Biei Winter Tour 2026: Why Shikisai-no-Oka is a Must-Visit

From November to February,

if I had to pick the absolute highlight of a

winter Sapporo trip,

it would undoubtedly be the enchanting, snow-covered

Biei bus tour.

While iconic spots like the Christmas Tree, Takushinkan, and White Beard Waterfall are usually part of the itinerary,

there's one incredible spot often missing from tour itineraries!

And the **most memorable and enjoyable place**

was **Shikisai-no-Oka (Shikisai Hill)**.

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In today's post,

along with the **enchanting appeal of Shikisai-no-Oka's winter course**, I'll share:

📌 Tours that officially include this incredible stop

📌 Tours that feature the bonus spot (random) course I experienced

I'll be comparing them for you,

so make sure to check it out before you book your Biei tour!

Tours Including Shikisai-no-Oka

Why I Highly Recommend It

The tour I originally signed up for

didn't actually include Shikisai-no-Oka,

but our amazing guide surprised us by taking us there as a **bonus spot** mid-tour.

It was more than just taking pretty pictures;

it was about truly feeling the **authentic snow-covered beauty of Biei**, and thinking,

**"When will I ever get to play in the snow like this again?!"**

If that sparks your interest,

you absolutely must go! Highly, highly recommended!!!!

Our guide, a true Hokkaido local, told us that

**Shikisai-no-Oka is actually where Sapporo locals go for their winter snow fun**!

And it makes perfect sense, because more than any other famous spot,

its **vast, expansive snowfield** truly captured the authentic essence of Biei.

We joyfully walked along a pristine, untouched path, sparkling white,

and even snapped photos with this adorable snowman (or is it a snow-creature?).

I even ran freely through the pure white snowfield and then just lay down, feeling completely at peace!!!!

**This moment truly stands out as the most memorable of my entire Sapporo trip.**

At other famous tourist spots, there are so many people that

the snow is already covered in footprints,

or someone inevitably ends up in your photo frame.

But here, it's so incredibly vast,

and perhaps because it's a true local favorite,

**there weren't many people around at all!**

That's why the **photos turned out absolutely stunning!**

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After this amazing experience, I started looking for tours that included Shikisai-no-Oka as a mandatory stop,

but to my surprise, there weren't as many as I expected!

Since this is a spot I truly, **strongly recommend**,

I personally did the legwork to find tours that include it for you!!

**_For tours that cover all the essential must-see spots_**

**_AND perfectly include Shikisai-no-Oka,_**

check them out below!

[Compare Tours Including the Shikisai-no-Oka Course]

Currently, there are just two tour operators that include Shikisai-no-Oka!

Both places have great reviews,

and they both visit all the famous spots,

so it's a good idea to choose based on the departure point closest to your accommodation

and the price!

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▼Book the Lowest Price Tour▼

[🍤Junpei Restaurant Available] 🚩Hokkaido Biei Furano Sapporo Bus Tour Raku Tour3ha.in

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Hodoo Journey's Biei Tour

The tour I took

doesn't officially include Shikisai-no-Oka (Panoramic Flower Gardens) in its itinerary, but

it's a tour with bonus spots that change randomly!

It's a chance to discover unexpected special charms of Biei,

so if you like the itinerary, I highly recommend booking it!

[Departure from Susukino]

The tour I booked

departed from a convenience store in Susukino.

Each tour has different departure points like Odori Park, Sapporo Station, or Susukino,

and since many of them depart early in the morning,

it's best to choose one close to your accommodation.

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[Shirohige Waterfall]

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For our first stop, we went to Shirohige Waterfall,

and the water was magically blue while the snow fell pure white,

it felt like a fairy village.

[Birch Tree Forest Path]

Next, we visited the Birch Tree Forest Path and Takushinkan (souvenirs and exhibitions),

where we took photos, made snowmen, and had a blast.

[Shikisai-no-Oka - Not on the Official Itinerary]

Although it wasn't on the official tour itinerary,

our guide took us to this Sapporo life-changing spot as an extra stop!!

On other tours, if you come here,

you can apparently go snow sledding and even see alpacas.

We even lay down in untouched snow,

and if you love playing in the snow, I highly recommend it!

[Junpei Lunch Designation - Automatic Reservation]

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A great advantage of the tour I took was that

the famous restaurant Junpei was automatically reserved,

so we could even choose our menu on the bus,

and eat right away upon arrival.

Junpei with beer was absolutely delicious!

[Christmas Tree]

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After lunch, we headed to the Christmas Tree.

Although the weather was a bit cloudy,

the tree standing alone in the snowfield was truly magnificent.

[Ningle Terrace]

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Our last stop was Ningle Terrace.

Some tours stop here, while others skip it.

You can think of it as a quaint cabin village,

and each cabin sells souvenirs!

The tour I took allowed us to choose our drop-off point

between Odori Park or Susukino.

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Our guide, originally from Sapporo, recommended some special spots which was fantastic,

and they were so friendly! So if you're thinking you don't necessarily need Shikisai-no-Oka

but want to explore other secret spots!

then I highly recommend this tour!

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▼Book the Biei Tour I Took▼

[White Shadow Tour] Guaranteed In-store Dining at Junpei! Sapporo Biei Furano One-Day Bus Tour3ha.in

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