Day Trip Through Hokkaido: Explore the Zoo, Visit Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls, plus the Celebrated Christmas Tree Spot

A private day trip in your own Toyota Alphard with driver: hotel pickup in Sapporo, then Asahiyama Zoo, Hokusei Hill Christmas Tree, Aoike Pond and Shirahige Falls. About 10 hours on this route, priced per car for up to 6 guests. You enter your hotel (or a station) and the pickup time in the booking form. The car price does not include a guide, entry tickets, rides, experiences, meals, tolls or parking. Asahiyama Zoo. Asahiyama Zoo Closure Dates: April 8–26, 2024; November 4–10, 2024; December 30, 2024 – January 1, 2025. Should the zoo be closed, your itinerary will shift to: Instagram-famous Christmas Tree (15 minutes) + Blue Pond (30 minutes) + Shirahige Falls (20 minutes) + Motoyukishirogane Onsen (approximately 120 minutes). If the onsen is temporarily closed, an alternative onsen of the same type will be provided. Note that zoo closure days may result in adjusted sequence and timing based on road conditions at the time of your visit. We appreciate your understanding. Asahiyama Zoo sits in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, holding the distinction of being Japan's northernmost zoo while commanding the highest visitor numbers nationally. Winter visits challenge the misconception that zoo animals become dormant or sluggish in cold months. A snowy day at Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido delivers an unexpectedly engaging wildlife experience. Hokkaido Instagram-famous Christmas Tree This tree stands on a sloped area in Biei Town, situated southeast of Asahikawa City. Its name stems from various theories—its silhouette echoing a Christmas tree or its peak resembling a star among them—linking it to the concept of an unadorned, natural evergreen. Visitors find it striking throughout the year and at any time of day, establishing it as one of Biei's most treasured tree landmarks. Biei Blue Pond Formed when volcanic sediment was dammed along the Biei River's left bank in Hokkaido, this body of water gleams brilliant blue under sunlight, accounting for its designation. National Geographic photographer Kent Shiraishi captured an image of Blue Pond that Apple Inc. later acquired, installing it as a standard macOS wallpaper. Shirahige Falls This 30-meter cascade in Furano, Hokkaido, sits at 600 meters elevation within the Shirogane Onsen area near Biei Town. Its name translates to "White Beard Falls," inspired by water streaming through rock gaps that resembles flowing white whiskers. Groundwater hitting stone produces a blue-tinted mist. Summer brings verdant foliage to the surroundings, while winter transforms the landscape under heavy snow, each season offering distinct visual contrast for visitors.