Offroad Driving in Sapporo

Clearest Lake in Japan National Park package of Shikotsu lake

A must do and I would do it again

Absolutely awesome experience in late September! We definitely lucked out with the weather, even though there was a typhoon in Tokyo. Our driver/guide was Tomo, and I was so happy when he introduced himself because his name was mentioned in many of the past reviews from satisfied customers. He could speak English well, was a very safe van driver and not to mention a fabulous photographer using my phone! Tomo communicated with us via text from the day before to ensure we had the correct pick-up location. We had a long drive to Lake Shikotsu where we explored the area on foot, walked across the red Yamasen bridge and climbed steps to reach an observatory lookout. We saw kayakers, boat rides and stand-up paddlers. We then drove to the Shikotsukokanko Center where Tomo arranged for our fishing gear. To my amazement, my husband caught a fish! Tomo said the best time to fish for the Princess Trout is during the summer months when they are full-grown. After our fishing adventure, we took a short drive to Marukoma Onsen to relax. Tomo paid for our admission to use the onsen for over an hour. I would read more about this onsen because it is 100% natural and a special place. You will need to bring your own towels but I recommend bringing a small white washcloth to bathe yourself and a larger towel to dry off. All the ladies in the onsen had their little white washcloth on their heads while sitting in the onsen. After the onsen, we headed back to Sapporo and were given an option to stop for some of the best ice cream in Hokkaido. You may want to have a large breakfast like we did because there is no scheduled lunch stop so you may want to pack some snacks. Overall, I highly recommend this activity, and Tomo was definitely a plus plus!

Full-day City Tour of Sapporo with Guide from Niseko

Wonderful first day in Sapporo

Our tour of Sapporo was wonderful. Our guide picked us up from Niseko and gave us a tour of Sapporo and then dropped us off at our hotel in Sapporo. It was a beautiful drive in a nice van and our guide was very accommodating. He took us to the clock tower, then the Red Brick House, and then to the Fish Market to have lunch then we went to the Sapporo Beer Museum. Overall it was a wonderful day.

Otaru Canal Private Sightseeing Tour from Sapporo Station

Tomo-san is an incredible tour guide and shared the unique appeal of Otaru. 10/10 recommend!

Tomo-san was an incredible host! He was very meticulous in his planning and his care during our tour of Otaru. Mt. Tengu was closed so he instead took us to Shiroikoibito Park and then allowed us time to see the beautiful night view of Sapporo. On top of it, he always made sure the car was warm for us whenever we took time to shop or take pictures before leaving an area. He answered any questions we asked, made for amazing conversation in general, and took the time to ensure that we had an unforgettable experience in Otaru. He was so personable that it was hard to leave at the end of the tour! He knew so much about Hokkaido and in general is so well traveled, I felt like I could ask anything and knew I would get a great answer. He made sure we spent the time we needed in memorable spots in Otaru and made amazing recommendations for omiyage, snacks, and sushi (even last minute!). I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see Otaru, especially if they want to learn about it.