Hokkaido: Lake Toya, Bear Ranch and Sapporo Otaru Full Day Tour

Overview

Available languages

Chinese

Japanese

English

10 hours

Mobile ticket

Discover the charm of Hokkaido with this carefully curated tour, perfect for families, friends, or cultural enthusiasts seeking a blend of natural beauty and local experiences. Explore the dramatic volcanic landscapes of Noboribetsu Hell Valley, marvel at the steaming Oyunuma Pond, and visit Lake Toya’s iconic observatories for breathtaking views.

Dive into Japanese history with a visit to Showa Shinzan, an ever-growing volcanic wonder, and experience the playful antics of Hokkaido’s native brown bears at the Bear Ranch. End your journey in the romantic town of Otaru, strolling its historic canals and indulging in local delicacies. This tour offers a seamless combination of nature, history, and cultural discovery, making it an unforgettable adventure. Book now for an authentic Hokkaido experience!

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

1.The departure time from the meeting point is 8:00 AM, and the drop-off time is around 6:00 PM, making the total duration of the trip approximately 10 hours

2.Look for the tour guide holding a yellow Gogoday flag at the meeting point. Tell the guide the name you booked under to join.Please come 15 minutes ahead of time. Refunds will not be given for late or missed arrivals.

3.Weekend and holiday traffic in Japan may delay the return time past 9 p.m.Our company covers overtime fees for the guide and driver.To avoid issues, please don't schedule activities or transport afterward.Attraction times may also be shortened, adjusted, or canceled. Thankyou for your understanding.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Noboribetsu

8:00 AM: Gather at Sapporo Station and board an air-conditioned bus with a professional guide to begin today’s journey through Hokkaido. 9:30 AM: Arrive at the first stop, Noboribetsu (approximately 60 minutes). Jigokudani (Hell Valley): A volcanic crater formed around 10,000 years ago, located near Lake Toya. The area spans 450 meters in diameter, with constant white smoke, barren land, and a strong sulfur smell, earning its nickname as a “hell-like” valley. This natural wonder offers a glimpse into Hokkaido's volcanic activity. (Accessible during winter) Oyunuma Pond: Formed by an eruption of Mt. Hiyoriyama, this steaming crater lake features 130°C sulfur springs, providing hot spring water to local inns. A viewing platform offers panoramic views, or visitors can take a closer look by walking to the lakeside. However, trails and the outdoor footbath area are closed during winter for safety reasons.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Lake Toya

12:00 PM: Visit the Lake Toya area Showa Shinzan and Bear Ranch Showa Shinzan: A volcanic mountain formed after a strong earthquake in 1943. Standing at 398 meters, it remains active, with white smoke emanating from its reddish-brown surface. Declared a national monument in 1957, it continues to grow as a “new mountain.” Bear Ranch: Located near the ropeway entrance, the ranch houses over 100 Hokkaido brown bears, the largest wild mammals in the region. Visitors can feed the bears and observe their playful antics. Lake Toya Scenic Spots Lake Toya Overview: A crater lake with a diameter of 10 kilometers, covering 70.72 square kilometers, and a depth of 180 meters. The lake is part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park and remains unfrozen year-round. Toya Lake Observatory: Offers stunning views of the lake, Nakajima Island, Mt. Yotei, Showa Shinzan, and Mt. Usu. It’s the perfect spot for panoramic photos.

2 hours • Admission Not Included

What‘s Included

Multilingual guide- English, Japanese, Chinese

Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle

All Fees and Taxes

Pickup and drop-off from designated areas

Food and drinks

Ticket for bear Ranch

Options

Hokkaido: Lake Toya, Bear Ranch and Sapporo Otaru Full Day Tour

Reviews

4.56

25 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great day trip
Ashley T,,Dec 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The host was really informative and we visited several places along the way. Great little tour around Hokkaido - thank you
Good trip
657helenx,,Dec 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I had a good trip thanks for our guide XiXi and bus driver. We visited three major attractions in Sapporo area, including hell valley, Toya lake and otaru. XiXi explained very well about each place and interesting facts. Highly recommend for folks who want to taste Sapporo surrounding area in a short time
Great experience, although the Bear Ranch is questionable
65alexandraf,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Rii and our driver were amazing and very knowledgeable about the area. We got a lot of tips about Hokkaido and learned some of the history and traditions as well. Our stops didn't feel rushed until a bit perhaps towards the end, where we had to speed up a bit due to an accident on the highway that had us take a small detour. However, there was the option to spend more time in Otaru and we were given transportation options back to Sapporo, which would have taken just under an hour. Even though we were informed that some tourists sometimes choose not to do it, curiosity got the best out of me, and I paid the admission fee for the Shiowa Shinzan Bear Ranch, which I think would be better off replaced with the cable car to the mountain, in the same spot. I was expecting a larger space and more than just concrete enclosures, but sadly, it felt a bit depressing to see that the bears have been conditioned to ask for food similar to the deer in Nara (except the deer roam freely) and that they didn't have nearly enough space given how many share the same place. It felt a bit like watching a circus, with animals trained to beg for food. One wonders how well are they fed if they're so desperate for some cookies. I realize that that is potentially aimed at kids, and the kids on our bus seemed to have enjoyed it, since these tours tend to be family-oriented, but surely there must be better kids activities involving animals that have more freedom. However, other than this part, I really enjoyed the tour overall because Rii was such a joyful presence and divided our time well.
1 day tour in Hokkaido
Pioneer08582152381,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Tour guide with very professional skills,good communication with customers. very friendly to the customers.good job done.
Wonderful trip but paid more than other participants searching the best price and you will get same services
Coastal28457178157,,Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent driver and tour guide. I thought booking via TripAdvisor would be premier services. Unfortunately the other participants paid much much more competitive price via other webpages If TripAdvisor would like maintain the high end charges needs to have more exclusive services.
Great to see more than Sapporo
allant684,,Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
It was great to see more than Sapporo. The weather was not good and I think good weather would enhance this trip. It was good though.
Cheap, fast, stress-free way to visit many popular locations
chenlR9261ZL,,Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour, much cheaper & faster & stress-free than going to all these places on your own. Though it was a tour, we were still left to our own devices at each stop so that we could enjoy at our own pace, with some extra info and guidance on the minibus in between stops to learn more about each place. It would have been better if we got slightly longer stops at each location to fully enjoy each place (it felt a bit rushed), especially since we returned ~50 mins earlier than scheduled.
Amazing experience!
Julian R,,Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Rii was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide who shared Hokkaido’s rich history, food, and culture. She helped us pace each stop perfectly. Future travelers should wear comfortable shoes, manage time carefully, as the bear ranch restaurant fills up and Otaru gets busy.
The itinerary was good,...
Choon Y,,Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The itinerary was good, but most important of all the tour guide was excellent. She was fluent in 3 languages, been very helpful and professional, and had good knowledge of Hokkaido. It was a joy listening to her.
The Hokkaido Experience
douglas e,,Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Wonderful tour- you get a great overall look at Hokkaido. Shirley was a great guide. Would recommend this tour highly!