The direct day-trip bus tour to Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park (ウポポイ直行日帰りバスツアー) departing from Sapporo, which was scheduled to end on October 31, will now continue through the winter. The tour is operated by JTB Hokkaido Business Division (株式会社JTB北海道事業部), and its operating period is being extended in response to its popularity.
The tour is designed to give visitors a chance to enjoy Upopoy with peace of mind even in winter, with a direct ride from Sapporo and no transfers. It will run on Saturdays through March 2027 and during the Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり), excluding Upopoy's closed days. It is expected to make Upopoy more convenient to reach, both for residents of the Sapporo area and for travelers visiting from Japan and overseas.
Tour Details
- Operating period:
- Saturdays from November 7, 2026 to March 27, 2027
- During the Sapporo Snow Festival (February 4 to 11)
- Excluding Upopoy's closed days, for a total of 24 days
- Departures: One per day
- Reservations: Accepted until 8:00 PM on the day before departure
- Capacity: About 20 people (the tour runs with a minimum of 1 participant)
- Departure point: ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel (ANAクラウンプラザホテル), departing at 9:00 AM
- Drop-off point: JR Sapporo Station, arriving at 5:00 PM
Tour Prices
Travel fee including an Upopoy admission ticket:
- Adults: ¥5,000
- High school students: ¥4,400
- Ages 15 and under: ¥2,000
- Infants: Free
Travel fee without an Upopoy admission ticket: adults ¥4,000, high school students ¥4,000, and ages 15 and under ¥2,000.
How to Book
Reservations are made through the dedicated booking page below. The page can also be accessed from the Upopoy website.
https://widgets.bokun.io/online-sales/1c8234d1-43a6-44bc-8bcc-a2260ab3aeb0/experience/935959
About Upopoy
Upopoy opened in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, in 2020 as a hub for the revival and creation of Ainu culture. It consists of the National Ainu Museum, the first national museum in Hokkaido; the National Ethnic Harmony Park (国立民族共生公園), a hands-on field museum where visitors experience Ainu culture with all five senses; and a memorial facility (慰霊施設) that enables the Ainu people to hold dignified memorial services. On the shore of Lake Poroto, surrounded by rich nature, visitors can touch and experience Ainu culture and history in many ways.
Visitor Information
- Address: 2-3 Wakakusa-cho, Shiraoi-cho, Shiraoi-gun, Hokkaido 059-0902
- Phone: 0144-82-3914 (main line)
- Access: About a 10-minute walk from JR Shiraoi Station. About 40 minutes from New Chitose Airport by expressway or train.
- Admission (tax included): General adults ¥1,200, general high school students ¥600, junior high school students and younger free. Group rates are available for groups of 20 or more. Paid experience programs and fees for special exhibitions at the museum are not included.
- Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (may vary by season)
- Closed: Mondays, December 28 to January 4, 2027, and February 27 to March 8. If a Monday is a national holiday, the closure moves to the next weekday. Special opening days may apply.
- Opened: July 12, 2020
- Official website: https://ainu-upopoy.jp/
