Biei day trip from Sapporo: Blue Pond, waterfalls, flower farms

Pick your Biei stops and let the guide handle the route from Sapporo

A full-day tour from Sapporo to Biei, Hokkaido's countryside, with round-trip transfers and a guide speaking English or Chinese. You visit Shirogane Blue Pond (famous for its mineral-blue waters and submerged trees) and Shirahige Waterfall, then choose between two route options: one adds Asahiyama Zoo and Ningle Terrace. The other includes the solitary Christmas Tree and Shikisai-no-Oka flower park. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours total, including transport time. Admission to Shikisai-no-Oka is included. Meals and other personal expenses are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Biei's natural and floral attractions

• Visit Shirogane Blue Pond
• See Shirahige Waterfall
• Photograph the Christmas Tree
• Explore Shikisai no Oka flower park
• Tour Farm Tomita flower fields

The experience

You're picked up from your Sapporo hotel or meeting point and driven into Biei's rolling farmland. The route hits Shirogane Blue Pond first: a still, otherworldly blue from natural minerals in the water, ringed by partially submerged larch and birch trees that shift with the seasons. From there, Shirahige Waterfall appears as thin white streams cascading from a cliff face into the vivid blue Biei River below, a contrast that photographs well from the nearby bridge. Both stops sit in the same valley, so the guide moves between them without backtracking.

After the waterfall, the tour splits. One option takes you to Asahiyama Zoo and Ningle Terrace, a shopping village. The other continues to the Christmas Tree (a solitary spruce in an open field that has become Hokkaido's most photographed rural landmark), and then to Shikisai-no-Oka, a flower park with seasonal blooms across rolling hills and walking paths. Farm Tomita, famous for its lavender fields, appears on both routes as the final stop before the return drive to Sapporo. Note that from April through June, both flower parks have minimal blooms. Flowers peak after early July and fade by late September, so the actual landscape depends on when you visit.

The guide speaks English or Chinese throughout and handles all navigation. Transfers are round-trip from your Sapporo base, and admission to Shikisai-no-Oka is covered. The full day, 8 to 9 hours, includes driving time, so you're back in the city by evening. Bring a phone so the reception staff can reach you if needed, and plan meals separately. The tour does not include food or drinks.

What’s included

• Round-trip transfers from your Sapporo meeting point.
• an English or Chinese-speaking guide for the full day.
• admission to Shikisai-no-Oka flower park.

Options for this experience

2 options

Zoo, Shikisai and Terrace FairiesGuide in English or Chinese · 07:30

Zoo, Waterfall and Blue PondGuide in English or Chinese · 07:30

You pick the guide language when booking.

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 07:30

AgesAdult (3 to 98 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TREVOPEDIA

Is this one for you?Choose the route with Asahiyama Zoo and Ningle Terrace if you want a mix of wildlife and shopping. Pick the Christmas Tree and Shikisai-no-Oka option if you're after countryside landmarks and seasonal flowers. Both routes cover the same two natural sites (Blue Pond and Shirahige Waterfall) and Farm Tomita, so the choice depends on whether you prefer the zoo experience or the flower park and iconic tree.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What makes Shirogane Blue Pond such a striking blue color?

Natural minerals dissolved in the water reflect sunlight to create the vivid blue tone. The pond was originally built as part of a volcanic erosion control project, and the mineral content gives it that otherworldly hue year-round, though the exact shade shifts subtly with the season and weather.

Can I visit both the Christmas Tree and Asahiyama Zoo on the same tour?

No, you choose one route at checkout. One option includes Asahiyama Zoo and Ningle Terrace. The other includes the Christmas Tree and Shikisai-no-Oka flower park. Both routes visit Shirogane Blue Pond, Shirahige Waterfall, and Farm Tomita.

When is the best time to see flowers at Shikisai-no-Oka and Farm Tomita?

Flowers bloom from early July through late September. From April to June, both parks have minimal or no blooms, so if you're visiting during spring, the landscape will look very different from the promotional images, which show peak season.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and small children must be included in the passenger headcount.

What's included in the tour price?

Round-trip transfers from your Sapporo meeting point, an English or Chinese-speaking guide for the full day, and admission to Shikisai-no-Oka are included. Meals, drinks, and other personal expenses are separate.

How long is the drive from Sapporo to Biei?

The total tour duration is 8 to 9 hours, which includes all driving time, stops, and walking time at each site. The actual drive to Biei takes roughly an hour each way, leaving most of the day for the attractions themselves.