Our Perfect Day Snowshoeing to the Blue River in Shirogane Forest

Last Updated on March 10, 2026 by Charlotte

If you’re going to do one winter adventure in Hokkaido, make it this one! Snowshoeing the Shirogane Forest to the Biei Blue River ended up being the highlight of our entire trip. From floating over snowdrifts to making snow angels in waist-deep powder, and toasting a luminously blue river with butterfly pea tea, we had the most fun afternoon playing in Hokkaido powder. Here’s everything you need to know about snowshoeing the Shirogane White Birch Forest and Biei Blue River.

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Our Perfect Day Snowshoeing to the Blue River in the White Birch Shirogane Forest

My field of view flashed from forest to sky as I tipped over backwards, landing on my back in the snow. Fat snowflakes drifted down to kiss my face, and above me, the branches of the white birch trees made a lacework of white against the grey winter sky, each twig and branch holding its own impossible little shelf of snow.

Waist deep in powder, our cheeks flushed and giggling, we made snow angels like we were kids again — living in the moment without a care in the world.

But first, I should probably explain just how we got here.

On a blustery February afternoon, Travel Buddy and I met up with our small group and our Guide Naomi at the Shirogane Visitor’s Center with the cautious enthusiasm of people who had agreed to try something new, mostly out of curiosity. I wasn’t sold on snowshoeing, thinking it was a slow trudge through the snow for people who weren’t quite up for skiing.

We’d spent the morning gasping at Shirahige Waterfall, and I was looking forward to seeing the Biei Blue River up close. But snowshoeing itself? I wasn’t convinced.

Naomi drove us a short distance down the road and had us geared up in snowshoes, poles, and gaiters in no time — and then we were off.

One step past the treeline, and the world outside simply stopped existing. The Shirogane — “Platinum” — Forest takes its name from the white birch trees lining the banks of the Blue River, and walking into it felt like crossing into Narnia.

The trees arched above our heads like a cathedral, their branches dipped in silver and weighted with snow. The sounds of Shirogane Onsen town faded away, leaving only the soft crunch of our snowshoes and, somewhere deeper in the trees, the rhythmic tap tap tap of a woodpecker at work.

In the freshly fallen snow between the birches, Naomi pointed out the tracks of foxes and hares threaded between the trunks — the foxes’ footprints in neat lines, and the hares’ in bouncing clusters of three.

Snowshoeing, it turns out, feels nothing like I expected. It’s somewhere between floating and walking on fairy floss with the snow yielding softly underfoot, your weight distributed so evenly you barely sink. The claws on the bottoms of the snowshoes grip the snow, making it easy to tramp up and down the little hills without slipping.

As we trekked, Naomi mentioned the Shima-enaga — the tiny white “snow fairy” bird that has become the unofficial mascot of Hokkaido. My ears pricked up immediately. I had been obsessed with these cuties long before our trip.

Naomi smiled at my enthusiasm, then gently delivered the blow that even locals rarely spot them, because Shima-enaga are virtually indistinguishable from the little puffs of snow dotting the trees. I searched every branch with hope, and saw absolutely nothing but snow. Which, to be fair, was also beautiful.

We walked through the forest for around forty minutes before emerging from the trees on the plain high above the Biei Blue River. And what came next was my favorite part of the trek!

To get down to the riverside, we had to descend a steeply graded hill. Naomi surveyed it cheerfully and announced that we would be sliding down on our bums, penguin style.

She went first, sliding with perfectly controlled descent. I went second and shot downhill, cackling wildly, until Naomi caught me at the bottom.

A short while later, we passed through the last copse of trees, and the dazzling Biei Blue River swept around a bend in the river before us.

This incredible shade of blue isn’t a trick of the light — it comes from aluminum particles from the upstream Shirahige Waterfall, which scatter light to create that luminous, otherworldly color.

Each rock in the river had a soft white mushroom cap of snow, and despite the afternoon having clouded over, the water was still a remarkable shade of blue.

Naomi surprised us with a steaming thermos of butterfly pea tea, and we cheered our glasses and warmed our icy fingers, enjoying the landscape and the company.

Perhaps because our tour group was so small, just Travel Buddy and me, and another couple, the trek back became a lot more silly, with stops every five minutes to make snow angels, and to ambush the loves of our lives with snow showers from a cleverly pulled tree bough, and snowballs.

The snow here in Biei is incredibly light and fluffy, so holding up a snowball as massive as this felt as light as a feather.

We returned to the van grinning ear to ear, bathing in the afterglow of another adventure well done. Personally, I had not expected snowshoeing to be this fun!

Snowshoeing the Shirogane Forest and the Biei Blue River ended up being our favorite tour that we did in Hokkaido!

How to Snowshoe the Shirogane Forest and Biei Blue River

Ready to book your own white birch and blue river snowshoeing adventure in the Shirogane Forest? Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit, from how to book to what to pack.

How to Book Your Snowshoeing Tour

You can book this tour directly through the Biei Tourism Association website. This tour is available in English and Japanese, so make sure to select your preferred language when requesting your spot.

** Note that your booking is a request, not an instant confirmation, and the team will follow up by email to approve your spot. I booked around three weeks in advance and received confirmation within two days, plus a helpful reminder email the day before the tour.

Tour Schedule & Pricing

The tour runs twice daily from late December through late March:

• Morning course: 9:30am – 11:30am
• Afternoon course: 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Arrive at least ten minutes early at the Shirogane Visitor’s Center counter.

Pricing is ¥10,000 per person for adults and children aged seven and above. Solo travelers pay ¥12,000, and private group bookings carry an additional ¥10,000 fee. Payment is by credit card at the time of booking.

What’s Included

Your tour fee covers your guide, snowshoes, poles, gaiters, and domestic travel insurance.

All the gear you need is provided — though fair warning, if you happen to have exceptionally muscular legs and big feet like Travel Buddy does, you may end up in the bright orange gaiters!

If you don’t have snow gear, you can rent outerwear and overpants for ¥4,000 per set, though sizes are limited, so request these when booking.

Fitness Level

This tour is suitable for beginners, and no prior snowshoeing experience is required. Children aged 7 and above can participate, although those kiddos aged 17 or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

That said, you’ll be on your feet for around two hours, and walking through snow demands more energy than regular hiking, even with snowshoes. It’s a gentle but real workout!

If you’re unsure whether the tour is right for you, it’s worth adding a note to your booking request because the team is communicative and can advise before confirming your spot.

Getting to the Tour Meeting Point

The meeting point is the counter inside the Shirogane Visitor’s Center, just opposite the Shirogane Onsen bus stop. If you’re coming from Biei town, the Dohoku Bus runs to the Shirogane Onsen stop, a one-minute walk from the Shirogane Visitor Center. Check the bus timetable in advance, as winter road conditions can cause delays.

If you’re interested in staying in Shirogane Onsen, be sure to check out the ryokan Morino Ryotei. We stayed there, and we loved it, and you can simply walk over to the snowshoeing tour meeting point.

What to Wear for Snowshoeing

Dressing for this tour is all about layers that you can actually manage on the move because you’ll warm up fast on the uphill sections and cool down just as quickly when you stop. Here’s what worked for me:

• Base layer: Thermal leggings and a moisture-wicking top. Hokkaido cold is no joke, but you will sweat, so skip the cotton and go for Heattech or similar quick-dry fabrics.
• Mid-layer: I wore a wool zip-up sweater, and it was perfect. It was warm enough to trap heat, easy to unzip when the hill had me overheating.
• Outer layer: A waterproof, windproof puffer or ski jacket is ideal. Snow can splash up to waist height when snowshoeing. I wore a down puffer and stayed perfectly warm and dry throughout.
• Snowpants: Beyond keeping you warm and dry, the snowpants are essential for the hill descent on your bottom and for any spontaneous snow angel making. Make sure they’re long enough to meet your boots, or the gaiters (provided) will bridge the gap.
• Boots: Ankle-high winter boots work well, but you’ll need the provided gaiters to seal the gap between your boots and snowpants. The good news? My feet stayed completely warm and dry throughout the entire trek!
• Hat and gloves: A warm hat that covers your ears is essential. For your gloves, choose something waterproof or water-resistant because your hands will be in the snow, especially if you get into snowball territory. Bringing a spare pair of fleece gloves to swap out if one pair gets wet is a smart move.

Don’t own snowwear? The tour offers rental outerwear and overpants for ¥4,000 per set, though sizes are limited, so request this when booking.

Ready to Plan Your Trip to Hokkaido?

If you’re already heading to Biei for snowshoeing, you can’t miss the cutest ever penguin parade in the nearby city of Asahikawa! And if you are headed to Sapporo, be sure to check out my guide on the best areas to stay in Sapporo, and my 1-day Sapporo Itinerary. Hokkaido is one of my most favorite places on earth, and I can’t wait to share more with you!