Sapporo: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival & Hot Spring Day Trip

Lake Shikotsu’s winter ice festival gives you two very different Hokkaido pleasures in one day: glowing ice sculptures in the cold, then a long soak in a natural hot spring. The festival visit includes admission, and the 90-minute stop leaves enough time for a relaxed walk and photos.

I like the small group limit of 21 people and the simple bus arrangement from central Sapporo. I also like the pairing of the festival with Marukoma Onsen, since the hot bath and included lunch give the outing a proper warm-up instead of ending with frozen fingers.

The main consideration is timing. You get about 90 minutes at the festival, while the full day lasts around seven hours, so much of the schedule is spent on transport. Hotel pickup is not included, and the tour needs good weather to run.

Key points at a glance

• Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival: See large and small ice sculptures glowing in the winter light.
• Marukoma Onsen: Soak in natural hot spring water at a secluded ryokan beside Lake Shikotsu.
• Lunch included: Your meal is part of the package, which makes the day easier to budget.
• Central meeting points: Start at ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo at 9:00 am and finish at Sapporo Station.
• Small group format: The maximum group size is 21 people.
• Seven-hour winter outing: This is a full day trip, not a quick festival transfer.

Why this Lake Shikotsu day trip works

This outing is built around contrast. First, you walk through a cold festival site filled with ice art. Then you spend two hours at Marukoma Onsen, warming up in hot spring water and eating lunch. That basic rhythm makes good sense in Hokkaido, where winter sightseeing can be beautiful but hard on your hands and feet.

I like that the day does not ask you to choose between a seasonal event and a traditional Japanese bath. The festival supplies the visual drama. The onsen supplies the slower, more restful part of the day.

The tour costs $105.85 per person. That is not a bargain-basement bus trip, but the price includes transport from Sapporo, festival admission, lunch, and the hot spring bath. If you planned both stops independently, you would also need to sort out the route, winter road conditions, admission, and meal arrangements.

The value depends on what you want from a winter day. If you prefer to set your own pace or spend several hours taking photos, the fixed schedule may feel tight. If you want a straightforward outing with the main costs handled in advance, the package is easier to justify.

Meeting the bus in central Sapporo

The day begins at 9:00 am at the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo by IHG, at 1-chōme-2-9 Kita 3 Jōnishi in Chuo Ward. The tour does not include hotel pickup, so you need to reach this meeting point on your own.

That detail matters more in winter than it would in summer. Give yourself time to get across Sapporo in cold weather, especially if you are carrying a camera, winter coat, or day bag. The listed meeting point is near public transportation, which helps, but the tour does not state that staff will collect you from another hotel.

Transport is by bus, and the group can include up to 21 people. That is large enough to keep the price practical, but small enough to be more manageable than a full coach tour. You should still expect a group schedule: when the bus leaves, the bus leaves.

The return point is Sapporo Station, at 3 Chome-4 Chome Kita 6 Jonishi in Kita Ward. The group disbands there rather than returning you to your hotel. This is useful if you plan to continue sightseeing, catch a train, or have dinner near the station.

Walking through the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

The first major stop is Lake Shikotsu, home to one of Hokkaido’s representative winter events. The festival features large and small ice sculptures that glow in the winter light. Your 90-minute visit is long enough for a proper walk through the grounds, photographs, and a general look at the displays.

The appeal here is not only the sculptures. The festival’s setting beside Lake Shikotsu gives the visit a quieter, more open feel than an indoor exhibition. You are outside in the cold, surrounded by ice and winter scenery, so the weather is part of the experience rather than an inconvenience to ignore.

I would plan your visit around warm clothing first and photography second. The tour information does not specify heated areas or equipment rental, so assume you will spend the festival portion outdoors. Warm gloves matter, especially if you intend to use a phone or camera.

Ninety minutes is a fair amount of time for a festival stop, but it is not an open-ended visit. You can see the sculptures and take pictures without rushing every second, yet you probably will not have time for long lingering pauses at each display. Keep an eye on the meeting time and listen for instructions from the tour staff.

Admission is included, which removes one small task from the day. You will not need to buy a separate festival ticket at the entrance, and the price is easier to assess because this cost is already covered.

The festival is likely the most visually memorable part of the outing, but it may not suit every style of sightseeing. If you want to study every sculpture carefully or return after dark for changing illumination, this tour does not promise that flexibility. You receive one scheduled visit during the day.

Warming up at Marukoma Onsen

After the festival, the tour continues to Marukoma Hot Spring Hotel, a secluded ryokan on the shores of Lake Shikotsu. The stop lasts about two hours, including the natural hot spring bath and lunch.

This is where the schedule earns its keep. After standing outside among ice sculptures, you can change the pace completely and settle into hot spring bathing. Marukoma Onsen is presented as a traditional Japanese onsen experience, so the value is cultural as well as practical.

The tour includes admission to the hot spring bath. It also includes lunch, described as a hearty meal featuring local flavors. The exact menu is not provided, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish or a choice of courses. Still, having lunch arranged is useful on a day trip to a remote lakeside area.

Two hours sounds generous, though that time covers more than soaking. You will need time for the bath itself and lunch, so you should not assume that all two hours are spent in the water. The tour does not provide detailed information about changing facilities, towel rental, bathing rules, or whether a private bathing option is available.

For that reason, approach the onsen with a basic respect for Japanese bath culture. The experience is intended as a traditional communal hot spring visit, not a private spa appointment. If you have never used an onsen, the tour listing does not explain the process in detail, so ask the tour staff for guidance if needed.

The setting is a strong part of the appeal. Marukoma Onsen sits beside Lake Shikotsu, so you get lakeside views while enjoying a distinctly Japanese form of relaxation. The combination of hot water, winter air, and a remote lakeside setting is the kind of seasonal experience that is difficult to recreate in a standard city spa.

How the schedule feels over seven hours

The stated duration is about seven hours, with a 9:00 am start and a return to Sapporo Station. The two scheduled stops account for roughly three and a half hours, which means the remaining time is used for bus travel and the movements between Sapporo, Lake Shikotsu, and the hot spring hotel.

That is not a flaw by itself. Lake Shikotsu is outside Sapporo, and a day trip must account for the road journey. The bus lets you avoid arranging several connections during winter, when snow and road conditions can make independent travel less appealing.

Still, you should choose this tour with the transport time in mind. It is not a half-day city activity. You spend a substantial part of the day seated, then divide the sightseeing time between the festival and onsen.

I see the schedule working best for someone who values convenience over complete freedom. Families may appreciate having transport, lunch, and two major stops organized in one booking. Couples and first-time visitors to Hokkaido may also like the clear mix of scenery, seasonal art, food, and bathing.

Independent planners may prefer a longer stay at Lake Shikotsu or a separate onsen visit. The tour is designed to give you a sample of both, not to let you build a custom day.

What the $105.85 price covers

At $105.85 per person, the package includes four useful pieces:

• Bus transportation from the Sapporo meeting point
• Admission to the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
• Lunch
• Admission to the Marukoma hot spring bath

Personal expenses are not included. The tour details do not specify what those expenses might be, so bring money for anything outside the included admission and meal. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also excluded, which means you are responsible for reaching the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo and leaving from Sapporo Station at the end.

I would compare this price with the cost of arranging the day yourself, not with the price of a simple local bus ride. The tour combines a distant winter event, a lakeside ryokan, lunch, and an onsen bath. Its main value is reducing the number of decisions you need to make.

The price is less attractive if you already have transport arranged or do not plan to use the hot spring. Since the bath and lunch form a major part of the experience, skipping either would weaken the reason to book this particular outing.

Who should book this winter outing

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families wanting a structured winter day outside Sapporo
• First-time visitors who want an easy introduction to Lake Shikotsu
• People curious about Japanese hot spring culture
• Visitors who prefer a small group to a large coach
• Anyone who wants festival admission, lunch, and bathing included in one price

You should think twice if you dislike communal bathing, have very limited time in Sapporo, or want to control every stop. The onsen is not an optional side note. It is one of the two central parts of the day.

The festival itself is also weather-dependent. The experience requires good weather, and poor conditions may lead to cancellation, a different date, or a full refund. That policy offers useful protection, but it also means you should avoid building an unchangeable evening plan around the exact return time.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:00 am start. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.

Final call on the Lake Shikotsu tour

Book this tour if you want a well-organized winter sampler: glowing ice sculptures, a lakeside hot spring, lunch, and bus transport from Sapporo. The small group limit and included admissions make the $105.85 price reasonably easy to understand.

Skip it if you want a long, unhurried festival visit or dislike the fixed rhythm of a group day trip. For most visitors who want to see Lake Shikotsu without managing winter transport themselves, the mix of icy spectacle and warm onsen time makes this a practical choice.

FAQ

How much does the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival and onsen tour cost?

The listed price is $105.85 per person.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

What time does the tour start?

It starts at 9:00 am.

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo by IHG, at 1-chōme-2-9 Kita 3 Jōnishi in Sapporo’s Chuo Ward.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Sapporo Station, at 3 Chome-4 Chome Kita 6 Jonishi in Kita Ward. The group disbands there.

What is included in the price?

The price includes admission to the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, lunch, the hot spring bath at Marukoma Onsen, and bus transportation as part of the day trip.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to reach the starting point and leave from Sapporo Station at the end.

How large is the tour group?

The maximum group size is 21 people.