Snow Activities
Snow ActivitiesBeyond the Slopes

Beyond the slopes — snowmobiles, dog-sleds, snow rafting, snowshoeing and drift-ice walking.

Snowmobile Tours

Snowmobile Tours

Open-meadow snowmobile rides at Lake Toya, Rusutsu and Furano — minutes from family hotels, suitable for first-timers.

Best regions
Rusutsu · Furano · Lake Toya
Recommended season
December–March.
Suggested traveler
Families with children 8+, couples, ski-week rest days.
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Dog Sledding

Husky teams run quiet forest tracks at Tomamu, Lake Shikotsu and the Tokachi plain.

Best regions
Tomamu · Lake Shikotsu · Tokachi
Recommended season
January–February peak.
Suggested traveler
Families with young children, couples, photographers.
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Snow Rafting

A rubber raft towed at speed across deep snow — the loudest, funniest activity in a ski-week.

Best regions
Rusutsu · Tomamu · Kiroro
Recommended season
December–March.
Suggested traveler
Families, groups, after-ski entertainment.
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Snow Banana Boat

Inflatable banana towed across resort snow fields. Pure giggling.

Best regions
Rusutsu · Kiroro · Tomamu
Recommended season
December–March.
Suggested traveler
Families with kids 5+.
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Snow Tubing

Lift-served tube runs at every major Hokkaido resort. Good first contact with snow for small children.

Best regions
Niseko · Rusutsu · Kiroro · Tomamu
Recommended season
December–March.
Suggested traveler
Families with toddlers and young children.
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Sledding

Hotel-side sled hills at most resorts, with rentals included. The cheapest morning of the week.

Best regions
All major ski resorts
Recommended season
December–March.
Suggested traveler
Families with children of any age.
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Snowshoeing

Guided snowshoe walks in Daisetsuzan, around Lake Shikotsu and in the Niseko birch woods. Quiet, soft, deeply Hokkaido.

Best regions
Daisetsuzan · Lake Shikotsu · Niseko
Recommended season
December–March.
Suggested traveler
Couples, retirees, families with children 6+.
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Ice Fishing

Wakasagi (smelt) ice fishing on Lake Akan, Lake Shikaribetsu and Lake Barato. Tent rentals, a heater, and a frypan — the catch is eaten on the spot.

Best regions
Lake Akan · Lake Shikaribetsu · Lake Barato (near Sapporo)
Recommended season
January–March.
Suggested traveler
Families, food-curious couples, photographers.
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Drift Ice Walking

Drift Ice Walking

The Sea of Okhotsk freezes — and you can walk on it in a dry suit. Abashiri and Shiretoko are the two access points. February is the right window.

Why it's unique in Hokkaido

Hokkaido is the southernmost place on Earth where pack ice forms naturally. Drift-ice tourism only exists here.

Best regions
Abashiri · Shiretoko (Utoro)
Recommended season
Late January–early March.
Suggested traveler
Adventure couples, photographers, repeat Japan visitors.
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