Start the day at Lake Nukabira in the southeastern part of Daisetsuzan National Park to experience the lake’s frozen shores. Tokachi Obihiro Airport is the nearest airport.

Enjoy a hearty lunch by the lake before putting on snowshoes to explore the lakeside environment with a guide. The lake freezes over completely in winter, and sub-zero temperatures dropping to around -20 degrees Celsius produce frost flowers, diamond dust, and other interesting ice formations and phenomena. Unique to Lake Nukabira is its “Ice Mushroom,” the base of which is a tree stump on the lakebed. This phenomenon occurs when the lake surface freezes, and the level of the water drops. The ice breaks over the stump as the water level drops, and slabs remain balanced on top of the stump after it is revealed. The form resembles a giant mushroom.

After experiencing the sub-zero winter environment and observing cold-climate phenomena first-hand, visitors can drive to the Tokachi Shikaoi Geopark Visitor Center to learn more about the impact of the cold and its effect on the region’s geology and biodiversity. The Visitor Center conveys the story of the landscape through interactive exhibits, including dioramas and projection mapping.

From the Visitor Center, head to Lake Shikaribetsu. The lake formed as the result of prolonged volcanic activity which stemmed the flow of a river. In winter, it freezes over completely and people build igloos, ice halls, and other ice structures on its surface as part of an event called “Shikaribetsuko Kotan (village).” Book a stay at one of the “ice lodges” for an exclusive and unforgettable overnight experience.

Sounkyo Gorge is one of the most scenic locations in Daisetsuzan National Park, with its sheer walls and stunning columnar rock formations (columnar jointing). Explore the area on a guided snowshoe tour departing from the Sounkyo Visitor Center. Your guide will explain the geological and cultural history of the area and point out ice pillars, enormous icicles, and other special ice formations as you explore the snow-covered landscape. Highlights of the tour include stops at frozen waterfalls and sightings of woodpeckers and other winter birds. Tours typically last around 3 hours.

After a day in the snow, warm up in a natural hot spring at Sounkyo Onsen. The hot spring town has various accommodation options, many of which have on-site hot spring baths. Consider staying overnight in the town to attend the Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival. The event takes place in the evening on the banks of the Ishikari River, and features snow and ice structures that are illuminated in a dazzling array of colors. On certain evenings, there are also fireworks.

Spend the last day in the northwestern part of the park, in the foothills of Mount Asahidake. The area receives heavy snowfalls of dry, powdery snow which feels great to walk upon in snowshoes. Start the day at the Asahidake Visitor Center to learn about the area and get an overview of the winter wildlife. Afterward, take a ride on the Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway to an observatory partway up the mountain. From the observatory, you can see trees covered with hoarfrost and snowbanks sculpted by the wind into wave-like formations.

Another way to experience the park is to immerse yourself in the snowscapes of the Asahidake area on a snowshoe nature walk with a local guide. Tours depart from the Asahidake Visitor Center, and in many cases, can be customized. Walk through white-carpeted forests and vast snowfields with your guide who will help you identify animal tracks in the virgin snow. You may see signs of rabbits, foxes, and other winter wildlife.

Instead of doubling back across the park to Tokachi Obihiro Airport, consider flying out of Asahikawa Airport, which is closer, for your onward journey.