Asahiyama Zoo Tour: Private Car, Blue Pond & Shirahige Falls

Seals swim in cylindrical tanks overhead while polar bears walk past above you.

A private car tour from Sapporo to Asahiyama Zoo, Japan's northernmost zoo, with stops at the blue-tinted pond in Biei, a 30-meter waterfall, and forest craft shops in Furano. The driver meets you at your hotel and covers expressway fees and parking. The tour runs eight to ten hours and includes flexible itinerary adjustments if time allows.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Asahiyama Zoo2h
2. Ningle Terrace30m

Visit Asahiyama Zoo and Scenic Spots

• Meet driver at hotel in Sapporo
• Visit Asahiyama Zoo
• See Blue Pond in Biei
• View Shirahige Falls
• Explore Ningle Terrace in Furano

The experience

The draw here is Asahiyama Zoo's "behavior display" setup: seals in cylindrical tanks, polar bears walking overhead on a bridge, and in winter, the penguin walk where the birds cross the snow. The zoo sits in Asahikawa, Hokkaido's northernmost zoo, and the layout lets you watch animals move through their natural patterns instead of watching them rest. Admission is separate, but the driver knows the site and can advise on timing and the seasonal events that change what you'll see.

After the zoo, the route moves into Biei and Furano's scenic zone. Blue Pond is a vivid blue-tinted water surrounded by standing larch and birch trees: the color shifts with weather and season, so what you photograph depends on the day. Shirahige Falls drops 30 meters through rock cracks in thin streams that look like white beards, flowing into the cobalt-blue Biei River. Both are stops where you step out and stand in front of the landscape. The driver times the route so you're not rushed.

Ningle Terrace in Furano is a cluster of small craft shops set in a forest setting. Winter snow turns it photogenic. The rest of the year it's quieter. The driver can adjust the itinerary if you want more time at one stop or less at another, within the eight- to ten-hour window. You choose your vehicle at checkout (Hiace or Crown or Alphard, with or without an attendant), and the driver arrives at your hotel holding a sign with your name.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup with a nameplate sign.
• expressway fees.
• parking at each stop.
• a private vehicle (your choice of Hiace, Crown or Alphard at checkout, with or without an attendant).
• eight to ten hours of driving and stops.

Options for this experience

5 options

CrownUp to 3 per booking · 08:00Crown (3 seats), A/P transfer not included, pickup is included

HiaceUp to 8 per booking · 08:00Hiace, pickup is included

AlphardUp to 5 per booking · 08:00Alphard (5 seats), includes pickup

See 2 more options

Hiace with attendantsUp to 8 per booking · 08:00Hiace (8 seats), with an assistant to help during your trip (English or Chinese), includes pickup

Alphard with attendantsUp to 4 per booking · 08:00Alphard (4 seats), with an assistant to help during your trip (English or Chinese), includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tabi._.daruma

Is this one for you?Choose a vehicle with an attendant if you want someone to help with children or elderly passengers. The Hiace and Alphard both offer that option. A solo traveler or couple can book the same vehicles without attendant service to lower the cost, or pick the Crown for a mid-size option.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals can I see at Asahiyama Zoo that I wouldn't at other zoos?

Asahiyama Zoo's behavior display lets you watch seals swim in cylindrical tanks and polar bears walk on an overhead bridge, so you see them move through natural patterns instead of resting. In winter, penguins walk across the snow, a seasonal event the zoo runs.

Does the Blue Pond actually look blue, or does it depend on the weather?

The pond's color shifts with weather, season and time of day, so the blue is vivid on some days and muted on others. During winter snow accumulation, the pond may not show its characteristic blue tint.

How long does the tour take and what's included in the price?

The tour runs eight to ten hours from your hotel pickup. Included are the driver, expressway fees and parking. Zoo admission and meals are separate. The driver can adjust stops if time allows.

What is Ningle Terrace and why would I visit it?

Ningle Terrace is a forest setting in Furano filled with small craft shops selling handmade goods. It's especially photogenic in winter under snow, though it's open year-round.

Can the driver change the itinerary if I want to spend more time at one stop?

Yes, the driver is flexible with itinerary adjustments within the timeframe, so you can spend more time at the zoo, the pond or the waterfall if you prefer.