch from surprising angles: from tunnels, glass domes and walkways built right into the enclosures.

In the penguin house an underwater tunnel lets penguins seem to fly above your head. Polar bears plunge into a deep pool beside a glass wall, and a small viewing dome lets you peek up from the bears' side of the ground. Harbour seals swim up and down a clear vertical tube, while orangutans climb high towers and red pandas cross a rope bridge over the path. The tour gives you around two and a half hours, including time for lunch at your own expense.

Asahiyama Zoo through the seasons

Is Asahiyama Zoo worth visiting in winter? Many say it is the best season. From about mid-December to mid-March, when there is enough snow, king penguins take a short walk outside along a path lined by visitors, usually in late morning and again in the afternoon. Snow leopards, Amur tigers and Arctic foxes are also at their most active in the cold.

Asahiyama Zoo opening hours are usually 9:30–17:15 from late April to October and 10:30–15:30 in winter, and the zoo closes for short periods in April and November and around New Year, so check the dates with us before booking. Paths are paved but some slopes are steep and can be icy in winter. Food stands offer noodles, rice dishes and snacks; halal options are very limited, so you may wish to bring your own lunch or snacks.

Shirahige Waterfall at Shirogane

Shirahige Waterfall is in the small hot-spring area of Shirogane, in the hills of Biei at the foot of the Tokachi volcanic range. Unlike most falls, it does not come from a river above: groundwater seeps out of cracks in the cliff and falls about 30 metres in many thin white streams, which is why it is called the white beard.

The best view is from the bridge across the gorge, where the waterfall drops into the Biei River. Minerals in the spring water, rich in aluminium, give the river below a striking milky blue colour. In winter the cliffs are frosted with ice and snow, a memorable contrast with the blue water. The stop is short, about 20 minutes, and easy for all ages.

The Blue Pond of Biei

A few minutes away lies the Blue Pond, perhaps the most photographed natural sight in central Hokkaido. It is not an ancient lake: after Mount Tokachi erupted in 1988, a dam was built on the Biei River to hold back volcanic mudflows, and water collected behind it in the forest. The same aluminium-rich spring water scatters sunlight so that the pond glows blue, while the larch and birch trunks left standing in the water create a dreamlike scene.

The colour changes with the weather and the season, from deep turquoise on calm sunny days to softer green after rain, so no two visits look alike. The best time to visit the Blue Pond is between May and October; in winter it freezes and lies under snow. A short level path leads along the shore, and the tour gives you about 30 minutes for photos.

Forest craft terrace in Furano

The last stop is in Furano, the town famous for lavender fields in July and for powder snow in winter. Hidden in a birch and fir forest on the edge of town, a cluster of small log cabins is linked by wooden boardwalks, each one a tiny workshop or shop selling handmade candles, glass, wooden toys, leather and other crafts.

It is a peaceful place to stretch your legs after the drive, and especially pretty at dusk when warm lights glow in every cabin window and, in winter, snow piles on the roofs. Allow about 40 minutes for a stroll and some shopping. From Furano the group drives back to Sapporo, arriving in the evening after a full day across the heart of Hokkaido.