If you live in warm area, you must be excited by snow! In winter of Hokkaido, playing in the snow is one of the most exciting activities. Skiing and snowboarding is very standard snow activities. But if you are not used to snow, you might feel a little hard to do those activities.

Don’t worry! There are many more activities for beginners like snow sliders and walking on snow. On this article, I will introduce 5 snow playing places for beginners around Sapporo. If you go to Sapporo in winter, enjoy not just watching snow but also playing!


Historical Village of Hokkaido


Photo of Kanjiki

This is the place you can enjoy traditional culture of Hokkaido. They exhibit Hokkaido’s old architectures and how people lived in old days. In winter they provide many snow activities, too. There are activities like horse drawn sleighs, traditional wooden made sled, and traditional snowshoes called as “Kanjiki”. You can also experience snowplow.

Address: Konopporo 50-1, Atsubetsu-cyo,Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo
Winter Season: January 7th (Sat.) ~March 20th (Mon.) in 2017
Hours: 9:00 am ~ 4:30 pm
Regular Closing Day: every Monday and the holiday period from December 29th through January 3rd
Admission Fee: Adult (15-64) 800 yen/ College and High School Students 600 yen,/Siniors (65+), youth, and Children Free
Access: Take subway Tozai Line to Shin Sapporo Station. Change bus bound for “No.22 Kaitakunomura” to last bus stop.
English Website: http://www.kaitaku.or.jp/info/info.htm


Maeda Forest Park


https://www.flickr.com/photos/mujitra/14969062448/in
By Miki Yoshihito from Flickrs

Maeda Forest Park is a park you can enjoy BBQ in summer. In winter, you can play with snow at the park. You can rent cross-country ski-sets and snowshoes. They also provide snow rafting. This is a good place to take a walk on snow. It is in Sapporo and easy to go.

Address: Teine Maeda 591, Teine-ku, Sapporo
Hours: Free to enter
Admission Fee: Free
Access: Take subway Nanboku Line to Kita 24-jo Station. Change to the bus “No.Kita72” and get off at Maeda Shinrin Koen (Maeda Forest Park).
English Information:
http://www.sapporo-park.or.jp/maedashinrin/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Maeda-Forest-Park-English-brochure.pdf


Moerenuma Park


https://www.flickr.com/photos/onigiri_chang/4244267312/
By Hiroyuki Takeda from flickr

Moerenuma Park is popular for local people. It is huge park and their symbol is the Glass Pyramid architecture. In winter, you can play with snow at the park. You can rent cross-country ski-sets, snowshoes, and snow boots.

Address: Moerenuma Koen 1-1, Higashi-ku, Sapporo Hours: Free to enter
Admission Fee: Free
Access: Take subway Toho Line to Kanjyo-dori-higashi Station. Change to the bus “No.Higashi69” or “No.Higashi79” and get off at Moerenuma Koen Higashiguchi (Moerenuma Park East Gate).
English Website: http://moerenumapark.jp/english/


Rusutsu Resort


https://www.flickr.com/photos/june29/427555238
By Jun Owada from Flickr

If you want to enjoy many snow activities, I recommend Rusutsu Resort. It is a resort park that also has ski course, hotel, and restaurant. They provide many kinds of snow activities.

Here is list what you can experience in Rusutsu.

Snow Mobile
Snow Rafting
Horse Riding on Lake Toya
Dog Sledding
Nature Tour
Snowshoeing Tour

This place is a little far compare to other places. It takes about 90 minutes from Sapporo by car. Don’t worry! They have free shuttle bus from Sapporo and you can take it to the resort. They also have hot spring and it is a good idea to stay a night at Rusutsu.

Adress: Aza Izumikawa 133, Rusutsu-mura, Abutagun
Acess: Take a free shuttle bus from Sapporo
English Website: http://en.rusutsu.co.jp/winter-season/winter-activities/


Kiroro Resort


https://www.flickr.com/photos/mujitra/25078839550/
Bt Miki Yohito from Flickr

Kiroro is popular winter activity place in Hokkaido. They are famous for ski course with powder snow. They also provide many snow activities for beginners.

Here is list what you can experience in Kiroro

Snow Bubble Ball
Snow Park
A Walk in the Winter Forest Tour
Snow Mobile Tour
Snow Segway
Snow Buggy
Snow Banana Boat
Snow Rafting

At Kiroro Resort, there are hotels and hot springs, so I recommend you to stay a night and enjoy! Kiroro is also a little far from Sapporo. You can take a bus directly to Kiroro from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport.

Adress: Joban 128-1, Akaigawa-mura, Yoichi-gun
Accesss: There are busses from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport
English Website: https://www.kiroro.co.jp/