Hokkaido: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival & Hoshino Tomamu Ice Village Day Trip | Depart from Sapporo

Lake Shikotsu’s winter festival turns water from the lake into a 13-meter Blue Tower, an ice shrine and more than 30 sculpted pillars. The day ends at Tomamu’s Ice Village, where a chapel, bars and even a ramen shop are built from ice. This is a striking contrast of natural setting and made-for-winter spectacle.

I like two things in particular: you get two very different ice attractions in one outing, and you can leave the driving to someone else on a route that takes you well beyond Sapporo. The stop at Chitose Salmon Park adds a useful taste of local snacks and Hokkaido products between the headline sights.

The trade-off is a long day with limited time at each stop. Tomamu is far from Sapporo, and weather can close the Ice Village or change the plan. Book this for the chance to see the winter sights, not with a guarantee that every advertised stop will be open.

• Lake Shikotsu’s Blue Tower: A 13-meter ice pillar made from lake water anchors a festival of more than 30 ice forms and an ice shrine.
• Tomamu after dark: The Ice Village’s chapel, bars, slides and ramen shop are built from huge blocks of ice, subject to weather and seasonal operating dates.
• A seafood lunch at your own cost: Tomakomai is known for surf clams, seafood bowls and grilled seafood, with several styles of food available at the stop.
• A brief Chitose break: Salmon Park offers local produce, souvenirs, salmon-shaped curry bread and Hokkaido milk ice cream.
• Transport included: The 10.5-hour round trip starts and ends near JR Sapporo Station, so you avoid arranging a car for winter roads.
• A real weather caveat: If ice attractions close or heavy snow affects roads, the operator may substitute other stops, with no refund once the tour has started.

Two very different winter scenes in one day

This trip links the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival with Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU’s Ice Village, then makes stops for lunch and local shopping. That variety is the appeal: the first ice display sits beside a lake, while the second is a compact winter village designed for an evening visit.

The Lake Shikotsu festival is scheduled for a limited winter season, from January 30 to February 23. Its centerpiece is the Blue Tower, a nearly 13-meter pillar formed from water drawn from the lake. Around it, you can see an ice shrine and more than 30 other pillars in different shapes. It is a strong photo stop, though a one-hour visit leaves little room to linger if you like taking your time.

At Tomamu, the Ice Village is built from large ice blocks. The listed features include an Ice Chapel, bars, a hotel, slides and ramen shops. The setting makes a night visit part of the attraction: cold air, ice structures and evening light give it a different feel from the daytime festival at Lake Shikotsu.

The plan is ambitious. You leave Sapporo at 10:00 and are due back around 20:30, with a long stretch of travel between stops. I would think of this as a sampler of several winter sights rather than an in-depth visit to any one place.

Lake Shikotsu: a Blue Tower and a short visit

The first major stop is Shikotsuko Onsen, where the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is held. The main draw is the Blue Tower, a large ice pillar made with water from Lake Shikotsu. The ice shrine and the other sculpted pillars give you more to look at than one central display, and the lakeside setting makes this a distinctly Hokkaido winter stop.

The tour allows about an hour here. That is enough to walk among the installations and take pictures, but it may feel tight if the festival is busy, the paths are icy, or you want to examine each structure. Some people find Lake Shikotsu the day’s most memorable stop, so it is worth arriving ready to make the most of the time rather than assuming you can return to every corner later.

The event is seasonal, and the schedule matters. The festival is listed as running January 30 through February 23. For departures outside the festival period, the itinerary may change to Lake Shikotsu or the Hill of the Buddha. Other weather-related substitutions may include the Great Buddha Hall or Chitose Northern Snow Land. If the festival is a must-see for you, check the exact departure date and the operator’s pre-trip message.

Tomakomai lunch: surf clams and seafood bowls

Lunch is at your own expense, with a stop at Tomakomai Seafood Market. Tomakomai is noted for hokki, or surf clams, and you can choose among seafood bowls, surf-clam curry, grilled seafood, dried atka mackerel or grilled salmon belly. The market also has Chinese and Italian food options, which is handy if not everyone in your group wants seafood.

The clam curry is a local specialty, and you can add a whole surf clam as an extra. This is a useful chance to try a regional ingredient without committing to a full seafood meal. Prices and menus are not specified, so plan to pay separately and bring a payment method you can use for lunch and personal purchases.

The schedule gives lunch about an hour. That is a practical meal break, not a long market visit. If you want time to compare menus and browse, keep an eye on the clock. The operator may also change the lunch stop around early January, when the market may close for Japanese New Year holidays. In that case, lunch may shift to Chitose Northern Snow Land or Mitsui Outlet Park Sapporo Kita-Hiroshima.

Chitose Salmon Park: local snacks on a quick stop

The next stop is Roadside Station Salmon Park Chitose, renovated in August 2023. It sells local vegetables, fruit and other regional products, alongside souvenirs. The food treats mentioned for the stop include salmon-shaped curry bread, which can draw a queue, and fresh milk ice cream from Kobayashi Farm in Ebetsu.

The scheduled visit is only 15 minutes. That makes this more of a quick stretch and snack stop than a proper shopping break. If you have a specific item in mind, head for it first; browsing every shelf is unlikely to fit. This stop may be modest, but it gives the trip a local-food note between the ice attractions.

Tomamu Ice Village: the evening highlight, if open

The Ice Village at Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU is the most unusual stop on the route. Its ice-built chapel, bars, hotel, slides and ramen shops turn the site into a small winter attraction rather than a single sculpture display. The tour allows about an hour, so you can see the main features, take photos and perhaps try an activity or food item, depending on what is open and how long queues are.

The same cold that makes the village possible also makes it vulnerable to changing conditions. The resort uses winter temperatures that can fall as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius to create the event, but high temperatures or safety concerns can lead to closure. Recent departures have sometimes missed the Ice Village because of weather. In such cases, the operator may substitute other attractions; the tour terms state that no refund is given when a stop is lost after the tour begins.

That risk deserves serious attention if Tomamu is your main reason for booking. The Ice Village can be a memorable way to see ice architecture at night, but it is not a guaranteed part of the day. The operator says an email is sent a few days before departure with the forecast and information about possible closures, so check your inbox before setting out.

The long ride and what the schedule means

The tour runs from 10:00 to about 20:30, including round-trip transfers from Sapporo. The route covers substantial distance, especially for a day that includes both Lake Shikotsu and Tomamu. You spend a good part of the day on the bus, and the stops are timed to make the full circuit possible.

That arrangement is valuable if you do not want to drive in winter conditions or work out transport between remote sights. The guide provides information along the way, and guides on past departures have spoken several languages, including English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Habi, Hazel and Kalong have been named by participants on different dates, but guide assignments vary.

The trade-off is less control over how long you stay at each place. Several people have found the visits rushed, especially at Tomamu, where an hour can disappear quickly between photos, queues and finding the meeting point. The schedule can also shift with traffic and weather. Be punctual at every bus meet-up: one person arriving late can cut into everyone else’s time.

If you want a slower visit, a private car or a more focused tour may suit you better. This group trip is best for someone who values convenient transport and several winter stops over a leisurely exploration of one site. Its advertised minimum is six participants; children aged three and older pay the adult rate, while children aged zero to two may ride free without a separate seat, but must be included in the passenger count.

Is $89.25 good value?

The price starts at $89.25, with seasonal promotions and package names that may vary. Admission to the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival and Tomamu Ice Village, round-trip transport and a Chinese-, English- or Cantonese-speaking guide are included. Meals, drinks and personal purchases are extra.

For that price, the main value is the transport. You are covering several distant stops in one day without arranging a winter rental car, navigating roads or paying separately for the listed admissions. If both ice attractions are open and you enjoy a busy schedule, the price can make sense.

Value drops if the Ice Village closes, since it is one of the central attractions and no partial refund is offered for a weather-driven change. It can also feel less worthwhile if you prefer long visits, have trouble with extended drives or dislike fitting meals and sightseeing into fixed windows. I would compare the starting price with what matters most to you: convenient access to several stops, or enough time to enjoy each one at your own pace.

Practical details before you book

The meeting point is near the East Midori no Madoguchi ticket counter at JR Sapporo Station’s East Ticket Gate, next to Pocket Change at Hokkaido Shiki Saikan Sapporo East Store No. 1. Arrive 15 minutes before the 10:00 departure. The location can be confusing in a large station, so save the meeting details and allow time to find the correct side of the ticket gates.

You need to present a mobile voucher, and it is valid only on the date and time booked. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refundable. Free cancellation is available up to 48 hours before departure; after the tour starts, refunds are not provided for weather substitutions. The operator may cancel in extreme conditions, in which case you can reschedule or request a full refund.

Dress for a full winter day outside, especially for the evening stop at Tomamu. The material provided does not specify clothing requirements, but the events depend on cold conditions, and the schedule includes outdoor ice displays. Keep your phone charged for photos and for checking the departure email, which carries the latest weather and closure information.

Should you book this Sapporo winter day trip?

Book it if you want a convenient way to see Lake Shikotsu’s ice sculptures and Tomamu’s Ice Village in one day, and you are comfortable with a long bus ride and weather uncertainty. The scenery, unusual ice architecture and multilingual guide support are the strongest reasons to go.

Skip it if the Ice Village is the only stop you care about, or if you want a slow, flexible visit. The event can close, the alternatives may not feel equivalent, and each stop is short by design. For a broader winter sampler at a starting price of $89.25, this trip has clear appeal. For guaranteed access or more time at Tomamu, make other plans.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour is scheduled from 10:00 to 20:30, for about 10.5 hours. Traffic and weather may change the schedule.

Where does the tour leave from?

Meet near the East Midori no Madoguchi ticket counter at JR Sapporo Station’s East Ticket Gate, next to Pocket Change at Hokkaido Shiki Saikan Sapporo East Store No. 1. Arrive 15 minutes early.

Are admission fees included?

Admission to the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival and Tomamu Ice Village is included. Meals, drinks and other personal expenses are not.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at your own expense. The planned stop offers options such as seafood bowls, surf-clam curry and grilled seafood.

What happens if an ice attraction closes?

The itinerary may change to other attractions, such as the Hill of the Buddha, the Great Buddha Hall or Chitose Northern Snow Land. The terms state that no refund is given for a changed itinerary after the tour has started.

Can children join the tour?

Children aged three and older are charged the same rate as adults. Children aged zero to two can ride free without a separate seat, but must be included in the passenger count and noted when booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 48 hours before the activity date. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refundable.