1. Introduction to different types of tours and recommended tours and places to visit at the Sapporo Snow Festival.

1-1 About the types of tours

・If you're worried about going on your own, check this out ⇒⇒ Group tours
A tour guide accompanies the group, everyone meets at the departure airport, travels to the destination by tour bus, and everyone stays together until the return trip (groups typically consist of around 40 people).
Meals are often included throughout the trip.

Advantages: It's reassuring for people who aren't used to traveling. Since you use a tour bus, you can efficiently visit many different places.
Disadvantages: Limited freedom of movement. Difficulty in choosing the itinerary. Often includes stops at souvenir shops.

・If you want to go wherever you like, click here ⇒⇒ Free-style
This is a package deal that includes flights and hotel accommodations. You are responsible for your own activities. Meals may be limited to hotel breakfast only, or sometimes no meals are included at all.
Advantages: There are many types of tours and available dates. You can go wherever you want.
Disadvantages: It can be confusing for people who are uncomfortable in unfamiliar places. You need to figure out how to sightsee on your own.

Also, in terms of cost, while the tour price itself is certainly higher for group tours, when you consider meals, transportation, and other factors, it can actually be cheaper if it suits your preferences.
If you find a tour that suits your preferences, such as "I want to go on this!", and you're okay with group activities, then we also recommend group tours.

1-2 How to book a tour

・If you know what you want to take and are an experienced traveler, click here ⇒⇒ Online booking
Recommended for those who have no concerns about the tour content, booking methods, or sightseeing.
Depending on the tour, you can complete your booking online and depart without speaking to an operator or staff member at all.
Basically, you need to check the reservation start dates yourself each time.

・If you have many questions or are unsure about using the internet, please click here ⇒⇒ Phone Reservation
When making a reservation or inquiry after seeing information on the internet, in a brochure, or in a newspaper advertisement.
This service is recommended for those who feel more comfortable speaking on the phone, those who require some tour arrangements (for flexible tours), and those booking at the last minute. However, since most inquiries are handled by the call center, individual attention is generally not expected (for example, requests such as "please notify me when new products are released").

・For first-time visitors and those unfamiliar with travel, click here ⇒⇒ In-store reservation
This is recommended for those who want to decide whether or not to make a reservation after hearing about the travel details and sightseeing information.
Depending on the staff at the store, they may be able to tell you about the release date and recommended tours at that time,
If you're not a repeat customer, you shouldn't expect too much personalized attention.

1-3 Recommended tours to enjoy Hokkaido along with the Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival and Otaru
Otaru, one of Hokkaido's leading tourist destinations, is close to Sapporo. The Otaru Canal at night.
You can explore the famous Otaru Canal and historic streets, shop for glass and other goods, enjoy sweets at places like LeTAO (famous for its Double Fromage and cheesecakes), and savor local cuisine such as sushi and seafood bowls that make the most of the port city's bounty.

Located about 40 minutes from Sapporo by JR train, Otaru, which offers sightseeing, dining, and souvenir shopping, is arguably the most popular and classic choice.

Also, from February 9th to February 26th, 2020, the popular "Otaru Snow Light Path" event will be held in Otaru City, and more and more people are visiting it in conjunction with the Sapporo Snow Festival. Why not enjoy both together?

【Related article】
・[2017 Edition] Locals teach you how to navigate the Otaru Snow Light Path!
・[First Time in Otaru] A digest of Otaru's sightseeing and highlights!

Sapporo Snow Festival and Asahiyama Zoo

Asahiyama Zoo and its Penguin Parade: Asahiyama Zoo is highly recommended, especially for family trips with children, but even if you're not traveling with kids. Its winter-only attractions include the penguin parade and the polar bears, who are much more energetic in winter than in summer! Furthermore, there's a free day-trip bus service from Sapporo (admission ticket not included) in collaboration with an airline, making access very convenient!

Sapporo Snow Festival and Hot Springs

One of the attractions of Hokkaido is its hot springs, overlooking Lake Toya! Jozankei Onsen, known as Sapporo's inner sanctuary, is less than an hour away from Sapporo by car or bus, while Noboribetsu Onsen, considered the top hot spring resort in the north, is about two hours from Sapporo. There are many inns to choose from, ranging from large hotels perfect for groups and families to luxury hotels ideal for couples.

Sapporo Snow Festival and Skiing & Snowboarding

Niseko Hirafu Ski Resort: When you think of winter in Hokkaido, you think of winter sports! Hokkaido boasts many of Japan's top ski resorts, including Niseko, which is popular with skiers from all over the world, Rusutsu, the largest resort in Hokkaido, Kiroro, famous for its top-quality powder snow, and Tomamu, operated by the renowned Hoshino Resorts. What's more, all of these resorts are easily accessible by bus from New Chitose Airport and Sapporo city center!
Many people plan an itinerary that includes two or three nights at a ski resort, followed by one night in Sapporo on the last day.

2. When and why you should make a reservation

Make your reservation in August or September!

Tours offered by major travel agencies for the Boeing 777 are typically announced around late July, with bookings usually starting in August.
However, during the Sapporo Snow Festival, especially on popular dates (weekends), rooms can fill up very quickly. Therefore, if dates are your top priority, it's best to make a reservation as soon as bookings open in August.
However, be prepared for higher travel costs during popular times such as weekends.
For information on when tickets go on sale, it's best to check the websites of individual travel agencies or inquire at their counters.

Regarding group tours, they generally go on sale around September or October. These are advertised in the newsletters of various travel agencies, so it's a good idea to have them delivered in advance.

You can think about it after you make a reservation!

Another smart way to book is to make a reservation and then decide later, since cancellation fees only apply three weeks before departure! If you cancel before the fee period, the deposit required when making the reservation will, of course, be refunded (although the bank transfer fee is usually the responsibility of the tour participant).

Also, for Sapporo Snow Festival dates other than weekends, hotels tend to be fully booked by around October, so it's recommended to make reservations by September.

3. What is the going rate for a Sapporo Snow Festival tour?

A good guideline is to multiply the dates before and after by 1.5 to 2.5!

The following table shows the price changes by departure date for free-plan tours departing from Tokyo and Osaka in 2014 (accommodation at the Sapporo View Hotel Odori Park, a city hotel along Odori Park) (individual tours organized by White Bear Family Co., Ltd.).

The Sapporo Snow Festival takes place in early February (February 5th to 12th in 2018, except for the Tsudome venue, which started on February 1st).
While winter is usually a relatively inexpensive time to travel, the Sapporo Snow Festival period is considered a "peak season" (a time when many people travel), and airfares and hotel prices rise significantly.
During the Sapporo Snow Festival, prices are generally about 1.5 times higher on weekdays and up to 2 to 2.5 times higher on weekends.

*Incidentally, travel prices for the 2018 Sapporo Snow Festival tend to increase towards the latter half of the festival.
Please check the websites or shops of various travel agencies!

4. Ways to reduce costs

4-1 Hotel Section

The trick is to choose a hotel that's a little further away!

A major factor in determining whether a trip will be expensive or cheap is the hotel. Of course, hotels within walking distance of the Sapporo Snow Festival venue (the main Odori Park venue) and in the convenient Sapporo Station area will be more expensive.

I recommend two locations: the Nakajima Park area and the Shin-Sapporo area. Nakajima Park is just two subway stops away, and Shin-Sapporo is about 25 minutes away by subway (no transfers required), so they're quite convenient if you use the subway.

Also, if you choose an itinerary like the recommended tours mentioned earlier, where you stay one or two nights in Sapporo and also visit other tourist destinations, you'll spend fewer nights in Sapporo, where accommodation is expensive, and therefore the overall cost will be relatively low.

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4-2 Schedule

Aim for a trip that departs before the Snow Festival or returns after the festival ends!

Next, let's look at how much the travel cost changes if you shift the dates.
The table in the "What is the going rate for a Sapporo Snow Festival tour?" section makes it immediately clear when you compare prices!

Looking at this, you can see that just shifting it by one day makes a big difference!

Of course, it's true that you'll miss one day of the snow festival, but even if you shift it by one day,
You can enjoy the Snow Festival for a full day plus half a day (depending on your flight schedule).
What's more, you can also enjoy events before and after the Snow Festival – a real bonus!

〇If you go to the Odori venue the day before the Snow Festival,
- The venue was opened to the public from the afternoon of the previous day (2017)
- Nighttime lighting test (=light-up) will be until 10 PM.
Stalls and other shops will also be open from the day before.

〇If you go to the Odori venue the day after the Snow Festival,
- Enjoy the increasingly popular "snow sculpture destruction"! (Morning of the day after the event ends)
These are some of the advantages, so you can definitely enjoy it!
Therefore, I recommend shifting your visit by one day to enjoy the Snow Festival at a discounted price.
Snow Festival Projection Mapping

Summary
We've introduced some recommended tours and tips for choosing the right one to take to the Sapporo Snow Festival. What did you think? To reiterate, the key point is to book early!
We hope you thoroughly enjoy the Snow Festival and all that Hokkaido has to offer, especially during the winter season.

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