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in Hokkaido, Japan
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The ice art is truly breathtaking! With each passing day, more and more icicles cover the waterfall.
We are the only guides on-site, so we put safety and security first. The Hyoutou Festival (one of the three major winter festivals in Hokkaido) will be held from mid-January to mid-February, and will color Lake Shikotsu. You'll be missing out if you don't come.
Walk slowly through the trees.
Fluffy new snow
Head down the hill to the waterfall!
Crossing the single bridge
Ice Wall
Ice waterfalls being created
You can go close to the waterfall.
Frost flowers
Ice Palace Snow Trekking Walk in Shikotsu
- Location
Lake Shikotsu, Chitose
- Available Period
Early January~ Mid-March
- Duration
~2 hours
- Fee
Tour Highlights
- Enjoy the artistic Shichijo Falls created by ice in Hokkaido in winter
- The giant icicles will engulf you!
- You can feel safe and secure at a local tour shop in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park
Join a snow trekking trip around Lake Shikotsu to see breathtaking frozen waterfalls.
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Meet at the shop in Lake Shikotsu Shopping Street to fill out consent forms and meet your guide
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When you are ready, drive to the entrance to the waterfall in the guide’s car and proceed along the forest road.
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Put crampons (spikes) on your boots and go down to the bottom of the waterfall. On the way down, you will see the ice palace. When you get to the bottom, enjoy the magnificent view of nature along with the fine spray of the waterfall.
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Take a break and have tea together (if it is crowded under the waterfall, we may take it in the space above).
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Enjoy a relaxed return the way you came, return to shop
- 8 years and older
- For safety reasons, people with chronic or serious illnesses and pregnant women cannot participate
Meeting Location
Guesthouse Shikotsu Kamui
Meeting Address
Bangaichi Shikotsukoonsen, Chitose, Hokkaido 066-0281
Meeting Location Details
[By car]
If you are driving, set your navigation system to “Shikotsuko Onsen” and head to the shopping street parking lot on the shore of Lake Shikotsu. Looking from the parking lot, you will see the “Guest House Shikotsu Kamui” sign in the center of the shopping street.
[By bus]
If you are taking the bus, get off at the “Shikotsuko Onsen” bus stop and you will see the shopping street on your left. You will then see the sign in the center of the row of cars along the parking lot. It is about a one-minute walk from the bus stop.
Access to Meeting Location
[By car]
- ~70 minutes from Sapporo
- ~40 minutes from New Chitose Airport
- ~30 minutes from Tomakomai
- ~70 minutes from Jozankei
- ~90 minutes from Niseko
[By public transportation]
- Take the JR (~40 minutes by rapid train) from Sapporo Station to New Chitose Airport (in front of Chitose Station), then take a bus to Lake Shikotsu.
- Take the bus (~1 hour) to Lake Shikotsu.
Bus timetable:
New Chitose Airport⇔Chitose Station⇔Lake Shikotsu Onsen Town
What to Bring & Wear
- Cold weather gear- warm and easy-to-move-in clothes
- Snowwear tops and bottoms, light down jacket, or similar wear
- Cold weather gloves are a must. Ski or snowboard gloves are also acceptable.
- Waterproof trekking shoes, boots, or snow boots with thick socks.
- Knit hat
- Sunglasses or snow goggles
Valuables can be left in the free lockers on site.
Gloves, knit hats, and neck warmers are available for free rental.
Overview
- Available Period
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Early January~ Mid-March
- Duration
~2 hours
Start times:
1) 9:30
2) 13:00
- Itinerary
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Meet at the shop in Lake Shikotsu Shopping Street to fill out consent forms and meet your guide
-
When you are ready, drive to the entrance to the waterfall in the guide’s car and proceed along the forest road.
-
Put crampons (spikes) on your boots and go down to the bottom of the waterfall. On the way down, you will see the ice palace. When you get to the bottom, enjoy the magnificent view of nature along with the fine spray of the waterfall.
-
Take a break and have tea together (if it is crowded under the waterfall, we may take it in the space above).
-
Enjoy a relaxed return the way you came, return to shop
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- Fee
Participants: 7,600yen
Solo participant: 11,000yen
- What's Included
- Insurance
- Guide
- Equipment rentals
- Drinks and snacks
- Payment
Prepayment by credit card
Notes
- The tour will proceed in case of snow.
- If the tour cannot proceed due to heavy rain, lightning, wind, or blizzard, we will cancel the tour and inform you.
- The tour dates may be changed or cancelled if there is not enough snow due to unseasonal weather or other reasons.
- The tour may be cancelled midway for safety or other reasons at the discretion of the guide.
- Please follow all of the instructions of the tour guide, as there are risks in outdoor tours. Please also understand that the guide cannot be held personally responsible for any accidents caused by the customer’s intentional or negligent acts.
Cancellation / Changes
- A cancellation fee of 100% is charged if cancelled on the day of the event or in case of a no-show
- A cancellation fee of 75% is charged if cancelled 1 day or less before the event
- A cancellation fee of 50% is charged if cancelled 2 days or less before the event
Reviews(5)
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Nanazyo Ootaki Snowshoe Tour
It took a long way to go 七條大滝 (almost 2.5 hrs by walk) but when we arrived the destination, we only spent there 20 mins for rest, not enough time to take photo. Anyway, this is a very nice place and worth to go there. -
So moving...!
I participated with a friend during the Ice Festival. The itinerary wasn't too tough, and the frozen waterfall you encounter after walking on the snowy road for about 20-30 minutes is truly spectacular! I recommend it because it's easy to reach the scenic spots even for beginners and dieters. It was also a good memory that the guide burned a CD-ROM for the photos we took while we went to buy some imomochi. I'd like to visit Lake Shikotsu again. (This review has been machine translated into English)
- Location
Lake Shikotsu, Chitose
- Available Period
Early January~ Mid-March
- Duration
~2 hours
- Fee
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4 (5)
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I probably wouldn't have been able to go if it hadn't been for the tour.
We had originally planned to walk along the forest path on snowshoes, but we were informed in advance that there would be little snow this year, so we changed to fat bikes. My family is not into outdoor activities, and there was no one to accompany me, so I participated alone. We ended up joining a parent and child group just before the meeting time. We were doing well until we reached our destination, Shichijo Otaki, but it was really hard to go down the cliff. I realized that it was a bit dangerous for amateurs to come alone. It was a slope that would have caused us to slip if we had continued, but the guide used a shovel to clear the snow and create steps, and we slowly went down. I felt bad for making a young woman do this, but they ensured our safety. We were given various information along the way, and at our destination we were given tea and photos taken, so I'm really glad that we participated in the tour. Shichijo Otaki was a place I really wanted to go and see, so I was very satisfied. (This review has been machine translated into English) -
Nanazyo Ootaki Snowshoe Tour
It took a long way to go 七條大滝 (almost 2.5 hrs by walk) but when we arrived the destination, we only spent there 20 mins for rest, not enough time to take photo. Anyway, this is a very nice place and worth to go there. -
So moving...!
I participated with a friend during the Ice Festival. The itinerary wasn't too tough, and the frozen waterfall you encounter after walking on the snowy road for about 20-30 minutes is truly spectacular! I recommend it because it's easy to reach the scenic spots even for beginners and dieters. It was also a good memory that the guide burned a CD-ROM for the photos we took while we went to buy some imomochi. I'd like to visit Lake Shikotsu again. (This review has been machine translated into English) -
Highly reommended
My husband and I joined Nanajyo Otaki snow shoes tour in January on the way to Shin-Chitose airport from Sapporo city. We enjoyed a beautiful winter day with snow. The guide was experienced and very kind. Onsen near the park was also awesome!! We will definitely go back to Lake Shikotsu and looking forward to exploring this area with bike next summer:) -
Very impressive!
On December 30th, my husband and I came from Osaka to participate. Perhaps because it was the beginning of the season, we had the instructor, Mr. Itaya, to ourselves. I was very nervous because I live in the city and am not used to snowy mountains, but after a while, we went down the snowy path with a lecture and encouragement, and a magnificent and mysterious view spread out before us, with a waterfall of a scale I had never seen before and all the water that should have been flowing turned into large icicles. Of course, I took a lot of photos. Also, drinking hot tea in such a situation was exceptional! I'm really glad I went! I thought it would be more difficult, but it was moderate, and I thought it would be colder, but I moved around quite a bit and sweated. The snow was fluffy and fun on the snowshoes! He was kind and taught me from start to finish, so I felt at ease. He also told me about some delicious restaurants, which was helpful! Thank you very much! (This review has been machine translated into English)
I probably wouldn't have been able to go if it hadn't been for the tour.