Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival tour: Bus & cream puff in Sapporo

The ice sculptures at Lake Shikotsu stay lit after dark, so you can photograph them glowing against the night sky.

A roundtrip bus tour from Sapporo to the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, departing at 1:30 p.m. and returning by 7:30 p.m., with a live English or Japanese-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, and a bonus cream puff from Patissier Lab. The admission fee to the ice museum is paid separately at the site. The tour operates in February 2027 and includes parking. A full refund is issued if the festival is canceled due to weather.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival by bus

• Meet at ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel lobby
• Board bus and depart at 13:30
• Visit Lake Shikotsu Ice Museum
• Pay admission fee at museum
• Return to Sapporo Station North Exit

The experience

The bus picks you up at the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo at 1:30 p.m. (or Chitose Station if you're arriving by air), and the two-hour drive takes you to Lake Shikotsu, where the ice sculptures begin. You'll have roughly four hours at the festival to walk the grounds, photograph the lit ice structures, and explore at your own pace. The guide travels with the group but does not lead a walking tour. You move through the site independently.

Admission to the ice museum is not included and you pay it on arrival: cash or credit card both work. Before boarding the return bus at 7:30 p.m., you'll have received your cream puff from Patissier Lab, a small pastry bonus for booking from Sapporo or Chitose. The bus drops you back at Sapporo Station North Exit by the scheduled time, though the exact arrival depends on traffic and road conditions.

Wear footwear with good grip. The paths can be slippery in winter conditions. The itinerary may shift if weather or road closures require it. If temperatures rise enough that the ice sculptures cannot be maintained, the festival may be canceled and you'll receive a full refund.

What’s included

• Roundtrip air-conditioned bus transport from Sapporo.
• live guide in English or Japanese.
• parking fees.
• complimentary cream puff from Patissier Lab for bookings from Sapporo or Chitose.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 30 Jan 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Audio guideEnglish, Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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.

Paid on siteJP¥ 4,500

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by H.I.S.Co., Ltd.

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying near Sapporo Station or arriving at Chitose. The bus handles transport to the festival, so you skip arranging a rental car or separate ride.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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 time does the bus leave Sapporo and when do I get back?

The bus departs at 1:30 p.m. from the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo (or 1:15 p.m. from Chitose Station) and returns to Sapporo Station North Exit by 7:30 p.m., though the exact return time varies with traffic.

Is the admission fee to the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival included?

Admission is not included. You pay the museum entry fee separately when you arrive at the lake, in cash or by credit card.

What is the cream puff bonus and who gets it?

Travelers booking from Sapporo Station or Chitose Station receive a complimentary cream puff from Patissier Lab as part of the package. It's given to you before the return journey.

Can I walk around the ice festival on my own, or does the guide lead a group tour?

You explore the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival independently. The guide travels with the group but does not conduct a guided walk through the site.

What happens if the festival is canceled due to weather?

If the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is canceled because temperatures rise and the ice sculptures cannot be maintained, the tour is canceled and you receive a full refund.