Hokkaido has numerous tourist destinations in all directions—east, west, north, and south—so it can be hard to decide where to go.

Especially if it's your first time, you'll want to sightsee efficiently within a limited time, right?

The author mentions "Asahiyama Zoo" and "Furano's lavender fields"...
I'm exploring the possibility of visiting these two representative tourist destinations in a single day.

After researching efficient and economical ways to travel for sightseeing, I concluded that a bus tour was the best option.

This time, we took the popular "Hokkaido Panorama Road" bus tour, which included day trips to Asahiyama Zoo, Furano, and Biei.

Try a bus tour – it's affordable and makes the most of your time!

<Table of Contents>
1. What is the Hokkaido Chuo Bus "Hokkaido Panorama Road" bus tour?

2. I actually rode it!
2-1. From Sapporo Station to Asahiyama Zoo
2-2. Find solace in animals at Asahiyama Zoo!
2-3. Scenery of Biei ~View from the car window~
2-4. Enjoying lavender at Farm Tomita♪
2-5. From Farm Tomita to Sapporo Station

3. Impressions based on the ride experience
3-1. Positive points
3-2. Areas where we almost succeeded

4. There are other options! Recommended sightseeing buses
4-1. Visiting Asahiyama Zoo, the Blue Pond, Farm Tomita, and the hills of Biei
4-2. A one-day course to enjoy summer in Hokkaido: The scenic Shakotan Cape course
4-3. Shiroi Koibito Park & ​​Otaru Walking Course

Hokkaido Chuo Bus's "Hokkaido Panorama Road" bus tour is a sightseeing bus that takes you to two of Hokkaido's most popular tourist spots, "Asahiyama Zoo" and "Furano/Biei," in one day.

In fiscal year 2016, the service operated for a limited time only, from June 6th to October 11th.

This bus is a popular route for sightseeing in Hokkaido and is used by many people, including tourists.

We also provide multilingual audio guidance, and the number of tourists visiting Japan has been increasing in recent years.

Let's actually see how much this bus tour costs and how long it takes.

The price is 5,050 yen for children (elementary school age and younger) and 7,600 yen for adults.

The total time required, including time spent visiting tourist attractions, is 10 and a half hours.

Now, I'll tell you about my 10-hour bus journey.

2-1. From departure to Asahiyama Zoo

First, let's start with a look at our departure and our journey to Asahiyama Zoo.

8:10 Arrived at the bus information center

 

 

Having heard rumors that the bus stop gets crowded on weekends, I arrived early.

The ticket counter for the regular sightseeing buses is located on the second floor of the Esta Building.

Address: 2F of the JR Sapporo Station Bus Terminal (Esta Building 2F), Kita 5-jo Nishi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

8:20 Ticket collection

 

When I arrived, a large crowd had already formed a line.
I too am eagerly awaiting my turn.

 

 

Here is today's bus ticket.
The ticket was for admission to Asahiyama Zoo and came as a two-part booklet.

 

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

8:30 An attendant will guide you.

 

Ten minutes before departure, an attendant will call out the name of the tour bus and ask everyone to gather.

The bus I'll be riding, the "Hokkaido Panorama Road," was also mentioned.

We gathered around the staff member wearing a green vest.
▼ Kontakgawaigawai

8:40 Departure

Okay, it's finally time to depart!

Following the instructions of the staff member, I went down to the bus stop on the first floor where a red bus was waiting.

Since I had already purchased my ticket at the counter, I was able to board the bus directly.

 

This bus had four rows of seats and did not have a restroom.
The seats were almost completely full.

 

My seat was by the window.
The seat width felt a bit narrow, perhaps because it was a standard 4-row seat configuration.

 

There was ample legroom, enough to stretch my legs out comfortably. (I am 154 cm tall.)
It might be a little cramped for taller people.

 

The seats are equipped with storage nets for belongings and drink holders.

 

What I was personally happy about was that it had an electrical outlet.
I was able to enjoy sightseeing without worrying about my phone's battery life!

 

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

9:00 Enter the Hokkaido Expressway

The bus continued its journey and entered the highway in about 20 minutes.

 

I was told that future announcements would be played through the earphones, so I immediately put on the earphones I found in the storage pocket.

Then, announcements regarding mandatory seatbelt use and smoking bans started playing.

It was my first time hearing announcements through earphones, so it was a bit of a novel experience!

As I gazed out the window at the scenery, an announcement about the city of Sapporo came through my earphones.

Thanks to this audio guide, I wasn't bored during my travel time.

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

9:45 Arrived at Sunagawa Service Area

After about an hour of driving, we arrived at our first rest stop, Sunagawa Service Area.

After using the restroom, I had some time to spare.
I also stopped by the souvenir shop inside.

 

We have a wide selection of souvenirs and local drinks.

 

Among them, the one that caught my attention was this corn tea.
The savory aroma of corn is addictive, and it's truly delicious.

This will be my travel companion from now on!

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

10:00 Departure from Sunagawa Service Area

After the guide confirmed the number of people, we departed on time.

After departing the service area, we were given fans with special offers that could be used at Asahiyama Zoo.

Apparently, if you show this after your meal, you can get a postcard.

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

11:00 Arrived at Asahiyama Zoo

We arrived approximately one hour after departing from Sunagawa Service Area, 10 minutes ahead of schedule!

We are now beginning a period of approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes of free time.

2-2. Asahiyama Zoo

This report covers how to spend your time at Asahiyama Zoo, the first of our main tourist attractions.

*lunch

We had lunch at "Rest House Yuki no Mura," which is very close to the parking lot.

 

A healthy and hearty menu centered around vegetables.

I was hungry, so I finished it in no time.

 

When I showed them my lion-shaped fan, I received a seal postcard!

*I will be enrolling!

This time, we'll be entering through the East Gate!

 

We passed by souvenir shops as well...

 

After going down the stairs, we head towards the gate.

 

Show this admission ticket to the staff, and you're ready to enter the gate!

 

Going down the stairs...

 

A map of the entire Asahiyama Zoo.
This time, I went sightseeing in a counter-clockwise direction!

Chimpanzee House

Here, we were able to observe chimpanzees from a very close distance!

Their activities vary, from playing on playground equipment to raising children.

- Animal enclosure for animals native to Hokkaido

 

The aquarium features animals native to Hokkaido, including the red fox.

I tried to take a picture of a raccoon dog, but even after waiting for 5 minutes, I could only get a shot of its back...

・Giraffe enclosure

I was able to photograph a giraffe from quite close up!
It's quite impressive when you see it in person, isn't it?

・Hippopotamus enclosure

I thought it was a novel idea to be able to observe the hippopotamus's behavior from underwater.

The sound of the hippos walking underwater was quite loud.

Penguin exhibit

 

At the penguin exhibit, you can watch penguins swimming and sleeping underwater.

Watching them toddle around and sleep... I never got bored!

Be careful not to bring your phone too close, as it may overreact.

• Polar Bear Exhibit

 

This is the polar bear exhibit, the most popular attraction at Asahiyama Zoo.

I was able to take beautiful photos even from a distance.

There were also ice capsules that you could see up close, but there was a long line, so I gave up on that...

Souvenir shop

 

The souvenir shops scattered throughout the area are filled with a wide variety of items, including animal-themed trinkets and local specialties from Asahikawa.

My hobby is collecting postcards.

I bought two postcards featuring penguins and other animals as souvenirs for myself.

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

13:40 Departure from Asahiyama Zoo

I thoroughly enjoyed my 2 hours and 40 minutes at Asahiyama Zoo!
We're now heading to Biei.
The guide has finished confirming the number of people, and now we're ready to depart.

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

14:00 Enjoying the scenery of Biei from the car window.

Perhaps because he had been running around so much at Asahiyama Zoo, he slept soundly during the journey...
Before I knew it, I had arrived in Biei.

2-3. Biei

I enjoyed seeing tourist attractions like the patchwork hills from the car window.

Patchwork Hill

Various crops are grown along the roads that run through the hilly areas of Biei. For example, potatoes, etc.

 

Ken and Mary's Tree

It has been called the "Ken and Mary Tree" since it was featured in a Nissan commercial in 1971. The tree is a poplar.

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

14:50 Arrived at Farm Tomita

We'll now begin with approximately one hour of free time!

2-4. Farm Tomita

 

The first thing I found was lavender.
This was my first time seeing it up close, and I could smell that soothing fragrance.

 

In front of the eye-catching orange and yellow Popeye statue is a sign.
Tourists were constantly taking pictures.

 

It was drizzling that day, but the flowers were in full bloom and looked beautiful.

 

There are also souvenir shops and rest areas here.

 

It was a bit chilly that day, so I ordered lavender tea.
A warm drink is so comforting. The aroma was also absolutely wonderful.

 

While visiting a souvenir shop, I spotted a lavender-colored motorcycle!

 

 

The shop also had a wide selection of lavender perfumes and soaps.
They all smelled so good, I was really torn about whether to buy them or not...

 

Here you can see the process of making lavender soap.

 

This is the view from the shop window. The colorful scenery is captivating.

 

 

Everything has a lavender or floral motif.
Time flew by so quickly while I was just looking at souvenirs...

2-5. From Farm Tomita to Sapporo Station

Now, this bus trip is finally entering its final stretch!

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

16:00 Depart from Farm Tomita

We departed Farm Tomita one hour after arrival and 25 minutes ahead of schedule.
It was an hour of relaxation surrounded by flowers, especially lavender.

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

17:25 Arrived at Iwamizawa Service Area

We arrived at our second rest stop of the day, the Iwamizawa Service Area.
The roads were clear, so we arrived 45 minutes earlier than scheduled.

We just stopped here for a restroom break and then got back on the bus.

 

As you can see, there were also many tour buses lined up.

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

17:40 Departure from Iwamizawa Service Area

After a 15-minute break, the bus will head towards Sapporo city!

The announcements through the earphones introduced Sapporo restaurants that you could stop by on your way back from sightseeing.

Sapporo ramen, crab, Jingisukan (grilled lamb)... they all sound appealing.

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

18:30 Sapporo Factory

There were no passengers getting off at Sapporo Factory, so the bus passed right by.

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

18:35 Sapporo Clock Tower

Four or five people got off at the Sapporo Clock Tower.
It was impressive when viewed up close.

▼ Kontakgawaigawai

18:40 Arrived at Sapporo Station Bus Terminal

We arrived at Sapporo Station Bus Terminal 30 minutes earlier than scheduled.
And with that, our approximately 10-hour bus journey comes to an end!

Here are my impressions of the "Hokkaido Panorama Road" sightseeing bus that I rode.

3-1. Positive points

○ I was able to visit tourist spots efficiently!

→It was my first time visiting Hokkaido, and I didn't know the geography very well.
I was able to visit Asahiyama Zoo and Farm Tomita in one trip and enjoy sightseeing in a short amount of time!

○ The tour guide was very polite and helpful.

→After sightseeing, they greeted us at the entrance with umbrellas, and even changed our seats for us.
A customer-first attitude was evident throughout the entire experience.
The guide's smile and attentiveness made the sightseeing even more enjoyable!

○ The trivia that came through the earphones was interesting.

→Approximately 70% of the announcements on the way to the tourist destination were heard through earphones.
"Salmon, a specialty of Hokkaido, return to the rivers based on their scent."
"The Furano Navel Festival gets its name from Furano's location within Hokkaido," etc.
There was a lot of useful information to listen to, and I wasn't bored at all during the journey!

3-2. Areas where we almost succeeded

△There are time constraints.

→We had 160 minutes for sightseeing at Asahiyama Zoo and 60 minutes at Farm Tomita.
I realized this wasn't the time to take my time and look around.
This might not be suitable for those who want to take their time and thoroughly explore a single tourist spot without worrying about the clock.

× The weather was bad.

→The day I actually went sightseeing, it was cloudy followed by rain.
Both Asahiyama Zoo and Farm Tomita involved outdoor activities.
It was tough trying to navigate through the crowds while holding an umbrella...

× The seat width was a little narrow.

→The seats didn't have armrests, and it felt a bit cramped when someone sat next to me.

Basic Information about "Hokkaido Panorama Road"
[Price]
Adult: 7,600 Yen
Junior high school student / Adult without Asahiyama Zoo admission ticket: 6,800 yen
Children (elementary school age and younger): 5,050 yen
[Time required]
10 hours 30 minutes
*As of July 28, 2016, data was collected for services operated from June 6 to October 11. (Discounts not included)
*Operating times are subject to road conditions.

★This bus tour is very popular. Therefore, early booking is recommended. For details...herePlease take a look!
[PR]

Besides the "Hokkaido Panorama Road" that I mentioned earlier,
Here are some recommended sightseeing buses!

4-1. A greedy plan that includes a full 3-hour stay at Asahiyama Zoo and a visit to Biei Blue Pond!

This plan is recommended for those who want to thoroughly enjoy Asahiyama Zoo and also visit the Blue Pond.
The reasonable price of 4,800 to 5,800 yen (depending on the date) is also a key point!

Click here for course details!

 

4-2. [Departing from Sapporo] Asahiyama Zoo and cherry picking / Hokuryu sunflower fields

This is the "Hokuryu Sunflower Field," known as the largest sunflower field in Japan.
Enjoy cherry picking in Asahikawa's famous cherry-producing region, and visit Asahiyama Zoo as part of a package deal!

Course detailsherePlease refer to the!
[PR]

Please also check out these related articles.

• 

  Enjoy a hot spring tour at the foot of Mt. Daisetsu! The charm of Sounkyo Onsen

• 

  Sapporo Italian restaurant "Orizzonte" | An Italian restaurant that won the World Pizza Championship for two consecutive years!

• 

  Take a break and enjoy the spectacular view at Funka Bay Panorama Park on the Hokkaido Expressway! | Yakumo Town

• 

  Breathtaking scenery + tranquility + plenty of activities! The seasonal charm of Lake Kanayama

• 

  You won't be able to resist eating after reading this! Top 4 "Super Delicious" Gourmet Burgers from Hokkaido

• 

  5 Recommended Lunch Spots to Visit While Sightseeing in Yoichi | Local Recommendations!

• 

  Enjoy the beautiful nature in Nanae Town, a town adjacent to Hakodate City [Sightseeing and Attractions]

• 

  A walk through the old days of Otaru: A recommendation for a stroll along the former Temiya Line.

Introducing our sister site (please check it out if you're interested)