I hope this gives you some inspiration for your winter trip to Hokkaido Japan! We appreciate the commissions we earn when you purchase a train pass through our Klook affiliate link: geni.us/sapporofuranopass
very informative and i really appreciate the almost turn-by-turn directions and the attention to detail. i plan on visiting solo in March and will re-watch this a couple more times to soak in the info. thank you for this video!
@ I’m thinking of visiting Hokkaido during the Snow Festival from 6-11 Feb!:) May I ask if that festival is free for tourists? Or must tourists buy an entry ticket?
@@sharlene.e The Sapporo Snow Festival is free to attend! Here is more information about the winter festivals in Hokkaido: ruclips.net/video/BYxfQ_CfHMQ/видео.htmlsi=5eFUWoPMhDltIt-J
You're welcome! Our next video will share more details about winter festivals in Hokkaido. Here's our overview video of how to plan a trip to Japan: ruclips.net/video/5o_PFG8xWWQ/видео.html
Hi George and Heidi. Enjoying all your videos. I planned to visit Hokkaido this December to visit those places including Seven Stars Tree セブンスターの木. Also I purchased JR Hokkaido Sapporo Furano Area Pass. Do you have any tips how to book a taxi to seven stars tree from Biei ?
Hi. We haven’t been to Seven Stars Tree. You could probably catch a taxi from Biei Station. Or use an app such as GO Taxi to request a taxi. To set up GO on your phone you would need to receive one text message once you’re in Japan. ❄️ Heidi
Hi, this is the video I’ve been waiting for! I was the one asking about this for my Yuki Matsuri trip in your last live video.😁 I’ll be traveling to Hokkaido, exploring Tohoku all the way to Tokyo in Feb, planning to use the JR East South Hokkaido Pass, so I can’t wait for your next video too! 😊 I will definitely use your link to buy my JR Sapporo-Furano Area Pass! I have questions, do you not recommend me to visit Biei the Shirogane Blue Pond? You don’t think it’s worth it in Winter season? Need your advice.. Thank you so much for the inspirations!! ❤
Yay! I was thinking of you when I made this video. ❄️ If you have the time and don't mind the long train ride, you certainly could visit Shirogane Blue Pond in Biei. I think it would take about 3 hours to get there from Sapporo. From Biei Station it's about a 30 minute bus ride. It looks like they have illuminations at the pond in winter. Here's some more info: www.biei-hokkaido.jp/ja/19266 You could visit Furano first, for Ningle Terrace shopping village www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/spot/detail_11270.html. Then back track to Biei before returning to Sapporo. If you look at the map for the Sapporo-Furano Area Pass, there's a loop. In the winter you can't go the more direct route to Furano. Instead, you need to go through Asahikawa and Biei to reach Furano. 🌸Heidi
Hi Heidi and George! What are your recommendations to do in Hokkaido in spring time? We plan to be in Japan in April 2025. We will fly in Tokyo and after Tokyo will head to Hokkaido and fly back to the States from there.
Hi. Spring is beautiful in Japan! You might catch the cherry blossoms in Tokyo if you're there in early April. We haven't actually visited Hokkaido in the spring. It might be cold. In Sapporo we like walking through Odori Park, and the other parks. You could visit the Historical Village of Hokkaido, which has various traditional buildings that you can go inside and explore. In late April, the southern portion of Hokkaido is good for cherry blossom viewing, including the Star Fort (Goryōkaku) in Hakodate. 🌸 Heidi
@ Thank you Heidi. Our current plan is to be in Tokyo and its surrounding city attractions beginning of April for 10 days to catch the cherry blossoms and then head up North. I’m doing marathon watch of all things Japan on your channel. My husband had been to Japan on business trip once a long time ago. Everything is new to us. Your videos are more relatable because we travel as a family. Our only son is homeschooled so we seem to share the same interests as yours.
Sounds like a wonderful trip! Pretty much all the places we recommend are family-friendly. We made a video on the best places to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo: ruclips.net/video/J_t6Hh9F5YY/видео.html A day trip you might want to take from Tokyo is to visit Hitachi Seaside Park. It has flowers, but also an amusement park. It's the first one in this video: ruclips.net/video/NGSW8nVdqYA/видео.html
Do you know where you can store ski bags for the day in Sapporo? Sapporo station lockers don't look big enough to fit my 180cm long ski bag. Just looking for day of storage, I appreciate any intel!
Hi. You could try the ECBO Cloak app to find a storage location. We talk about the app at 06:27 in this separate video about luggage storage in Japan: ruclips.net/video/dsUGncWTVm8/видео.html
If you use Tohoku-South Hokkaido pass, could you upgrade to green car or gran class seat? Or is there any option to buy green car pass like JR Pass covering whole Japan?
Hi, for the JR East regional passes in the Tohoku area you can upgrade to either Gran Class or Green Car. For the whole of Japan, with the whole JR Pass, you can only purchase a Green Car or Ordinary Class as Gran Class is specific to the Tohoku Region. We do not know if you can upgrade the Tohoku portion to Gran Class like you can with JR East regional passes.
hi is there a guide to go to the ningle terrace during winter season using this sapporo furano pass? After arriving the train station in furano where can i go to buy the bus ticket to ningle terrace?
Hi. From Furano Station you can ride a bus (Asahikawa Line) to New Furano Prince Hotel, where Ningle Terrace is located. This takes about 20 minutes and costs 260 Yen. I assume you would either pay by IC card or pay cash on the bus. Alternatively, you could take a taxi from Furano Station, which would take about 10 minutes. Here's the website for the Prince Hotel: www.princehotels.com/shinfurano/ This other website also has some info about Ningle Terrace: www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/spot/detail_11270.html In the winter coming from Sapporo, you would first travel to Asahikawa (1hr 25 min) then to Furano (1 hr 10 min). Then take a bus or taxi. So it would take about 3 hours to reach Ningle Terrace, and 3 hours to return to Sapporo. Alternatively, you might want to spend one night in Asahikawa or Furano. ❄️ Heidi
So sorry to bring up a different topic & question here. Thank you Heidi & George for giving these information right on time. I am not prepared for our trip yet😢 What regional passes you suggests for us Nov28/2024 day1-3Tokyo /Mt Fuji 4-6 Nagasaki 6-9 Hiroshima 10-17 Osaka Kyoto 18-21 Tokyo /Nagano or Gunma or Shirakawa go! Can I purchase online or from the office at Narita? ? Please please help 😮
Hi. For that spread out of locations the only pass that would cover everything is the Whole Japan Rail Pass. However, a 21-Day JR Pass costs 100,000 Yen per adult, and might not save you any money. You can enter each city into this Fare Calculator to see how much it would cost without the JR Pass: kenshoquest.com/recommends/jrpass-fare-calculator/ It looks like it would cost around 66,000 Yen purchasing separate tickets, which is less than the JR Pass. However, the JR Pass allows a lot of flexibility and you can add in whichever cities you decide to visit. If you prefer to buy individual Shinkansen bullet train tickets, here's one of our videos: ruclips.net/video/E_GxIrm0fdg/видео.html
@@KenshoQuestMuch appreciated George, I will watch those videos tomorrow in detail, but if I present my itinerary printed, will they give me those tickets /pass from Narita itself? Because I wanted utilize the time between 1500 till 6am nearby, I have stay at Narita that night, waiting for my daughter.
@@MeBot-t9i I don’t think so. Sapporo has had a few days of snow this year, but then it warmed up and melted. The Instagram account @visit.sapporo usually shares the daily weather as a story.
Hi, I have a student visa and therefore the resident status, so if I am not mistaken it would not je possible for to buy the pass right ? Thank you for your answers and your great videos! They helped me a lot since I am in Japan :)
Hi. Yes, you normally can cancel Shinkansen bullet train tickets (if done at least 2 hours before departure time). However, you won't get back the entire amount you paid if there is a service fee (around 10%) or cancellation fee. 🌸 Heidi
Bu zamana kadar "Hokkaido'da nasıl gezilir?" sorusuna en ayrıntılı ve en muazzam şekilde açıklayan bir video. O kadar güzel ki 3 defa izledim. Gerçekten harika bir video olmuş. Emeğinize sağlık!
Yes, you can use the pass however you like on the covered route. You can use it from the airport and to visit Asahikawa. From JR Asahikawa Station it's a 40 minute bus ride to Asahiyama Zoo. The bus ride is not covered by the pass, only the train. ❄️ Heidi
Yes, PASMO works in Sapporo. That's what I use. There are some more remote areas in Hokkaido that don't accept payment by IC card. We really only encountered that when visiting Niseko. ❄️ Heidi
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I hope this gives you some inspiration for your winter trip to Hokkaido Japan! We appreciate the commissions we earn when you purchase a train pass through our Klook affiliate link: geni.us/sapporofuranopass
very informative and i really appreciate the almost turn-by-turn directions and the attention to detail. i plan on visiting solo in March and will re-watch this a couple more times to soak in the info. thank you for this video!
You're very welcome! Have fun in Hokkaido.
Watched a few times to capture all d info n really love it! Thank u again!
You're very welcome! ❄️
Hope to see more of ur children in ur videos becos they r so adorable!!
THANK YOU! This is such a fantastic, informative video.
You're very welcome!
Perfect for planning!!
This video is very informational! Thank you for sharing so many useful tips to help other tourists plan their Hokkaido trip with ease! :D
You’re very welcome! When will you visit Hokkaido?
@ I’m thinking of visiting Hokkaido during the Snow Festival from 6-11 Feb!:) May I ask if that festival is free for tourists? Or must tourists buy an entry ticket?
@@sharlene.e The Sapporo Snow Festival is free to attend! Here is more information about the winter festivals in Hokkaido: ruclips.net/video/BYxfQ_CfHMQ/видео.htmlsi=5eFUWoPMhDltIt-J
@@KenshoQuest that’s wonderful!! I’m so excited for my trip now! 😊
exactly what I needed after booking the tickets! Thank you!
You’re welcome! Here’s our video specifically about the winter festivals: ruclips.net/video/BYxfQ_CfHMQ/видео.htmlsi=HF8KtxhZw9mRRKP4 ❄️☃️
Thank You so much for this!
You're very welcome! Will you visit Hokkaido this winter? ❄️
@ yes! This January this helped alot on our planning for the trip! TY!
❤Love this! It helped me so much in planning our family travel❤Mom of 2-young boys here😊
Yay! Have a wonderful time in Hokkaido. Which month will you visit?
Wow, i love the level of details! ❤❤❤ i’m a new fan!
Welcome to Kensho Quest! Here's our overview video of how to plan a trip to Japan: ruclips.net/video/5o_PFG8xWWQ/видео.html
This is godsend! subscribed, thank you!!
You're welcome! Our next video will share more details about winter festivals in Hokkaido. Here's our overview video of how to plan a trip to Japan: ruclips.net/video/5o_PFG8xWWQ/видео.html
Thank you very much for this. So much details. ❤
You're welcome! Here's our overview video of how to plan a trip to Japan: ruclips.net/video/5o_PFG8xWWQ/видео.html
Are the rapid trains going to sapporo reserve seats only?
Hi. The Airport Rapid train to Sapporo has both reserved and non-reserved seating.
A bit fast bcos no pauses at all. V useful tq
You're welcome. You can slow down the speed, if it makes it easier to follow. We try not to waste anyone's time. 😊
Thanks for another very helpful video! Is it better to buy tickets for Shiroi Koibito Park in advance?
I would just buy tickets at the counter when you arrive. 🍫☃️
@@KenshoQuest thank you!
Hi George and Heidi. Enjoying all your videos. I planned to visit Hokkaido this December to visit those places including Seven Stars Tree セブンスターの木. Also I purchased JR Hokkaido Sapporo Furano Area Pass. Do you have any tips how to book a taxi to seven stars tree from Biei ?
Hi. We haven’t been to Seven Stars Tree. You could probably catch a taxi from Biei Station. Or use an app such as GO Taxi to request a taxi. To set up GO on your phone you would need to receive one text message once you’re in Japan. ❄️ Heidi
Hi, this is the video I’ve been waiting for! I was the one asking about this for my Yuki Matsuri trip in your last live video.😁 I’ll be traveling to Hokkaido, exploring Tohoku all the way to Tokyo in Feb, planning to use the JR East South Hokkaido Pass, so I can’t wait for your next video too! 😊
I will definitely use your link to buy my JR Sapporo-Furano Area Pass! I have questions, do you not recommend me to visit Biei the Shirogane Blue Pond? You don’t think it’s worth it in Winter season? Need your advice..
Thank you so much for the inspirations!! ❤
Yay! I was thinking of you when I made this video. ❄️ If you have the time and don't mind the long train ride, you certainly could visit Shirogane Blue Pond in Biei. I think it would take about 3 hours to get there from Sapporo. From Biei Station it's about a 30 minute bus ride. It looks like they have illuminations at the pond in winter. Here's some more info: www.biei-hokkaido.jp/ja/19266
You could visit Furano first, for Ningle Terrace shopping village www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/spot/detail_11270.html. Then back track to Biei before returning to Sapporo. If you look at the map for the Sapporo-Furano Area Pass, there's a loop. In the winter you can't go the more direct route to Furano. Instead, you need to go through Asahikawa and Biei to reach Furano. 🌸Heidi
Hi Heidi and George! What are your recommendations to do in Hokkaido in spring time? We plan to be in Japan in April 2025. We will fly in Tokyo and after Tokyo will head to Hokkaido and fly back to the States from there.
Hi. Spring is beautiful in Japan! You might catch the cherry blossoms in Tokyo if you're there in early April.
We haven't actually visited Hokkaido in the spring. It might be cold. In Sapporo we like walking through Odori Park, and the other parks. You could visit the Historical Village of Hokkaido, which has various traditional buildings that you can go inside and explore. In late April, the southern portion of Hokkaido is good for cherry blossom viewing, including the Star Fort (Goryōkaku) in Hakodate. 🌸 Heidi
@ Thank you Heidi. Our current plan is to be in Tokyo and its surrounding city attractions beginning of April for 10 days to catch the cherry blossoms and then head up North. I’m doing marathon watch of all things Japan on your channel. My husband had been to Japan on business trip once a long time ago. Everything is new to us. Your videos are more relatable because we travel as a family. Our only son is homeschooled so we seem to share the same interests as yours.
Sounds like a wonderful trip! Pretty much all the places we recommend are family-friendly. We made a video on the best places to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo: ruclips.net/video/J_t6Hh9F5YY/видео.html A day trip you might want to take from Tokyo is to visit Hitachi Seaside Park. It has flowers, but also an amusement park. It's the first one in this video: ruclips.net/video/NGSW8nVdqYA/видео.html
Do you know where you can store ski bags for the day in Sapporo? Sapporo station lockers don't look big enough to fit my 180cm long ski bag. Just looking for day of storage, I appreciate any intel!
Hi. You could try the ECBO Cloak app to find a storage location. We talk about the app at 06:27 in this separate video about luggage storage in Japan: ruclips.net/video/dsUGncWTVm8/видео.html
If you use Tohoku-South Hokkaido pass, could you upgrade to green car or gran class seat? Or is there any option to buy green car pass like JR Pass covering whole Japan?
Hi, for the JR East regional passes in the Tohoku area you can upgrade to either Gran Class or Green Car. For the whole of Japan, with the whole JR Pass, you can only purchase a Green Car or Ordinary Class as Gran Class is specific to the Tohoku Region. We do not know if you can upgrade the Tohoku portion to Gran Class like you can with JR East regional passes.
Hi! Do u have any idea at what time the fireworks starts at Ashahikawa ice festival? Thanks!
Fireworks were around 8 or 8:30pm. Here’s our separate video about the winter festivals: ruclips.net/video/BYxfQ_CfHMQ/видео.htmlsi=8EJ2eFj6lALSffU8
@KenshoQuest thank you very much!
hi is there a guide to go to the ningle terrace during winter season using this sapporo furano pass? After arriving the train station in furano where can i go to buy the bus ticket to ningle terrace?
Hi. From Furano Station you can ride a bus (Asahikawa Line) to New Furano Prince Hotel, where Ningle Terrace is located. This takes about 20 minutes and costs 260 Yen. I assume you would either pay by IC card or pay cash on the bus. Alternatively, you could take a taxi from Furano Station, which would take about 10 minutes. Here's the website for the Prince Hotel: www.princehotels.com/shinfurano/ This other website also has some info about Ningle Terrace: www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/spot/detail_11270.html
In the winter coming from Sapporo, you would first travel to Asahikawa (1hr 25 min) then to Furano (1 hr 10 min). Then take a bus or taxi. So it would take about 3 hours to reach Ningle Terrace, and 3 hours to return to Sapporo. Alternatively, you might want to spend one night in Asahikawa or Furano. ❄️ Heidi
So sorry to bring up a different topic & question here. Thank you Heidi & George for giving these information right on time. I am not prepared for our trip yet😢
What regional passes you suggests for us
Nov28/2024 day1-3Tokyo /Mt Fuji
4-6 Nagasaki
6-9 Hiroshima
10-17 Osaka Kyoto
18-21 Tokyo /Nagano or Gunma or Shirakawa go!
Can I purchase online or from the office at Narita? ? Please please help 😮
Hi. For that spread out of locations the only pass that would cover everything is the Whole Japan Rail Pass. However, a 21-Day JR Pass costs 100,000 Yen per adult, and might not save you any money. You can enter each city into this Fare Calculator to see how much it would cost without the JR Pass: kenshoquest.com/recommends/jrpass-fare-calculator/ It looks like it would cost around 66,000 Yen purchasing separate tickets, which is less than the JR Pass. However, the JR Pass allows a lot of flexibility and you can add in whichever cities you decide to visit. If you prefer to buy individual Shinkansen bullet train tickets, here's one of our videos: ruclips.net/video/E_GxIrm0fdg/видео.html
And here's our video on how to calculate whether the Whole Japan Rail Pass is worth it: ruclips.net/video/hsrZpVYH-ls/видео.html
Thank you George
This probably going to be our first and only Japan trip 😊
Any more tips suggestions please do comment❤
Thanksa lot❤
@@pancyn5914 Here’s our checklist for preparing for a Japan trip: ruclips.net/video/5o_PFG8xWWQ/видео.htmlsi=itMpGD-B3x4igNFC
@@KenshoQuestMuch appreciated George, I will watch those videos tomorrow in detail, but if I present my itinerary printed, will they give me those tickets /pass from Narita itself? Because I wanted utilize the time between 1500 till 6am nearby, I have stay at Narita that night, waiting for my daughter.
Will i get snowfall in sapporo if i visit tomorrow?
Maybe, maybe not…
@KenshoQuest but I will get iced road for sure right?
@@MeBot-t9i I don’t think so. Sapporo has had a few days of snow this year, but then it warmed up and melted. The Instagram account @visit.sapporo usually shares the daily weather as a story.
Hi, I have a student visa and therefore the resident status, so if I am not mistaken it would not je possible for to buy the pass right ?
Thank you for your answers and your great videos! They helped me a lot since I am in Japan :)
Correct, you wouldn't be able to buy this pass. However, you could buy the train tickets separately and follow the same itinerary. ❄️ Heidi
Are shinkansen tickets refundable?
No
Hi. Yes, you normally can cancel Shinkansen bullet train tickets (if done at least 2 hours before departure time). However, you won't get back the entire amount you paid if there is a service fee (around 10%) or cancellation fee. 🌸 Heidi
@@KenshoQuestthank you Heidi 😮
Bu zamana kadar "Hokkaido'da nasıl gezilir?" sorusuna en ayrıntılı ve en muazzam şekilde açıklayan bir video. O kadar güzel ki 3 defa izledim. Gerçekten harika bir video olmuş. Emeğinize sağlık!
You’re welcome! Thank you for watching.
@@KenshoQuest You’re absolutely amazing person. Thank you soo much for all these videos. 💙
Good day, Can I buy the pass but use the Airport and the Zoo only?
Yes, you can use the pass however you like on the covered route. You can use it from the airport and to visit Asahikawa. From JR Asahikawa Station it's a 40 minute bus ride to Asahiyama Zoo. The bus ride is not covered by the pass, only the train. ❄️ Heidi
When you were here exactly in this video?
February
Does paso work around Sapporo/ Hokkaido?
Yes, PASMO works in Sapporo. That's what I use. There are some more remote areas in Hokkaido that don't accept payment by IC card. We really only encountered that when visiting Niseko. ❄️ Heidi
Is it snowing there ??
Yes, Sapporo has started receiving snowfall this year and it's in the forecast this week. This video was filmed last February. ❄️ Heidi
I got hotel booked from 8 to 12 of february 2025
It was so expensive 😢
The price is double from normal day
Yeah, the hotels are more expensive during the festival. We paid a lot too. Enjoy the festival(s)! ☃️❄️