Sapporo 3-Day Winter Itinerary 2026: Biei, Otaru & City Highlights

If you're planning a 3-night, 4-day trip to Sapporo, you can absolutely fit in visits to Biei and Otaru too!

Dedicate your first and last days to exploring Sapporo city, set aside one day for a Biei-Furano bus tour, and another for charming Otaru.

Booking a single hotel near Sapporo Station for all 3 nights made starting tours and traveling by JR incredibly convenient!

On my own 3-night, 4-day winter Hokkaido adventure, I based myself in Sapporo and explored everywhere from Asahiyama Zoo and Biei to Ningle Terrace and Otaru.

Building on my firsthand Sapporo travel experiences, and even including some fantastic alternative options, I'm going to lay out everything you need to know about flights, transport, itineraries, hotels, and expenses. Let's dive in! ‘◡’

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Table of Contents

1. Sapporo Flights & Airport Transfers

2. Sapporo 3-Night, 4-Day Itinerary

3. Winter Travel to Biei & Otaru

4. Sapporo Hotels & Travel Costs

© Text and Structure by Travel Writer Erin (Erin쌤)

1. Sapporo Flights & Airport Transfers

From Incheon, you can catch a direct flight to Sapporo, and the journey itself takes roughly 3 hours.

We flew with Asiana Airlines, departing Incheon Airport at 1:10 PM and landing at New Chitose Airport around 4:00 PM local time.

Route	Flight (at time of visit)	Departure → Arrival
Incheon → Sapporo	Asiana OZ174	1:10 PM → ~4:00 PM
Sapporo → Incheon	Asiana OZ173	5:25 PM → ~8:30 PM

For a quick trip like 3 nights and 4 days, choosing flights that arrive early on your first afternoon and depart in the evening on your last day is key to maximizing your precious travel time!

We landed around 4 PM, and just exploring Odori Park was perfect for our first evening. The Christmas market was in full swing, so we indulged in delicious treats and soaked up all the festive cheer!

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Sapporo Flight Trip.com Discount Code

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3HAFLT3

Round-trip flights to Sapporo during the peak December season typically go for around ~$530~

But if you use the Trip.com discount code right now, getting flights for **~$385** is absolutely a special deal! And it includes luggage, so you can relax!

From New Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station

When traveling from the airport to Sapporo city center, I hopped on the JR Rapid Airport train from the first basement floor of the domestic terminal.

It only took about 33-43 minutes to reach Sapporo Station – super quick!

While you can use non-reserved seats without a booking, if you're carrying a lot of luggage or simply want a comfortable ride, opt for a reserved seat in car number 4.

With all our winter clothes and suitcases, we had a lot of luggage, so I was really glad we booked reserved seats.

I saw others standing, and it looked quite uncomfortable with the thick winter clothing, suitcases, and crowded conditions.

Mode of Transport	Travel Time	Recommended For
JR Airport Express	~33-43 min	Travelers who want to reach the city center quickly
Airport Bus	~70-90 min	Travelers using a stop near their hotel
Taxi	~60 min	Heavy luggage or multiple travelers
Pickup Service 10% Discount Code TRIPAIRPORT	~60 min	Heavy luggage or multiple travelers

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2. Sapporo 3-Night, 4-Day Itinerary

Just seeing Sapporo city might feel like you're missing out, but you might also worry about having enough time to squeeze in Biei and Otaru, right?

Staying for 3 nights at a single hotel near Sapporo Station and taking day trips to the surrounding areas is perfectly doable!

First, I'll share my own 3-night, 4-day itinerary, and then I've put together some alternative and recommended schedules for you.

Day	Recommended Itinerary	My Travel Itinerary
Day 1	New Chitose Airport → Sapporo Station Hotel → Odori Park Illumination	Same (Christmas Market)
Day 2	Biei Bus Tour: Asahiyama Zoo → Blue Pond → Shirohige Waterfall → Ningle Terrace	JR to Asahikawa → Rental Car: Zoo → Christmas Tree → Birch Forest → Ningle Terrace
Day 3	Half-day Otaru → Sapporo Shopping & Sushi → Susukino Night View	Same
Day 4	1-2 City Spots (Beer Museum, Conveyor Belt Sushi) → Airport	Same (Toriton Sushi Takeout)

Only Day 2 has a different approach.

While I explored Sapporo with a rental car, for first-time winter visitors to Sapporo, I highly recommend a **Biei bus tour**.

**(I'll compare the reasons why in section 03)**

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Day 1

Sapporo City and Winter Night Views

For a 4-day, 3-night trip to Sapporo, on the first day, it's perfect to just drop off your luggage at the hotel and then head to Odori Park to enjoy the illuminations, rather than traveling too far.

Though my friend went straight to Jozankei on their first day, haha!

When I visited Sapporo in winter, the Munich Christmas Market happened to be open, so I had a simple dinner of corn soup, mulled wine (vin chaud), and pretzels.

At the entrance of Sapporo's Odori Park, they were offering free DSLR photo shoots. Turns out, only the super small photos were free, and a large print was 2,000 yen.

(It was our first couple photo in a while, so we bought it anyway, haha!)

Sapporo Winter Events	Period	Location
Munich Christmas Market	November 20th - December 25th	Odori Park 2-chome
White Illumination	November 20th - March 14th, 2027	Odori Park, Sapporo Station Area, etc.
Sapporo Snow Festival	February 4th - 11th, 2027	Odori Park, Susukino, Tsudome

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Day 2

Biei and Furano Snow Landscape Tour

Biei is definitely a full-day trip!

A winter Biei tour from Sapporo in December typically departs from Sapporo Station's North Exit at 8 AM and returns after about 10 hours.

If your itinerary includes Asahiyama Zoo, you'd usually go to the zoo first to catch the winter penguin parade, then visit the Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls, and finally end the day at Ningle Terrace after sunset.

I followed a similar route with a rental car, and the great thing about renting a car is that I could focus on the places I wanted to see most and spend as much time as I liked!

The Asahiyama Zoo penguin parade started at 11 AM when I visited, and a queue began forming 30 minutes beforehand.

The waddling penguins were incredibly cute! Biei's Christmas Tree, a single tree in the middle of a snowy field, was so captivating that I spent an hour taking photos from various angles.

The Takushinkan Birch Forest became peaceful after the tour buses left, allowing me to leisurely spend even more time there.

Ningle Terrace is especially beautiful when the cottages light up after sunset. However, it was really crowded, and driving was a bit challenging~

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Day 3

Otaru and Sapporo Susukino

For Otaru, I recommend a half-day course:

depart by JR in the morning

and return to Sapporo in the afternoon.

It was super convenient to get off at Minami-Otaru Station and stroll downhill,

following the route from the Otaru Music Box Museum → Sakaimachi Street → to the Otaru Canal.

And don't worry about getting lost – everyone takes this path!

From the iconic steam clock in front of the Music Box Museum,

to the LeTAO main store, Rokkatei,

and even Miffy and Snoopy character shops,

a charming string of small shops awaits!

Many recommend visiting Otaru Canal

at sunset when the gas lamps light up,

but perhaps because I rushed there on a rainy afternoon just to snap a few photos,

it wasn't as moving as I'd hoped. Plus, it was pouring rain! ^^*

I personally enjoyed the Music Box Museum and exploring the streets more.

If you're traveling on a weekend, make sure to book your reserved seats for Otaru in advance.

Mine were sold out on the morning of my trip,

so I ended up standing in a non-reserved seat on the Special Rapid train.

In the afternoon, head back to Sapporo,

and it's perfect to do some shopping at Don Quijote and then grab some delicious sushi.

Nemuro Hanamaru had a 98-team waitlist,

so I took a number first

and went back to my hotel – the timing worked out perfectly!

At night, wrap up your day by seeing

the Nikka Whisky signboard, a true symbol of Susukino!

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Day 4

Sapporo Eateries & Airport

On your last day, it's best to include just one or two spots in the city,

perfectly timed with your flight schedule.

For me, it snowed in the morning, so after capturing the snowy scenery

in front of the Susukino Nikka signboard,

I headed to Toriton Sushi.

Even though I arrived right at opening time,

there were about 180 people already in line.

I took a number

and visited the nearby Sapporo Beer Garden and Museum,

but my turn still hadn't come, so I ended up switching to takeout.

If you're pressed for time,

aiming for takeout from the start is also a good strategy.

Watch the video review of Sapporo Toriton Sushi takeout here

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3. Biei & Otaru Winter Travel

For day trips from Sapporo,

I highly recommend Biei and Otaru as your top choices.

However, the travel styles for these two places are quite different.

Biei is a full day, while Otaru can be a half-day trip.

Category	Biei & Furano	Otaru
Recommended Itinerary	Full Day	Half-day to Full Day
Main Attractions	Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond, Shirahige Waterfall, Christmas Tree, Ningle Terrace	Otaru Music Box Museum, Sakaimachi Street, Otaru Canal
Recommended Transport	Bus tour (Rent a car for those experienced in driving on snowy roads)	JR Train or Bus Tour
Travel Highlights	Snowscape appreciation and photography	Street strolls, desserts, and shopping

Comparison	Bus Tour (Recommended)	Rental Car (My Method)
Departure	Directly from Sapporo Station	About 1 hour 30 minutes by JR to Asahikawa
Driving & Parking	No worries at all!^^	Icy parking lots, competition for parking at each attraction
Freedom	Fixed route and schedule	Can stay as long as you want
Essentials	Reservation only	International driving permit, refuel before return

The advantages of a rental car were clear.

I could spend an hour at the Christmas Tree,

and photograph the birch forest even after the tour buses had left.

However, the zoo parking lot was completely icy,

and the road to Ningle Terrace had no streetlights,

so driving felt a bit scary. ^^*

If you're not used to driving in snow,

a bus tour is much more relaxing.

Bus tours seem to operate even through most snowstorms.

How to Choose a Biei Tour from Sapporo

Tour Type	Main Attractions	Recommended For
Penguin Walk + Ningle Terrace [ ~$57 ]	Asahiyama Zoo → Blue Pond → Shirahige Waterfall → Ningle Terrace	Families with children, after the penguin walk, all the way to Ningle Terrace
Junpei Restaurant & Ningle Terrace [ ~$86 ]	Ken & Mary's Tree, Christmas Tree, Takushinkan Birch Trees, Shirahige Waterfall, Ningle Terrace	For those who want Junpei Restaurant and Ningle Terrace both as guaranteed stops
Junpei Restaurant & Snowy Landscape Photo Course [ ~$414 ]	Above itinerary + Ningle Terrace included	Biei scenery + Ningle Terrace
Basic Biei Tour [ ~$49 ]	Christmas Tree, Takushinkan, etc. Plenty of free time (30 minutes each)	Biei scenery

Want to include Jozankei Onsen?

If you want to enjoy a hot spring

while gazing at snow-covered scenery,

Jozankei Onsen is a great option.

However, if you try to fit Biei, Otaru, and Jozankei

into a 3-night, 4-day itinerary,

it gets quite busy.

If it's your first visit,

I recommend Biei and Otaru.

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If hot springs are more your thing,

I recommend Jozankei instead of Biei.

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Apparently, a tour that combines Jozankei and Otaru in one day

was introduced this year, so take a look!

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But what if you want to enjoy the hot springs for a long time?

Then a 1-night stay at a Jozankei ryokan would be even better, right?

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4. Sapporo Hotels & Travel Expenses

If you're planning to visit both *Biei and Otaru,*

the **area around Sapporo Station is the most convenient.**

Tours depart from Sapporo Station,

and you catch the JR to Otaru from Sapporo Station too.

I also recommend Sapporo Station for your accommodation location.

The hotel J and I stayed at was

*Keio Prelia Hotel Sapporo.*

We stayed in a Comfort Queen room for **3 nights,**

and the view from the 15th floor was great.

After checkout, you could put your luggage directly into a locker,

so there was no need to wait when picking up our suitcases again.

In winter, dragging your suitcase

a long distance through the snow is inconvenient,

so be sure to check the distance from the station to your hotel.

It took me less than 10 minutes to walk, and I was really satisfied.

↖️ Click here for the accommodation review ↗️

Sapporo Station vs. Susukino Accommodation Locations

Accommodation Area	Advantages	Recommended For
Sapporo Station	Convenient for airport train, JR, and tour departures	Travelers planning day trips to Biei and Otaru
Odori	Balanced for sightseeing and shopping routes	Travelers focused on city sightseeing
Susukino	Access to great restaurants, shopping, and night views	Travelers who want to enjoy the city late into the night

It's a quick subway ride from Sapporo Station to Susukino,

making it super convenient to go back and forth whenever you like.

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Sapporo 3-Night, 4-Day Trip Expenses

The cost of a trip to Sapporo, Japan,

varies significantly depending on airfare

and hotel prices.

Especially during the peak winter season

and the Sapporo Snow Festival,

accommodation costs can soar, so booking in advance is key!

Category	Basis for Calculation	Estimated Cost (for 2 people)	Actual Case (at time of visit)
Airfare	Incheon-Sapporo Round-trip Direct Flight	Approx. ~$498 - ~$831	Asiana Direct Flight
Hotel 3 nights	2 people per room near Sapporo Station, approx. ~$76 - ~$136 per night	Approx. ~$227 - ~$408	Keio Prelia Hotel Comfort Queen
Airport JR Round-trip	One-way unreserved seat 1,230 JPY reserved seat 2,230 JPY	Approx. ~$32 - ~$57	Car No. 4 Reserved Seat
Otaru JR Round-trip	One-way unreserved seat 800 JPY reserved seat 1,800 JPY	Approx. ~$20 - ~$46	Unreserved seat on the way there, reserved seat on the way back
City Transportation	Subway, City Tram, Taxi	Approx. ~$15 - ~$30	Subway 1-day pass 830 JPY, tram 230 JPY (cash)
Biei Bus Tour	Approx. ~$35 per person~ (varies by course)	Approx. ~$68 - ~$106	I rented a car (separate cost)
Sightseeing Expenses	Asahiyama Zoo 1,000 JPY per person, etc.	Approx. ~$13 - ~$23	Zoo 2 people 2,000 JPY
Food & Cafe	2 people per day approx. 8,000-15,000 JPY	Approx. ~$204 - ~$385	Hanamaru 6,952 JPY, Toriton Takeout 4,374 JPY, LeTAO 1,600 JPY
Souvenirs	Don Quijote, convenience store Hokkaido limited edition items	Approx. ~$38 - ~$151	Mega Don Quijote approx. 22,000 JPY
Total (per person)	Excluding travel insurance	Approx. ~$1,118 - ~$2,039 (approx. ~$559 - ~$1,021)

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Is 3 Nights and 4 Days in Sapporo Enough?

If you're planning your first winter trip to Sapporo,

3 nights and 4 days is quite a packed itinerary.

You can enjoy Sapporo's winter night views,

admire Biei's snowy landscapes,

and even stroll through Otaru's charming streets –

you can experience it all.

Of course, if you want to relax leisurely at a hot spring

or travel to other cities in Hokkaido,

4 nights and 5 days or more would be even better.

However, if you base yourself at Sapporo Station like we did,

allocating one day for Biei and half a day for Otaru,

then a 3-night, 4-day winter Hokkaido trip can be incredibly satisfying.

Easily explore Biei with a bus tour,

and lightly stroll through Otaru on a half-day walk.

Even by just dividing your Sapporo itinerary like this,

you'll have a short but memorable

winter trip to Sapporo. ‘◡’

Ah... I want to go again~

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