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A Biei and Asahiyama day tour is a one-day bus trip from Sapporo to the zoo, snowfields and ponds of central Hokkaido.
Choosing a route
Zoo and snow play
Snow route
≈¥6,450
Zoo and Blue Pond
Blue Pond route
≈¥9,030
Evening pond illumination
Illumination route
≈¥6,450
Late start, photo spots
Photo route
≈¥7,520
Online winter price for one adult, converted to yen. These are discount-period prices, and discounts differ by route, so the order can change at full price. The Snow and Blue Pond routes include zoo admission.
Where each route stops
Stops No stop
From each tour's itinerary. Lack of snow, road closures or crowds can change a stop.
Example bus route
A sketch from Wikipedia coordinates and approximate points. Lines are straight, not the real roads.
The day’s schedule
Meet 7:30, back 18:10, about 10 hours 40 minutes
- Bus and lunch about 7 h
- Asahiyama Zoo 1 h 40
- Shikisai-no-Oka 1 h
- Ningle Terrace 40 min
- Christmas Tree 10 min
From the Snow route's itinerary. Times change with traffic and weather.
| Asahiyama Zoo in winter | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 10:30–15:30, last entry 15:00 |
| Closed | December 30 to January 1 |
| Penguin walk | Late December to mid-March, 11:00 and 14:30; March 11:00 only |
| Tours and the penguin walk | The Snow route arrives at 10:30 and stays 1 h 40, so it is at the zoo for the 11:00 walk |
| Admission | Adults ¥1,000, junior high age and under free |
The penguin walk starts once snow has settled and can be cancelled for weather or the penguins’ condition. The Blue Pond illumination runs from after sunset until 21:00 and stops in severe weather.
Costs
One adult between Sapporo and Asahikawa, from japan-guide and the zoo's official price. Tour prices are on the route cards above, and routes with the zoo include admission.
From the tour listing. Available from mid-December to mid-March when there is snow, and not included in the tour price.
Meeting and cancelling
| Route | Meeting point | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Snow | Odori Station Exit 31 at 7:30, Sapporo Station North Exit bus terminal no. 5 at 7:40 | 18:10 |
| Blue Pond | Sapporo TV Tower 1F information center at 7:50 | 18:50 |
| Illumination | Sapporo Station North Exit bus terminal no. 5; 11:20 Nov–Jan, 12:20 Feb–Mar | About 10 hours after leaving |
| Photo | Odori Station Exit 31 at 9:30, Sapporo Station North Exit at 9:50 | 19:30 |
All four can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before. Latecomers are not waited for or refunded. On the Snow route, ages 2 and over pay the adult price and those 70 and over need a medical certificate. In November, lack of snow turns snow play into a Biei town visit, and while Ningle Terrace is closed the stop becomes Takushinkan.