Two winter villages, one long day: Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan and Tomamu turn snow and ice into bars, chapels, concert spaces, cafés, slides, and more. At Shikaribetsu, you can even soak outdoors in a hot spring on a frozen lake.

I like the variety here. You get the quiet, unusual setting of a frozen lake, then the more playful Tomamu Ice Village with skating and ice slides. I also like the small group size, heated shared transport, and guides such as Peta, Ochan, and Encsi, who have been praised for being friendly and helpful.

The tradeoff is time. This is about 10 hours, with a long drive between Sapporo and the sites. Cold weather, changing road conditions, and a full schedule mean you need warm clothing, patience, and a willingness to keep moving.

Key points at a glance

• Two temporary ice villages: See winter sites that exist only during the cold season.
• Frozen-lake hot spring: Try the outdoor bath at Lake Shikaribetsu, and bring your own towel.
• Ice bar and café: Order a drink in a bar shaped from ice, with the unusual atmosphere that goes with it.
• Tomamu activities: Enjoy the ice slide and skating rink, with an ice glass workshop available for creative visitors.
• Heated shared transport: Ride from Sapporo in a comfortable vehicle with a guide and a maximum group size of 15.
• A full winter day: The 11:00 am start and roughly 10-hour schedule make this best for people who want to pack a lot into one outing.

Why these two ice villages make a memorable day

Hokkaido winters can be more than snow-covered views and cold walks. At these two sites, ice becomes the building material and the main attraction. You can step inside an igloo, order a drink at an ice bar, look around an ice chapel, and enjoy activities designed for the frozen setting.

What makes the tour appealing is the contrast between the stops. Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan feels like a winter settlement built beside a remote lake. Tomamu feels more activity-focused, with a rink, slide, café, bar, and places to stop for photographs.

I like this pairing because neither stop has to carry the whole day. If you prefer quiet scenery, the lake gives you that. If you want movement and family fun, Tomamu supplies it. You get a broad taste of Hokkaido winter culture without arranging separate transfers.

The sites are seasonal. They are not permanent villages waiting for you year-round, so the timing matters. The exact mix of activities can also depend on operating conditions, but the tour is built around the winter-only ice setting.

Leaving Sapporo at 11:00 am

The meeting point is near Sapporo Station, at 3 Chome to 4 Chome Kita 6 Jonishi in Kita Ward. The listed start time is 11:00 am, and the outing ends back at the same meeting point.

That late-morning departure may suit you if you do not want an early start in winter. It also means the day runs into the evening, and you should expect a packed schedule rather than a relaxed half-day trip. At around 10 hours, this is a major day out from Sapporo.

Transport is shared and heated, with the driver also acting as guide. The maximum group size is 15 people, small enough to feel more personal than a large coach outing, though not private. A multilingual guide may operate the tour, so the level of language support can vary.

I would arrive at the meeting point early. The supplied details identify Sapporo Station as the start and finish, but they do not give a separate hotel pickup service. Keeping your meeting arrangements simple is especially useful when winter weather can slow city transport.

Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan and its ice-built rooms

Lake Shikaribetsu is the more unusual first stop. Here, the ice village sits at the lake, and the buildings are made from packed snow and ice. You can enter igloos and look around spaces that feel closer to temporary art than ordinary tourist buildings.

The ice bar is one of the easiest activities to enjoy. You can order a drink and sit in a room formed from ice, an experience that is less about comfort than atmosphere. A white cocoa at the Ice Village is also worth looking for, based on the details provided for this experience.

The setting matters. You are not simply viewing an ice sculpture in a city square. You are visiting a winter settlement beside a frozen lake, with the cold shaping both the architecture and the activities. That gives the stop a strong sense of place.

You may also have the chance to ride snowmobiles. The supplied information describes the feeling of cold wind hitting your face while driving, so this is the more active option at Shikaribetsu. Since the tour details do not spell out a separate snowmobile fee or exact operating arrangement, ask your guide what is available on the day.

The frozen-lake hot spring

The outdoor ice hot spring is the boldest part of the lake stop. The idea is wonderfully strange: you are surrounded by winter cold while sitting in warm water on a frozen lake.

Bring your own towel. That is not a small detail. A hot spring without a towel becomes an awkward end to an otherwise memorable activity, and food and drinks are generally not included unless clearly specified.

You should also treat this as an optional adventure, not an obligation. Some people will love the contrast between the freezing air and hot water. Others will be happier staying in the ice village, enjoying a drink, and taking photographs. You can decide based on your comfort with cold weather and the time available.

The tour description uses a light joke about not freezing in the bath, but the practical point is simple: listen to local instructions and allow time to dry and warm up before continuing. The schedule includes another major stop, so you will want to rejoin the group promptly.

Tomamu Ice Village: skating, slides, and ice cafés

The second stop is Tomamu Ice Village, at Hoshino Resorts Tomamu in Shimukappu. This is the livelier part of the day, with activities aimed at play as well as sightseeing.

You can try the ice slide, skate on the rink, and visit the ice bar or café. The setting gives children something to do beyond looking at buildings, while adults can enjoy the design, drinks, and unusual winter photographs.

An ice glass workshop is available for people who want a hands-on activity. This is a good choice if you prefer making something to simply moving from one photo spot to the next. The information provided does not state whether the workshop carries an additional charge, so check before joining.

The Tomamu stop also helps balance the more atmospheric lake visit. At Shikaribetsu, you may spend time looking, soaking, and taking in the frozen setting. At Tomamu, you can skate or slide and make the stop more active.

Do not expect unlimited free time. The day includes two distant sites and a return to Sapporo, so the guide will manage the timing. If you have one must-do activity, tell the guide early. That gives you a better chance of fitting it in without rushing.

What the long drive means for you

The distance is the main practical drawback. The tour covers Sapporo, Lake Shikaribetsu, Tomamu, and the return journey in about 10 hours. Much of that day is spent in transport, even though the heated vehicle makes the road time easier.

I would choose this tour for the access it provides, not because it is an efficient way to see Hokkaido. Reaching both ice villages independently would require more planning, winter driving confidence, and separate transport arrangements. The shared transfer removes that work.

The group limit of 15 is helpful. You are not joining a huge busload, and a smaller group makes it easier to follow a guide, ask questions, and get moving after each activity. It is still a group tour, though, so you will not control every departure time.

Winter road conditions can affect the feel of the day. The tour is designed for winter, but snowy roads and cold temperatures can make the journey tiring. Wear clothes that let you move easily, use shoes suited to snow and ice, and keep your phone protected from the cold.

Is $164 a fair price?

At $164, the value depends on what you want to avoid arranging yourself. The price includes local taxes, a driver and guide, round-trip shared transfer, and the Tomamu Ice Village entrance fee according to the tour inclusions.

Food and drinks are not generally included. One important detail is that past departures included a Japanese bento lunch, and the bento was praised for both its appearance and taste. Since the formal inclusions say food and drinks are excluded unless specified, do not assume lunch is guaranteed. Confirm this when booking.

The price is easier to justify if you want both ice villages in one day. You are paying for transport through winter conditions, a guide, and admission rather than just entry to one attraction. If you only want to visit Tomamu, an independent plan may be more flexible, but this tour gives you the rare Lake Shikaribetsu stop as well.

For families, the price may also cover a wide mix of interests. One person can enjoy the ice bar, another can skate, and children can try the slide. The tour is stroller accessible and infant seats are available, which makes it more practical for families with young children than many cold-weather outings.

The guides and the feel of the day

The people leading the trip matter when the schedule is this full. Peta and Ochan are named as friendly guides who spent time talking with the group, while Encsi is described as pleasant. That suggests a warm, personal style rather than a purely functional transfer.

A guide is especially useful at temporary attractions. You may need help understanding where to go, what is included, and how much time you have before the vehicle leaves. A multilingual guide may operate the tour, so communication can vary, but the small group makes direct questions easier.

The included bento is another personal touch on some departures. It was described as visually attractive and tasty, and a free bento made the long day easier for people who received one. Still, I would carry a small snack and not rely on lunch being supplied unless your booking confirms it.

Who should book this winter tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families who want ice buildings plus simple activities for children
• First-time visitors to Hokkaido who do not want to drive in winter
• Couples looking for unusual photographs and a memorable seasonal outing
• People who want to try an outdoor hot spring in a striking setting
• Anyone who values a guide and arranged transport over a flexible schedule

It may be less suitable if you dislike long drives, need a slow pace, or want to spend a full day at one place. The schedule is active and fixed. You also need to be comfortable with cold conditions, even though the transport is heated.

Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation at the meeting point. Strollers and infant seats are supported. The details do not describe every surface or activity restriction, so contact the operator if you have specific mobility needs beyond stroller access.

Small details that improve the experience

Bring a towel for the hot spring. Pack warm layers, gloves, and footwear with a good grip. You will move between heated transport and outdoor ice spaces, so clothing that is easy to adjust is more useful than one heavy layer.

Keep some money available for personal expenses, food, and drinks. The ice bar and café are central parts of the experience, but they are not listed as included refreshments.

Plan your energy. The day starts at 11:00 am, continues for about 10 hours, and includes two major sites. You do not need to try every activity to enjoy it, but choosing your priorities ahead of time will help.

Take the mobile ticket with you and keep your booking confirmation easy to access. Confirmation is issued at booking, and the activity returns to the original meeting point.

Cancellation and booking basics

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted.

The tour has a maximum of 15 people. It includes round-trip shared transport from the Sapporo Station meeting point, and the activity ends there. Private expenses are not included.

Should you book the Ice Village Tour?

Book it if you want a rare winter experience that combines two different ice villages in one organized day. The strongest reasons are the frozen-lake hot spring, the ice bar at Shikaribetsu, Tomamu’s skating and slide, and the ease of heated transport from Sapporo.

Think twice if you want freedom to linger or dislike spending hours on the road. This is a full schedule, not a quick attraction visit. For the right person, though, the long ride is the price of reaching seasonal places that are difficult to combine without a car and a confident winter driver.

I would book this for a first Hokkaido winter visit, especially with children or a small group of friends. Confirm whether lunch and any optional activities are included, pack a towel, and arrive ready for a cold, busy, highly unusual day.

FAQ

Where does the Ice Village Tour start?

The tour starts at Sapporo Station, at 3 Chome to 4 Chome Kita 6 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0806, Japan.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 11:00 am.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 10 hours and ends back at the original meeting point.

Which ice villages does the tour visit?

It visits Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan, also called Shikaribetsu Igloo Village, and Tomamu Ice Village.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Round-trip shared transfer and all transportation are included. The vehicle is described as comfortable and heated.

Is the Tomamu Ice Village entrance fee included?

The tour inclusions list the entrance fee for Tomamu Ice Village as included.

Are food and drinks included?

Food and drinks are not included unless specifically stated. Some departures included a Japanese bento lunch, so confirm this when booking.

Can I use the hot spring at Lake Shikaribetsu?

The tour includes the chance to use the outdoor Ice Hot Spring on the frozen lake. You should bring your own towel.

Can babies and stroller users join?

The tour is stroller accessible and infant seats are available. Most people can participate, though you should contact the operator about any specific mobility needs.