Hokkaido rewards careful booking; the difference between a memorable day and a wasted one is usually the operator. These are the 14 snowshoe tours we consider worth your time, strongest first.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $224.02Our top pick
Meet Chris at Makomanai Station for a five-hour snowshoe trek near Sapporo. Gear, poles, gaiters, lunch, transport, and Koganeyu Onsen admission are included. Expect forest trails, deep powder, mountain views, and a flexible pace for beginners.
“I would rate snowshoeing as my no.1 attraction in Hokkaido. The wilderness of Hokkaido's forest fully covered by snow was uncovered beautifully by Chris, my tour guide. He is super familiar with the area and carefully avoided any area that can potentially be challenging to trek or risky due to crevices or waterbodies. The general opinion is that snowshoeing is not for everyone and not easy to do. This is definitely a myth! Anyone who can walk well can do this tour! At the end of snowshoeing tour, we went to the onsen as well which was nice. A visit to Hokkaido is not complete without this tour.”
Sumi and her team pick you up in central Sapporo for a beginner-friendly snowshoe walk near Nakayama Pass, with gear, tea, local snacks, and a relaxing visit to Hoheikyo Onsen. Lunch in Jozankei costs extra.
“The whole experience was amazing. Sumi was the best guide knowledgeable, very outgoing and experienced guide. As a 76 year old Nanna, I found sliding and sledging down the slopes was exhilarating and my granddaughters had a blast. Read more”
Join Picchio Shiretoko for a 3.5-hour winter walk through animal-made forest paths. Use snowshoes when snow allows, seek the frozen Tears of Man waterfall, and watch for Ezo deer, red foxes, tracks, and Okhotsk Sea ice.
“Please be ready early. Maybe 10 minutes before the agreed pick up time, it would be best if you were already ready and waiting to be picked up. We were part of a small group. The tour provider will pick up everybody from different (but nearRead more”
Walk through two meters of snow in Daisetsuzan National Park with a local guide such as Ikki, using snowshoes and translation support. Afterward, soak at Hakuginso Onsen for ¥700 extra. Morning and night departures are offered.
“Great winter activity that’s not snowboarding/skiing! Beautiful landscape that was taken in at a leisurely pace. Would absolutely recommend doing the Onsen afterwards, great way to warm up after walking around in the snow. Our guide Ikki was very friendly and knowledgeable about the area”
Walk with a small group and guide from Utoro to Furepe Falls on a beginner-friendly snowshoe route. Gear is provided for deep snow, with frozen falls, Sea of Okhotsk views, seasonal drift ice, and possible deer sightings.
“They will lend you the appropriate gear for walking in deep snow. Our guide was very accommodating and the pace was good even for beginners. We saw some deers even during a blizzard. They kept us safe and we had so much fun. We haRead more”
Join Aidan of Nobo Tours for a five-hour, small-group snowshoe hike from Noboribetsu to Orofure Pass. Walk through powder snow and snow-covered trees, reach views of Mt. Orofure, Mt. Yotei, and Lake Toya, then warm up with a drink and snack.
“We had an awesome time with Aidan! It was our first time snowshoeing and he made sure we felt comfortable and prepared. He was very communicative leading up to the tour so we knew what to expect. Hope to come back for more!”
Join guide Aidan for a six-hour, small-group snowshoe trek from Noboribetsu to a rare bamboo ice cave. Walk 7 km through snowy woods, cross snow bridges, eat lunch beneath trees, and see ice formations up to 4 meters high.
“An absolutely wonderful day in nature, made unforgettable thanks to our guide, Aidan. Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. Being in a small group is a real plus and allows you to fully enjoy the experience at a relaxed pace. We were completely alone in the middle of nature, which made the hike incredibly peaceful and refreshing. All the equipment is provided, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Aidan’s explanations were very clear and full of interesting anecdotes, you can truly feel his passion and deep knowledge. He is extremely dedicated to making sure everyone has a great time, helps throughout the hike, offers to take…”
Join Aidan of Nobo Tours for a three-and-a-half-hour snowshoe hike from Karurusu Onsen to frozen Lake Tachibana. The 4-kilometre route climbs a wooded ridgeline, then drops to the lake for hot drinks and striking ice formations.
“Aidan was an excellent guide. Very friendly, smiling, knowledgeable and informative. It was a very beautiful and peaceful walk to the lake - we had the trail and woods all to ourselves. The equipment was very good and Aidan treated us with a hot drink and crackers at the lake. All perfect. We can definitely recommend Aidan as a guide!!”
Meet your English-speaking Dohoku Local at JR Biei Station, ride to a permitted farm, and snowshoe across a quiet winter hill. Hattie has been praised for her kindness and flexibility. Gear, warmers, transport, and a cafe drink are included.
“It was an awesome activity that I highly recommend everyone to try! Our guide Hattie was really sweet and kind! Gears were all prepared for us and in really good conditions. Biei Hill was surreal and we were the only ones around, which made it even more special! The peacefulness and just being able to enjoy and have the pure white winter scenery all to ourselves was a great surprise. Great thanks to Hattie for accommodating to our other travel plans and lunch recommendation was top notch (minus the queue)!”
Walk Shiretoko Five Lakes on snowshoes during the short winter season when the frozen lake surfaces open for guided access. A guide leads a group of up to eight past wildlife tracks and the coast, with drift ice in view. Pickup is offered.
“We took the short 1.5 hrs guided tour in Shirotoko national park 5 lakes. In the short tour you see only 2 lakes. They are not very impressive so its enough. I don't think the long tour adds anything. The scenery is beautiful. The reason for the nRead more”
Join Yamamoto-san for a six-hour, 8-kilometer snowshoe hike from Noboribetsu to a seasonal ice cave. Expect gentle forest climbs, poles and snowshoes, and a small English-speaking group capped at four.
Follow a guide such as Yamamoto-san on an 8-kilometer snowshoe hike through Noboribetsu forest to seasonal ice caves with three-meter formations, a light meal, and a hot drink.
“Wow!!!! An amazing experience! My partner and I took the trek together, just us and Yamamoto-san. We are casual hikers and have hiked a couple of 14-ers, and I would say the hike itself was a good workout. No trouble getting up there (YamaRead more”
Walk on rented snowshoes through a powdery forest near Shirogane Onsen in Biei. A guide leads your private group for about two hours. No skiing skills are needed, and the outing begins and ends at the Shirogane-Onsen Post Office.
Join a fluent English and Japanese speaking guide for a small-group snowshoe walk from Noboribetsu to a bamboo ice cave. Cross snow bridges, enjoy lunch and a hot drink, and travel with snowshoes, poles, and gaiters included.
