7 Best Furano, Biei, Blue Pond & Asahiyama Zoo Tours from Sapporo
Planning a day trip from Sapporo to Furano, Biei, the Blue Pond, or Asahiyama Zoo? This guide compares seven popular tours for first-time visitors, families, photographers, and travelers who want either an easy group day trip or a flexible private tour. If you want flower fields, scenic countryside, dreamy blue water, or one of Hokkaido’s best zoos, this article will help you pick the right tour fast.
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Why These Tours Are Popular
Furano and Biei are among the most beautiful day trip destinations from Sapporo, but planning everything by train or rental car can be tiring, especially if you want to cover multiple scenic spots in one day. That is why these tours work so well. They combine transportation, route planning, and seasonal highlights into one smoother experience.
Some tours are best for flower fields and classic countryside scenery. Others are stronger if you want Asahiyama Zoo, Ningle Terrace, or a more comfortable private car. The best choice depends on whether your priority is value, variety, family travel, photography, or flexibility.
Best For
Summer flower lovers looking for Furano and Shikisai-no-Oka
Families who want Asahiyama Zoo and easy transport
Photographers chasing the Blue Pond and Biei landscapes
Small groups who want a private customizable itinerary
Larger parties who need a 15-passenger private vehicle
Quick Picks
Best Overall
Shikisai-no-Oka and Furano Tour with Buffet Lunch
A strong all-round choice if you want flower fields, scenic stops, and lunch included.
Best for Families
Asahiyama Zoo + Blue Pond Tour
Perfect if animals are a priority and you want a fun full-day trip with iconic Hokkaido scenery.
Best Private Option
Furano & Biei Customised Private Tour
Best for travelers who want freedom, comfort, and a route built around their own pace.
Comparison Table
Tour
Best For
Duration
Main Appeal
Shikisai-no-Oka and Furano Tour with buffet lunch from Sapporo
First-time visitors
9–10 hours
Flower fields + buffet lunch
Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond Japan
Families and zoo lovers
9–10 hours
Asahiyama Zoo + Blue Pond
Hokkaido Asahiyama Zoo, Biei & Ningle Terrace Day Tour
Visitors wanting a varied route
About 5–6 hours listed
Zoo + Biei + Ningle Terrace
Full-Day Furano Lavender Farm and Blue Pond from Sapporo
Lavender season travelers
10 hours
Lavender fields + Blue Pond
A Relaxing Day for Furano, Biei Blue Pond & Local Curry Lunch in Hokkaido
Food + scenery seekers
10.5 hours
Furano/Biei + curry lunch
Furano & Biei Customised Private Day Tour (Up to 8 Pax/11 Hours)
Small private groups
11 hours
Custom private itinerary
Furano & Biei Customised Private Day Tour (Up to 15 Pax/11 Hours)
Large groups
11 hours
Private transport for bigger parties
How to Choose the Right Tour
If this is your first visit and you want a classic scenic day trip, start with a flower-field-focused route such as the Shikisai-no-Oka and Furano tour or the lavender farm tour. These are great when your image of Hokkaido is all about colorful fields, open countryside, and iconic photo spots.
If you are traveling with children, Asahiyama Zoo is often the deciding factor. In that case, choose one of the zoo-based tours, especially the Asahiyama Zoo + Blue Pond option, because it combines animal encounters with one of Biei’s most famous landscapes.
If you are traveling as a family or group and do not want to follow a fixed bus schedule, a private tour is the smarter choice. The 8-passenger plan is better for smaller groups, while the 15-passenger version is ideal for extended families, friends, or small company trips.
Best Overall Scenic Choice
1. Shikisai-no-Oka and Furano Tour with Buffet Lunch from Sapporo
9–10 hoursGroup day tourBuffet lunch included
This is one of the best all-round choices for travelers who want a classic Hokkaido countryside experience without overthinking the route. The combination of Shikisai-no-Oka, Furano scenery, and lunch makes it feel like a balanced, easy-to-book day trip.
The biggest advantage is variety. You get colorful landscapes, scenic road views, and a meal built into the itinerary, which makes the day feel smoother and more complete. It is a strong option for people who want “the postcard version” of Furano and Biei in one booking.
Why it’s worth considering
Great balance of scenery, convenience, and value
Good for first-time visitors who want a simple choice
Lunch included, which makes the day easier to manage
Best for: First-time Hokkaido visitors, couples, and travelers who want flower fields and scenic countryside with minimal planning.
2. Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond Japan
9–10 hoursZoo + sceneryFamily-friendly
If you want a day trip that feels fun as well as scenic, this tour is one of the most appealing options on the list. Asahiyama Zoo is famous for close-up animal viewing, and the combination with the Blue Pond gives the day both entertainment and iconic Hokkaido scenery.
This tour is especially easy to recommend for families and animal lovers. It also works well for travelers who want strong visual variety in one day, from active zoo exhibits to one of the region’s most photogenic landscapes.
Why it’s worth considering
Excellent choice if Asahiyama Zoo is on your must-do list
Works very well for parents traveling with children
Combines two high-interest attractions in one efficient route
Best for: Families, animal lovers, first-time visitors, and travelers who want a full day with high variety.
3. Hokkaido Asahiyama Zoo, Biei & Ningle Terrace Day Tour
About 5–6 hours listedZoo + Biei + Ningle TerraceMulti-stop route
This tour stands out because it feels broader than a simple zoo transfer. By combining Asahiyama Zoo with Biei scenery and Ningle Terrace, it gives travelers a more layered Hokkaido experience that mixes wildlife, countryside, and a charming stop with a storybook atmosphere.
It is a strong choice if you do not want to commit only to flower fields or only to the zoo. Instead, you get a more diverse route that can feel more satisfying for visitors trying to sample several Hokkaido highlights in one go.
Why it’s worth considering
Good mix of animal, scenic, and cultural/photo-friendly stops
Appeals to travelers who want more than one type of attraction
Ningle Terrace adds a softer, more atmospheric finish to the day
Best for: Couples, mixed-interest groups, and travelers who want a broader Hokkaido sampler route.
4. Full-Day Furano Lavender Farm and Blue Pond from Sapporo
10 hoursSeasonal favoriteLavender + Blue Pond
If your dream Hokkaido day trip is centered on summer flower scenery, this is one of the clearest choices. Furano’s lavender fields are a major seasonal draw, and pairing them with the Blue Pond makes this route especially attractive for first-time summer visitors.
Compared with more mixed itineraries, this one feels more focused and visually consistent. That can be a big advantage if your main goal is to enjoy classic Furano scenery rather than pack too many different attractions into one day.
Why it’s worth considering
Excellent match for summer travelers and flower lovers
A visually strong route for photographers and couples
Simple, classic, and easy to understand before booking
Best for: Summer visitors, photographers, couples, and anyone prioritizing lavender scenery.
This tour is a smart option if you want scenic highlights but also care about the meal experience. The included local curry lunch gives it a slightly more distinctive personality than standard sightseeing bus tours, which can make the day feel more memorable.
The route is also appealing because it covers several of the major names travelers search for: Furano, Biei, and the Blue Pond. That makes it a comfortable middle ground between a flower-field tour and a more general countryside sightseeing plan.
Why it’s worth considering
Good mix of scenery and a more interesting lunch stop
Balanced option for travelers who want variety without going private
Feels slightly more distinctive than a standard lunch-included bus plan
Best for: Food-conscious travelers, couples, and visitors who want a relaxed scenic day with lunch included.
6. Furano & Biei Customised Private Day Tour (Up to 8 Pax/11 Hours)
11 hoursPrivate carUp to 8 passengers
If you want freedom rather than a fixed sightseeing schedule, this is one of the strongest choices in the whole list. A customized private itinerary is ideal for travelers who care about flexibility, comfort, and deciding how long to stay at each stop.
This is especially useful in Furano and Biei, where scenery is spread out and photo stops can vary in value depending on the season, weather, and your personal interests. For a small family or group of friends, this can be a much more satisfying experience than rushing through a standard bus timetable.
Why it’s worth considering
Best fit if you want to control the pace of the day
Excellent for families, photographers, and friend groups
More comfortable and efficient than public transport planning
Best for: Small families, photographers, couples wanting privacy, and groups of up to 8 travelers.
7. Furano & Biei Customised Private Day Tour (Up to 15 Pax/11 Hours)
11 hoursPrivate vehicleUp to 15 passengers
This is the obvious choice if you are traveling with a larger party and do not want to split into separate cars or deal with group logistics on your own. That alone makes it highly valuable, because transport coordination is one of the biggest pain points in countryside Hokkaido travel.
The real strength of this tour is not only privacy but group convenience. If you are traveling with relatives, friends, or a small team, having everyone together in one private vehicle makes the day smoother, more social, and easier to manage.
Why it’s worth considering
Ideal for keeping large groups together all day
Much easier than arranging multiple taxis or rental cars
Strong option for multigenerational family trips and group travel
Best for: Large families, group trips, friend reunions, and small company outings of up to 15 travelers.
If you want the safest all-around choice, go with the Shikisai-no-Oka and Furano Tour with Buffet Lunch. If you are traveling with kids or love animals, the Asahiyama Zoo + Blue Pond tour is probably the best fit. If you care most about flexibility, comfort, and photography time, one of the private Furano & Biei tours will give you the best overall experience.
FAQ
What is the best Furano and Biei tour from Sapporo for first-time visitors?
The Shikisai-no-Oka and Furano tour with buffet lunch is one of the easiest all-around choices because it combines scenic highlights with lunch and a beginner-friendly route.
Which tour is best for families with children?
The Asahiyama Zoo and Blue Pond tour is usually the best fit for families because the zoo adds a strong entertainment element for children.
Are private Furano and Biei tours worth it?
Yes. They are especially worth it if you want more comfort, better pacing, or are traveling in a group where the per-person cost becomes more reasonable.
When is the best season for these tours?
Summer is best for lavender fields and flower scenery, while zoo-based and scenic countryside tours can still appeal beyond peak flower season depending on the itinerary.
Final Recommendation
For most travelers, the best strategy is simple: choose one classic scenic group tour if this is your first visit, or choose a private Furano & Biei tour if you want more flexibility and a more premium experience. Either way, booking in advance is smart during flower season and busy travel months.
