Posted on November 25, 2025November 25, 2025 by admin

Sapporo Factory Outlet Mall: Blog

Sapporo Factory Outlet Mall: Blog

It was Sunday and I decided to go out again to shoot some contents for our new project. I was craving for some good ice cream so I decided to go to Sapporo Factory on the way back. Sapporo Factory Mall is definitely one of the fanciest mall in Sapporo, offering many different kinds of entertainment, from shopping center, game center, restaurants and even cinema! So if you are here in Sapporo, you should also consider visiting Sapporo Factory Outlet Mall.

Visit Date: November 23rd, 2025
Address: 4 Chome Kita 2 Johigashi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0032
Access: Bus Center Mae Station (Tozai)
Entrance fee: FREE

Notice in the last picture, there is a sign saying not to use foreign coins for the capsule machine. There have been a case of Korean 500 won coins being mistakenly used in Japan due to the similarity between the two coins; Left is Japanese 500 yen, and right one is Korean 500 won coin.

Sapporo Factory Outlet Shopping center

Besides game center, there are some shops selling various items, ranging from cheap 100-yen items, branded sports brands, Lego toys, and some camping gears. Sapporo Factory is one good place if you want to shop for some souvenirs for your family.

Sapporo Factory Outlet: Food Court

If you are hungry, you can also go to the food court to buy some foods, either to go or dine-in. Depending on the restaurants, you can also get seated next to a giant Christmas tree (real tree). Personally, if you come to Sapporo Factory, you should also try the ice cream from this shop called “Ice Cream Factory”.

Here is a video from my last visit to this ice cream shop a while ago, the gelato cookies and cream is one of my favourite!

Ice Cream Factory’s Gelato Cookies and Cream

After finishing your meal, you can then walk around the food court area for some pictures. You should also check the candy shop in the first floor, you can buy many different kinds of candies for souvenirs.

If you come during illumination time (from 4pm – 10 pm), you can witness a beautiful lightshow on the giant Christmas tree. Here is a video from my last visit a while back.

Illumination in Sapporo Factory

Sapporo Factory Outlet: Outside Area and Museum

If you are done with the inside area, you can also go outside the Outlet area to for some strolls. There is a small beer museum right outside the main entrance of Sapporo Factory. Make sure you find the tall smoke chimney outside, it will not be hard to miss! Next to the smoke chimney, you can find the museum as well as a small brewery in which you can enjoy craft beer there.

If you come on autumn, the southern wall of the Sapporo Factory Brick Building can be a great place to take pictures for your Instagram. Here are the picture of my last visit on end of November 2025:

And these are pictures taken during fall season (around mid-October to mid-November).

Thank you for reading this short travel blog! Feel free to let us know if you need guides/clues if you are planning to come to Hokkaido! Specially if it is your first time! And do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

moving and living in Sapporo

Posted on November 20, 2025November 20, 2025 by admin

Moerenuma Park Sapporo: Winter Blog

Moerenuma Park Sapporo: Winter Blog

Moerenuma Park (モエレ沼公園) in Sapporo is not just a summer cycling spot—winter is actually one of the best seasons to visit. Designed by famous artist Isamu Noguchi, this massive art park transforms into a breathtaking snow-covered landscape from December to March, creating a peaceful, white world perfect for outdoor activities. The park is easily accessible by bus from Sakaemachi Station or Kanjō-dōri-Higashi Station, making it an ideal half-day winter trip for travelers staying in Sapporo.

Visit Date: February 2024
Address: 1-1 Moerenumakoen, Higashi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 007-0011
Entrance fee: FREE

Sledding Down Mount Moere

One of the highlights of Moerenuma Park in winter is sledding from the top of Mount Moere (Moere-yama). The slope is long, gentle, and safe for all ages—perfect for families, couples, or anyone wanting to enjoy a classic Hokkaido winter experience.

Sleds can be rented inside the park for a small fee.

The hill offers fantastic views of the snowy landscape

You can ride as many times as you like—it’s surprisingly addictive!

It’s one of the most enjoyable and budget-friendly winter activities in Sapporo.

Even if you don’t plan to sled, climbing Mount Moere is highly recommended in winter. The view from the top is spectacular: wide open snowfields, geometric park designs, and the snowy mountains surrounding Sapporo.
The hike takes only 10–15 minutes, but it can be windy—so dress warmly.

BONUS: What to Expect when there is no Snow

Although winter is magical, Moerenuma Park is also beautiful in spring, especially during the cherry blossom season. The Forest of Cherry Trees features more than 2,000 sakura trees, Spring is lively, colorful, and perfect for relaxing after a long Hokkaido winter.

moving and living in Sapporo

Posted on November 19, 2025 by admin

Hokkaido Historical Village Guide: Kaitaku no Mura

Hokkaido Historical Village Guide: Kaitaku no Mura

The Historical Village of Hokkaido—also known as Kaitaku no Mura—is one of the most unique open-air museums in Japan. Located in Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo, this living history village recreates life during the Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods, allowing visitors to walk through restored traditional houses, shops, and public buildings from Hokkaido’s pioneering era.

The Historical Village of Hokkaido (Kaitaku no Mura)

We visited the place in winter 2024, and winter proved to be a magical time to explore the Historical Village. The snowy scenery made the wooden buildings look even more picturesque, and many visitors were enjoying the nostalgic atmosphere dressed in winter clothing.

Visit Date: February 2024
Address: Konopporo-50-1 Atsubetsucho, Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 004-0006
Entrance fee: ￥1000

Inside Historical Building

Inside one of the building, you can see how Japanese people in Hokkaido lived in the past. The inside of some buildings were constructed in a way simulating the past lifestyle, from the traditional fireplace to even the wooden sandals and tatami room.

Hina Doll Festival Display & Traditional Meal

During our visit, the Hina Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri) was approaching, so many buildings inside the village displayed beautiful Hina doll sets. What fascinated me most was how the design of each doll reflected different historical periods, from the Meiji era to the Heisei period. Some faces were delicately painted, while others had more modern expressions—almost like a timeline of Japanese craftsmanship. If you want to enjoy the Hina doll exhibition, plan your visit between late February and early March, as several museums in Hokkaido also celebrate this festival.

Inside the village, you can try Tondenhei Teishoku, a traditional meal once served to Hokkaido pioneers. The set includes miso oden, which was especially delicious and perfect for warming up in the cold weather. This is a highly recommended experience if you want to taste authentic historical cuisine.

Winter Activities: Snow Sliding

One of the most fun surprises was the winter snow sliding area. Visitors—especially families—can ride traditional wooden sleds and enjoy the snow just like children did in old Hokkaido. This makes the museum not only educational but also entertaining for kids.

moving and living in Sapporo

Posted on November 8, 2025November 8, 2025 by admin

Sapporo Autumn Illumination in Nakajima Park and Hokkaido University

Sapporo Autumn Illumination in Nakajima Park and Hokkaido University

End of October or beginning of November is perfect date to enjoy autumn scenery in Hokkaido. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful autumn colors in both Nakajima Park and Hokkaido University. There are many places in Sapporo that are waiting to be explored, do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

Hokkaido University Autumn Illumination

Every autumn, there is a lovely event called “Konyousai”, also known as the “Golden-Leaf Festival.” The ginkgo trees in Hokkaido University’s kita 13 gate Street are brightly illuminated, creating a breathtaking scene. This event is held for only two days, and many visitors come to take photos of the golden leaves. Here are some pictures taken from Hokkaido University Autumn illumination. Highlights: One of the most popular parts of the festival is the night illumination of the ginkgo trees. The soft floodlights enhance the golden color of the leaves, creating a magical “Golden Tunnel.” Don’t forget to take some beautiful pictures while walking through this glowing avenue!

Visit Date: November 1st (Sat) 10:00–21:00;
Illumination time: from 18:00
Address: 〒060-0812 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Kita Ward, Kita 13 Jonishi, 5～7丁目構内北海道大学
Access: Kita 12 Station
Entrance fee: free

Nakajima Park Autumn Illumination

The next day on Sunday, we went to experience the magic of autumn illumination at Nakajima Park in Sapporo, where the vibrant colors of fall meet stunning night lights. As the leaves turn shades of red, orange, and gold, the park transforms into a glowing wonderland reflected beautifully on the ponds and pathways. Perfect for an evening stroll or photography, this seasonal event captures the essence of Hokkaido’s autumn beauty.

Visit Date: November 2nd (Sunday);
Illumination time: from around 17:30
Address: 1 Nakajimakoen, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0931
Access: Nakajima Park Station
Entrance fee: free

Nakajima Park Autumn Illumination: Paid Area

There is also a paid area inside Nakajima park, cost 500 yen for the ticket. The paid area is inside the Japanese Garden part of Nakajima Park. You can see a beautiful illumination on Japanese-style garden, so it was worth the ticket price. It was a bit dark inside the paid area so the pictures shown maybe a bit dark.

Visit Date: November 2nd (Sunday);
Illumination time: from around 17:30
Address: 1-1 Nakajimakoen, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0931
Access: Nakajima Park Station
Entrance fee: 500 yen

Geisha show in Hohei-kan Building

After checking out the Japanese garden paid area, we proceeded to see Geisha show in Hohei-kan building which is right next to the Japanese garden. This building was actually built to accommodate Japanese emperor during his visit to Hokkaido back then. The entrance fee was free, but you were expected to buy foods in order to enjoy the show. The food itself cost around 500 – 700 yen.

Visit Date: November 2nd (Sunday);
Address: 〒064-0931 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Nakajimakoen, 1−20 1F
Access: Nakajima Park Station
Entrance fee: free, but you need to buy food from the menu.

moving and living in Sapporo

Posted on September 25, 2024September 25, 2024 by admin

Cosplay event in Sapporo 2024

It was Sunday and my wife and I decided that we do not want to spend the whole Sunday at home, so we decided to check the Autumn Festival in Odori Park. We stopped in Odori Park Station and went to Tanuki Koji for quick shopping first. On the way to Odori Park, we noticed that there were so many people dressed up in costume. I knew it was still too early for Halloween, so we decided to follow the cosplayers crowd and we were lucky to find an annual cosplay event in Sapporo. There are many places in Sapporo that are waiting to be explored, do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

Visit Date: 2024, September 22 (autumn)
Address: 2 Chome-1 Minami 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0061
Access: Odori Station

Cosplay Event in Sapporo 2024: Tanuki Koji Venue

Not only people dressing up in costumes, but there were also some professional-looking photographer taking pictures of the event. There are many characters I noticed, mostly from Japanese anime. I do not really watch anime recently so there were many characters that I did not notice. Some characters I noticed mostlye came from my childhood anime, which include ones from One Piece, Detective Conan, Hunter x Hunter, and of course, Hatsune Miku. Pictures featuring some cosplay models have been taken by the cosplayers’ permission, otherwise their face will be blurred. Here are some of the best pictures from the cosplay venue.

Cosplay Event in Sapporo 2024: Sapporo TV Tower Venue

On the way to Autumn Festival in Odori Park, we also noticed many cosplayers were gathering near the Sapporo TV Tower, mostly to take pictures. In the end I did not take pictures from the Autumn Festival, and instead write blog article about the cosplay event. Pictures featuring some cosplay models have been taken by the cosplayers’ permission, otherwise their face will be blurred. Here are some of the best photos taken from the cosplay event.

moving and living in Sapporo

Posted on September 17, 2024September 18, 2024 by admin

Wakkanai the Northernmost Point of Japan

It was a 3-day holiday in Japan, and we decided to do a road trip to Wakkanai. The weather was getting a bit cooler, but the road is still clear so we drove all the way to Wakkanai to Sapporo. Wakkanai is a small town located in the northern most point of Hokkaido island, and there is a cape which is also the northernmost point of the entire Japan. The drive took around 6 hours, so we departed really early in the morning at 6 am. There are many places in Hokkaido that are waiting to be explored, do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

Road Trip to Wakkanai: First Rest Stop

Driving for 6 hours can be really tiring, so we took turn driving to make sure the trip is safe. The first one to drive was my sister in law. She first picked us up at exactly 6 am. After driving around 1 hour, we stopped in Yurikago Rest stop. It was still early in the morning, so all shops were closed, except the public toilet area. After taking a quick toilet break, we continued our journey, and this time, it was me who took the driving responsibility.

Visit Date: 2024, September 15th (Autumn)
Address: 81-10 Tsukigata, Kabato District, Hokkaido 061-0502
Drive Distance: 1-hour drive from Asabu Station Sapporo

Road Trip to Wakkanai: Lunch in Teshio Road Station

After driving for around 3 hours, we decided to take a quick lunch in Teshio Road Station. It was almost lunch time so the road station was quite crowded. During our trip from first road station in Yukikago to Teshio, we actually stopped in various convenience stores for quick toilet break and coffee, but I did not take any picture. Teshio Road Station is actually located only around 1 hour drive to Wakkanai Town, so we have covered more than half of the distance. We rewarded ourselves with nice scallop ramen lunch in this road station.

Visit Date: 2024, September 15th (Autumn)
Address: 4 Chome-7227-2 Shinkaidori, Teshio, Teshio District, Hokkaido 098-3305
Drive Distance: 4-hour drive from Asabu Station Sapporo

Road Trip to Wakkanai: Windmills in Road 106

After enjoying lunch in Teshio Road Station, I continued to drive along the scenic route along the seaside. Route 106 is part of the [Ororon Line], route really famous for its seaside scenery along the road. Not only the seaside scenery that captured my interest, but also the giant windmills built in the middle of lush green grass field, making the scenery even more breathtaking. The windmills look even bigger up close! There were some bikers and cyclists who stopped just to take pictures of the scenery, so make sure to drive slowly along this line.

Visit Date: 2024, September 15th (Autumn)
Address: 219 Hamasato, Horonobe, Teshio District, Hokkaido 098-3227
Drive Distance: 4.5-hour drive from Asabu Station Sapporo

Road Trip to Wakkanai: Cape Noshappu

After driving for almost 6 hours, finally we arrived in Wakkanai town. Our first destination was Cape Noshappu. There is also an aquarium here, but we did not have time to visit the aquarium. There is a cute dolphin statue which is perfect for photoshoot spot. The weather was clear, so we were able to view Russia in a distance (Sakhalin Island). Cape Noshappu is also famous spot to view sunset. So in the evening, we actually returned here to view the sunset. We were planning to just spend 30 minutes here during day time, but my wife and sister in law needed more materials for their instagram, so we spent almost 1 hour in here during day time.

Visit Date: 2024, September 15th (Autumn)
Address: 2 Chome Noshappu, Wakkanai, Hokkaido 097-0026
Drive Distance: 5.5-hour drive from Asabu Station Sapporo

Wakkanai the Northernmost Point of Japan: the Town

After staying in Cape Noshappu for a bit, we proceeded to Cape Soya, in which the northernmost point of Japan is located. On the way to Cape Soya, we drove through the downtown of Wakkanai. Wakkanai is a small town with its own charm. One interesting thing I noticed is some of the road signs have Russian Cyrillic written on it.

Road Trip to Wakkanai: Cape Soya

Cape Soya is literally the northernmost point of Japan, and it is located around 45 minutes driving from downtown Wakkanai. You can also see Sakhalin Island (Russia) more clearly from this place. My wife’s grandparents actually lived in Sakhalin Island for a bit and returned to Hokkaido Island after the World War 2 ended. There is a triangle-shaped monument that marks the northernmost point of Japan, and there were a long line of visitors trying to take pictures.

Visit Date: 2024, September 15th (Autumn)
Address: 3 Soyamisaki, Wakkanai, Hokkaido 098-6758
Drive Distance: 45 minutes drive from Cape Noshappu

Cape Soya: Deer

I was expecting Cape Soya to be a small area with some shops and restaurants around, but I was surprised that this place also have many wild deer! I wonder why in Japan, only Nara is really famous for its deer. In my honest opinion, the deer in Cape Soya are more well-behaved, they are not trying to “harass” tourists for some snacks. Deer in Cape Soya appear to be used to humans, but not too-friendly to ask for foods. There is also a small temple inside the area. Not only in the Cape Soya area, but we also spotted some deer in the downtown area of Wakkanai, so make sure you drive safely; look out for deer that jump out suddenly to the road.

Road Trip to Wakkanai: Hotel Sakhalin

After enjoying some sceneries in Cape Soya, we drove back to downtown Wakkanai to check in into our Hotel. Yes, the name of the Hotel is “Hotel Sakhalin”. The accommodation in this hotel is not bad, our room is big enough for four of us and the wifi is quite fast. The room itself is a Japanese style room with tatami floor and futon-style beds, but it was comfortable enough for 1-night stay.

Stay Date: 2024, September 15th (Autumn)
Address: 1 Chome-5-5 Central, Wakkanai, Hokkaido 097-0022
Cost: 30,000 yen for 1 night (4-person), breakfast included

Road Trip to Wakkanai: Watching Sunrise in Wakkanai Observation Deck

We woke up at around 5 am and drove 5-minute to Wakkanai Observation Deck to watch the sunrise. There are a monument (Monument of Nine Maidens) commemorating some Japanese people who needed to left their houses in Sakhalin Island after World War 2. We could see most of Wakkanai downtown and combined with the sunrise, it was a breathtaking scenery and it was definitely worth it to wake up really early in the morning! One of my greatest photoshoot is probably the second picture below, in which the Sakhalin Island is visible behind the Nine Maidens Monument.

Visit Date: 2024, September 16th (Autumn)
Address: Yamuwakkanai-2816 Wakkanaimura, Wakkanai, Hokkaido 097-0000
Drive Distance: 5-minute drive from Hotel Sakhalin

moving and living in Sapporo

Posted on September 11, 2024September 11, 2024 by admin

Escon Field Stadium Home of Nipponham Fighters

My wife invited me to see Fighters (Hokkaido) vs Buffaloes (Osaka) baseball match in newly built Es Con Field. I am not a big baseball fan, but I have never been to the new stadium, which is home of Hokkaido’s beloved baseball team Fighters. The stadium is located a bit far from Sapporo city center and since it was a big event, the parking spot needed to be booked in advance, so we decided to go via public transportation. The stadium is one of new establishment built in Sapporo in recent years. There are many places in Sapporo that are waiting to be explored, do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

Visit Date: 2024, August 8th (Summer)
Address: 1-F Village, Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido 061-1116
Access: Kitahiroshima Station

Escon Field Stadium: Arrival

Since we could not drive there due to fully booked parking spot, we went there via public transportation. We first took a subway to Oyachi Station and took a direct bus to the stadium. The bus only accept ticket bought in the station or credit card payment (touch system). Upon arriving in the stadium, there is sign saying that we cannot bring foods or drinks from outside. Pet bottle or own water container is allowed however. There is also a quick bag check in the entrance to make sure we do not bring any foods from outside.

Escon Field Stadium: Inside

This is a new stadium, and inside the stadium there are some restaurants and shops selling merchandise. The foods and drink price inside is relatively more expensive compared to normal price. The stadium itself looks a bit like a mall, and it is really nice place nonetheless.

Escon Field Stadium: Seats

The normal price of the entrance ticket and booked seat is around 3000 yen per person. My wife for some reason got the tickets for free from her sister. After exploring the stadium a little bit, we proceeded to our seats, which are located on the back side so we could see the whole field. We were lucky to be seated near journalist seats in which we could see some sports journalists working.

The Match: Fighters vs. Buffaloes

The game itself was quite entertaining. It was a match between Hokkaido team Fighters against Osaka team Buffaloes. Even though I am not Japanese or Hokkaido native, I have lived here for more than 7 years. So deep inside I really hope Hokkaido team Fighters can win this game. The match itself started with team Fighters losing. Even though in the end team Fighters could catch up, in the end team Buffaloes beat Fighters 5-4. This article focuses more on the stadium, and I am not sports journalist, so I will not add any sports commentary on the match.

Escon Field Stadium: VIP seats

Since both my wife and I are not big fan of baseball, we decided to leave earlier to avoid crowds. We decided to explore the stadium a little bit more on the way back. There are some VIP seats we spot, from seats with swings, seats with table, and even sauna room in which you can enjoy sauna while watching the game!

Beer girls

Baseball game in Japan is a bit similar to American baseball game, minus the brawling. Some similar things include beer girls, in which young ladies walk around selling beers to spectators. The beer price is of course more expensive compared to normal price. A cup of beer costs around 800 yen, which is 3 times more expensive compared to convenience store price.

Escon Field Stadium: Pet-Friendly Section

There are seats in the stadium in which you can bring your pets along to watch the game. There are also pet diapers provided in this area. If you are planning to watch the game with your pet, this stadium is definitely able to accommodate. There are places to put your pet cart while you are seated with your pet. For some reason this is the only place I could find a water-refill machine.

Escon Field Stadium: Terrace section

The stadium also has terrace sections in which you can smoke and enjoy BBQ. There are a BBQ restaurant located in one of the terrace in which you can dine while enjoying the outside scenery. There is also a section in which you can lay down under the sunlight in the terrace.

Escon Field Stadium: Entertainment Section

We also found a section in the stadium in which you can dine while enjoying some interactive games. Some of the games include a baseball throwing simulation and even batting simulation.

Escon Field Stadium: Outdoor Section

On the way back to the bus station, we also explored the outdoor section of the stadium. There are some food stalls as well as playground for families to enjoy with their children. There is a small field in which you can play mini baseball game with your loved ones. Overall, this stadium is worth visiting for at least once even though you are not baseball fan, specially with your family.

moving and living in Sapporo

Posted on September 11, 2024September 11, 2024 by admin

Bon Odori Festival in Sapporo 2024

Bon Odori Festival in Sapporo 2024

It was mid August and the weather was really hot. Summer in Japan means that there will be a lot of festival. One of the most famous festival is called “Bon Odori Festival” or “Obon”. This traditional festival has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and it is a festival to honor ones’ ancestor. This festival is famous because spectators do not only watch, but they can also participate by dancing with the performers! Sapporo Bon Odori Festival is also the same. The event was held in Odori Park near Sapporo TV Tower and it was held in the evening. There are many places in Sapporo that are waiting to be explored, do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

Visit Date: 2024, August 11th (Summer)
Address: 1 Chome Odorinishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0042
Access: Odori Station

Inside the Festival

Even though we arrived a bit earlier, the festival area was crowded already. This is because there were some stalls that sell foods and liquors. There was also a Coca-Cola stall in which you can exchange your pet bottle for a bottle of Coca-Cola.

Afternoon Dance: Kids Dance

After strolling around a bit, finally the dance started. Before dark, the dance festival actually is more for kids. In the picture below, you can see that the afternoon session are mostly filled with kids and parents.

Evening Dance: Adults Dance

After enjoying the afternoon dance session, we left for a bit to eat some dinner, and then we came back in the night time to see the adult session. By “adult” here does not mean any innuendo, but it is when the session is targeted for adult audiences. My hypothesis for this is because maybe the organizer wants to separate adults and kids, because the Obon dance can be crowded and participants need to circle around a stage. Separating adults and kids may be due to safety reason to prevent kids from being trampled over by the adults by accident.

moving and living in Sapporo

Posted on August 7, 2024August 8, 2024 by admin

Otaru 1 Day Tour Sakaimachi Street Wind Chime Festival

It was Sunday and the weather was good, not too hot not too cold, my wife wanted me to go with her to Otaru to see wind chime festival. I have never seen this festival before so I happily agreed to go with her for a one day trip to Otaru. There are many places in Hokkaido that are waiting to be explored, do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Bus Stop

I thought that we would drive there, but she said that since I might drink a bit there, she said that it would be better to go by bus. We were lucky to have a bus stop really close to our house that will take us straight to Otaru Station. The station is just 5 minutes walk from our house so it was really convenient. It costs around 730 yen one way from that station to Otaru Station, there will be bus available every one hour during regular business day (Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm). One benefit of travelling by bus is that you can also enjoy the scenery along the way! This is the station I was talking about (LINK).

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Arrival

It took around 30 minutes by bus from the bus station near our home to Otaru Station. We decided to stop near Otaru JR Station because we also want to enjoy the beautiful city of Otaru. One charming thing about Otaru is that the city has its unique elegant style. Even the convenience store like Lawson blends well with the surrounding architecture. I have been to Otaru many times, but I never felt bored exploring the downtown area of Otaru. There is also rickshaw service, in which you just need to pay around 1500 yen!

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Live Music in Otaru Canal

We also pass through Otaru Canal on the way to the Wind Chime Festival in Sakaimachi street. Otaru Canal is definitely a must go spot in Otaru since it is really famous spot in Otaru. Because of its all-season beauty and elegance, this spot may have a lot of visitors busy taking pictures. There is also a paid boat tour in which you can explore Otaru Canal via boat ride, since we did not have much time, we decided to skip the boat tour. Since it was a festival time, we also encountered a live singing show near the canal area.

Visit Date: 2024 August 4th (Summer)
Address: Minatomachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0007

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Denuki Alley and Fire Watch Tower

Right across Otaru Canal, there is another great spot that you must also visit; Denuki Alley. This small alley has some restaurants and shops. The alley also has an old fire watch tower that you can also enter. There is a small circular stairs that anyone can enter to access the tower, it might be difficult to find the stairs in the beginning, but once you get inside the tower, you can enjoy a great scenery of Otaru Canal and its surrounding place.

Visit Date: 2024 August 4th (Summer)
Address: 1 Chome-1 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0031

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Romankan Glass Shop

After taking some pictures in Denuki Alley (and not buying anything), we proceeded further. On the way right before Sakaimachi street, there was a glass shop called “Romankan”. It is basically a nice glass shop in which you can buy some local-made glass artworks. Otaru is also famous for its glass work, so if you want to buy some souvenirs, this is one of good place.

Visit Date: 2024 August 4th (Summer)
Address: 1-25 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Sakaimachi Street

The Festival is located in Sakaimachi Street, another famous tourist attraction in Otaru that has many different art shops, restaurants and sweet shops. The reason why this street is really famous among visitors is because of the atmosphere; most of the buildings here still shows the aspect of Japanese culture while at the same time shows the charm of Otaru. It is definitely looks different from other Japanese cities I have visited. The pictures shown below do not represent all the shops in Sakaimachi Street, there are more shops available for you to explore by yourself there.

Visit Date: 2024 August 4th (Summer)
Address: 〒047-0027 Hokkaido, Otaru, Sakaimachi, Sakaimachi Hondori

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Kitaichi Venezia Museum

When exploring the street, we ran into Kitaichi Venezia Museum. Since my wife has deep interest in artwork, she wanted us to also explore this place. As the name suggests, this place contains many Venetian-themed artworks, ranging from Gondola boats, costumes, and of course, glass works. The shop part of the building forbids us from taking pictures, so there are no pictures from the shop.

Visit Date: 2024 August 4th (Summer)
Address: 5-27 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Wind Chime Festival

The Wind Chime Festival is held along Sakaimachi Street. The roads were closed for vehicle access, so there were a lot of stalls installed along the street. There were some seats and tables prepared in the middle of the street so you can also enjoy some foods in the middle of the street. As the name suggests, “Wind Chime Festival”, there were a lot of cute wind chimes installed everywhere on the street. There were also many live music show performance along the street that made the festival better. There were even some beer ladies wearing Yukata walking around to offer visitors some beer! Here are some pictures from the festival.

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Kitaichi Glass Otaru

When we were exploring the festival, we came across another glass shop called “Kitaichi Glass Otaru”. This place not only sells many locally-made glass artworks, but also a fancy-looking restaurants. We were not hungry that time so we skipped the restaurant part and just explored the shop part of the building.

Visit Date: 2024 August 4th (Summer)
Address: 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Wind Chime Festival (continued)

After looking around the Kitaichi Glass Shop, we continued down the Sakaimachi Street. In the end of the street, there was a stage in which various performance were being held. We came just in time before the Yukata contest show, in which some participants showcased their Yukata. In my opinion, all Yukata looks nice, but there was one participant that definitely stood up from the rest.

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Otaru Music Box Antique Museum

After enjoying some performance, we immediately headed to the Otaru Music Box Antique Museum located right across the stage. This museum has a huge collection of music boxes of various size, ranging from small to human-size music boxes. There were also many dolls that might look a little bit creepy at night but looks elegant at the same time. This museum also sells many different kinds of music boxes, so if you are looking to buy some souvenirs that are only available in Otaru, this is also one of a good place.

Visit Date: 2024 August 4th (Summer)
Address: 6-１３ Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027

Otaru 1 Day Tour: Late Lunch of 500 yen Seafood Bowl

It was past lunch time already and we have not eaten lunch, so we were really starving. On the way back to the station, we decided to try the 500 yen Seafood Bowl in Otaru Poseidon. Since we were planning to eat a big dinner that day, we decide to just eat light. We were actually planning to try their sashimi rice bowl, but it was sold out that time, so we just went for the other 500 yen menu available that time; Salmon Flake Rice Bowl and Boiled whitebait rice bowl.

Visit Date: 2024 August 4th (Summer)
Address: 4-9 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027

It took us the whole day to complete this Otaru 1 day tour. Otaru is definitely one place that can be reached easily from Sapporo via public transportation, and I highly suggest you to visit this charming little town if you happen to come to Hokkaido. Thank you for reading this short travel blog! Feel free to let us know if you need guides/clues if you are planning to come to Hokkaido! Specially if it is your first time! And do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

moving and living in Sapporo

Posted on August 5, 2024December 9, 2025 by admin

Furano 1 Day Tour Biei Shikisai no Oka, Farm Tomita, Ningle Terrace

Furano Day Tour Shikisai no Oka Farm Tomita Ningle Terrace Cover 富良野一日遊四季彩之丘富田農場森林精靈露台 Tur Sehari Furano

Furano 1 Day Tour Biei Shikisai no Oka, Farm Tomita, Ningle Terrace

I got a special nice deal from my friend who is working in a tour company based in Sapporo. My wife and I was invited to join a 1 day tour trip to Furano by bus. Even though it sounds like a short trip, but it was a really fun trip with a lot of sightseeing and eating amazing foods! We visited in total three places in Furano, Shikisai no Oka, Farm Tomita and Ningle Terrace. There are many places in Hokkaido that are waiting to be explored, do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

Furano 1 Day Tour: Meeting Point and Rest Stop

The meeting point was near Susukino Station and we needed to wake up really early in Saturday morning so we can catch the bus at 7 am. It takes around 2 hours from Sapporo to Furano by driving (includes toll road). After departing from Sapporo, it took us around 1 hour to finally reach the first rest area located in Sunagawa for a quick toilet break. The rest area looks really well-maintained with some shops, toilets, and even small park.

Furano 1 Day Tour: Enjoying the Scenery Along the Way

Bus trip may sound really boring; but actually I enjoyed the trip as much as the main attraction! I got to see some great Hokkaido summer scenery along the way. Hokkaido is really famous for its beautiful natural scenery; flowers, lush green grass field and etc. Here are some of the best picture I shot along the way.

Furano 1 Day Tour: Shikisai no Oka Biei

After another 1 hour of enjoying the natural scenery along the way, finally we reached our first destination, Shikisai no Oka. This place is actually located in Biei Town, which is close to Furano, and it is really famous for its amazing flower fields with colorful flowers. Not only beautiful flower fields, you can also enjoy some nice soft cream, Melon, Alpaca farm, ATV ride, and even Helicopter ride! Since we did not have much time here (only around 1.5 hour), we decided not to take the helicopter ride and instead just taking pictures of the amazing flower field. If you are too lazy to walk within the huge flower field, you can also pay for a golf cart ride that will take you inside the field.

Visit Date: 2024 July 27th (Summer)
Museum Entrance Fee: 500yen (adults)
Address: 〒071-0473 Hokkaido, Kamikawa District, Biei, Shinsei, ３

Furano 1 Day Tour: Farm Tomita

After walking enjoying colorful scenery of flower field in Shikisai no Oka, we proceeded to eat lunch and shop a bit in a small shopping center/ restaurant area. After eating and shopping, we proceeded directly to Farm Tomita, which is located in Furano. This place also has beautiful flower fields, but it is not as big as Shikisai no Oka in Biei. However, Farm Tomita is focused more on the dining experience and atmosphere, since you can enjoy various local delicacy like Lavender Soft Cream while watching the beautiful scenery of the surrounding Lavender Field. Flower field in Farm Tomita mainly focus on Lavender, so that is why all workers wear purple, and even their machines are painted purple!

Visit Date: 2024 July 27th (Summer)
Entrance Fee: FREE
Address: 15 Kisenkita, Nakafurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido 071-0704

Furano 1 Day Tour: Ningle Terrace

After enjoying amazing Lavender Soft Cream in Farm Tomita, we proceeded to Ningle Terrace, a place famous for its cute picturesque forest cottages that sells some original artworks. Ningle Terrace is not as big compared to the previous two places, so it took us only 30 minutes to explore each of the small cute shops inside the Ningle Terrace. Even though we did not shop for any artwork, we ended up purchasing some bottles of fresh milk produced by some local farms in Furano (sold in a shop in Prince Hotel located next to Ningle Terrace).

Visit Date: 2024 July 27th (Summer)
Entrance Fee: FREE
Address: 1 Nakagoryo, Furano, Hokkaido 076-8511

It took us the whole day to complete this Biei and Furano 1 day tour. Special thanks to Mr. Oscar, who has been an amazing tour guide and friend, as well as the bus driver who kept us safe during the trip. Thank you for reading this short travel blog! Feel free to let us know if you need guides/clues if you are planning to come to Hokkaido! Specially if it is your first time! And do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

moving and living in Sapporo