HokkaVia · Hokkaido
Lake Shikotsu, Noboribetsu & Lake Toya Private Tours
Plan Hokkaido's lakes and hot-spring towns at a realistic pace. Choose a Lake Toya and Noboribetsu day, a Lake Shikotsu outing, or a one-way hotel journey that links selected stops without unnecessary backtracking.
How to plan this journey
These three areas are separate destinations, not adjacent attractions that must all fit into one short outing. For a Sapporo day trip, choose a main lake and one complementary stop. A hotel stay around Toya or Noboribetsu can make a slower one-way route more practical.
In winter, the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is a date-specific event. Confirm the current year's operating dates, admission and illumination schedule before booking a late return. A festival visit and a long daytime Toya–Noboribetsu circuit may need separate days.
A practical model day
An example sequence, not a fixed timetable. We confirm pickup, opening times, daylight and the final route before booking.
- Sapporo pickup · start early enough for daylight sightseeing and a winter-road buffer.
- Lake Toya viewpoint · choose an accessible stop suited to the day's visibility.
- Lunch and Noboribetsu · focus on one hot-spring-town area; adjust outdoor walking to ice and weather.
- Return or hotel drop-off · confirm Sapporo return, Toya accommodation or Noboribetsu accommodation in the quote.
Before you confirm
Lake Shikotsu can be the main destination for a separate festival or lakeside day. If you are moving between New Chitose Airport, a hot-spring hotel and Sapporo, send all hotel names and flight times so the sightseeing portion can be priced correctly.
At Noboribetsu, stay on open designated paths and follow local restrictions around geothermal areas. A driver is not a specialist hiking guide. Bath admissions, attraction tickets, meals and your hotel are paid separately; hotel booking is your responsibility.
Check the latest official information
Price guide for your route
Biei–Furano / Niseko / Lake Toya–Noboribetsu · Private day tours · up to 10 hours · Sapporo pickup and return · per vehicle · time starts at pickup
| Route / area | April–November | December–March |
|---|---|---|
| Alphard | From ¥65,000Approx. US$414 | From ¥70,000Approx. US$446 |
| HiAce | From ¥75,000Approx. US$478 | From ¥85,000Approx. US$541 |
JPY is the quotation and payment currency. USD figures are estimates calculated at ¥157 per US$1, not a guaranteed exchange rate. Prices are per vehicle and depend on the confirmed itinerary and availability.
What your quote includes
Included: vehicle, professional driver, fuel, expressway tolls and parking for your agreed route.
Not included: attraction admission, meals and your accommodation.
Day tours include up to 10 hours from your pickup time. Overtime is ¥5,000 per additional 30 minutes.
Multi-day tours are priced day by day. If the driver stays overnight, add accommodation from ¥15,000 per night, depending on the area. Only this driver-accommodation amount is paid by card when booking; book early because rooms can fill up.
Free cancellation until 8 days before travel. Cancellation charges apply from 7 days before travel; the applicable fee schedule is confirmed in your written booking conditions.
Child seats, including rear-facing infant seats and booster seats, can be arranged. Share each child’s age, height and weight when enquiring.
Sightseeing transfers between different hotels or towns are welcome: for example, Sapporo → Asahiyama Zoo → Biei → a Furano hotel, or Jozankei → Lake Toya.
Questions about this trip
Can we finish at a hot-spring hotel instead of Sapporo?
Yes. One-way sightseeing transfers are quoted individually. Tell us the exact hotel, check-in or dinner time and the stops you most want to include.
Does the starting price include the Ice Festival?
Our published Toya–Noboribetsu day-tour starting price covers the agreed vehicle route, not festival admission or an unlimited three-area circuit. A Shikotsu festival route is quoted for its date, hours and drop-off.
Do I need to pay in advance?
No advance payment is required for the vehicle service. Pay your driver in JPY on the day, by cash or card. Only agreed driver accommodation for overnight trips is paid by card when booking.
Are your vehicles and drivers licensed and insured?
Our journeys use licensed commercial passenger vehicles with green number plates, professional drivers holding Japan’s Class 2 driving licence, and passenger liability insurance. Ask us for the operating-company details if you would like to check them.
Does the driver speak English?
Drivers use everyday conversational English and translation apps. Our dedicated English-speaking team handles planning and support before and after travel. A fluent tour guide is not automatically included.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation is free until 8 days before travel. Fees apply from 7 days before; the full fee schedule is provided with your booking conditions before you confirm.
Talk to HokkaVia
Send your travel dates, every pickup and drop-off hotel, adults and children, suitcase counts and must-see stops. We will confirm availability, the vehicle layout and a written total.