Ice fishing in Sapporo　
Giro's ice fishing tour in 2024 winter season
Jan 10 to Mar 10

tel : +81-11-833-0199

What is Giro's ice fishing tour?

Ice fishing experience tour from Sapporo. Recommended for Sapporo stay sightseeing! You can experience longing ice fishing in White Hokkaido.

It takes about 30 minutes to transfer from the center of Sapporo to the barato river in the former Ishikari river crescent lake, a fishing spot in the world of snow and ice. Empty-handed is OK! Free rental boots and winter over pants are available. It is also possible to meet locally by using your own car or rental car.

Guided by Hokkaido-raised guides who have a lot of outdoor experience, they will kindly and politely give you tips and points on how to fish. We feel a well if you don't have a experience for fishing. When the weather is nice, it's fun to get out of the tent and try fishing too. We will cook tempra and eat the Wakasagi. "Wakasagi" is kind of smelt fish. They have only Japanese name.

For COVID-19

1. We play fishing with small group and keep distance.

2. We are keeping clean air in the car.

3. We strive to wash and disinfect the rental goods and in the car.

About New Hokkaido style. Click over

The first time of ice fishing

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When you arrive at the fishing spot, wear winter over pants and snow boots. Depending on the ice conditions, you may don't need to snow boots. The guide will look at the situation and give advice.

When you're ready, head to the large domed tent for fishing.

If you can do it so far, the long-awaited ice fishing will start. The hooks for smelt fishing are very small, but there is a barb on the tip so that the smelt you catch will not escape. We use 5 or 6 of these needles in one device. If you prick your finger or clothes, it will not come off, so you need to be very careful not only of yourself but also of those around you.

Next, the bait used for smelt fishing is mainly larvae such as worms (red worms). Please don't worry too much about them as it was cultured for fishing bait. Still, it is a fact that some people say that noway is impossible. But noproblem, so please ask for consult the guide. He will be a gentleman.

Hooks are danger

Baits are living

After baiting, it's time to drop the fishing line.

The water depth of the fishing spot where the tour goes is about 3m to 5m. The thickness of the ice varies from 30cm to 100cm depending on the season. In this water area, we aim at three points, the bottom of the river, the middle layer, and the top, and explore the depth where the fish are.

A small reel is attached to a short rod of about 40 cm. The rotation direction of the reel is restricted by changing the position of the reel knob. There are three positions: stop (lock), free and brake.

First of all, let's drop the weight to the bottom of the river. When the weight sinks and reaches the bottom of the river, the line loosens. Then, set the knob to the stop position and wind up the reel to the extent that the line does not loose. After swinging the rod up and down to lure the fish to the bait, pay attention to the movement of the tip of the rod. When a fish bites, the tip of the rod vibrates. If there is a hit, instantly lift the rod and match it. The key to smelt fishing is to up even the smallest hits. At first, you may not be able to know if the fish is caught, but after matching it up, try rollup the reel. Well, will it be the first meeting with smelt? Throb!

We will also teach you how to fish at other depths. Smelts often live in groups, so let people around you know the depth at which you caught a bite and the depth at which you caught it.

Now that the smelts have caught a lot, it's time to taste the tempura. A tempura chef will carefully prepare the tempura beside the fishing tent, but there are many people who would like to fry the tempura themselves, so please let us know. Outdoor fry cooking is also fun!

Tempura contains wheat flour. Please let us know if you have any allergies.

Ice fishing tour details

[Tour period] January 10, 2023 to around March 10, 2023 (Depending on the ice conditions)

[Fishing location] Barato river, Ishikari City (12 km from Sapporo Station, in front of Gateau Kingdom Sapporo. Depending on the ice conditions, it may be changed to a fishing spot about 5 km away.)

[Number of people] 2 to 6 people We also accept inquiries for groups of 7 or more people.

[Sapporo departure time] 9:00

[Sapporo dissolution time] Around 12:30

[Sapporo pick-up location] Hotels in downtown Sapporo or in front of JR Sapporo Station North Exit Family Mart

[Course itinerary]

9:00 Departure from Sapporo (Ride on the minivan from your hotel or Sapporo Station)

9:30 Arrive at Barato river

9:50 Smelt fishing start

11:30 End of smelt fishing (tempura tasting at the fishing spot, change of winter pants and boots, restroom break)

Around 12:30 Arrive in Sapporo city

*Itinerary times are approximate. Due to the road conditions unique to snow country, the return time may be significantly delayed, so please participate with plenty of time to spare.

[Participation fee]

8,000 yen for adults, 6,000 yen for children (5 years old to 11 years old), 7,000 yen for student discounts (junior high school, university, vocational students) No need to show your student ID.^

You can pay by cash or credit card on the tour day .

[What is included in the price] Smelt fishing guide fee, tent usage fee, rental of fishing tackle/boots (20 cm to 30 cm) over pants (height 100 cm to M to 3 L size), tempura tasting, transfer, insurance fee

[Things not included in the price] Drink fee etc.

[About cancellation fee] Cancellation on the day: 100%, cancellation the day before: 50%, no cancellation fee up to 2 days before

[Participation conditions] 5 years old or older. Elementary school students and younger must be accompanied by a guardian. Children under the age of 5 cannot participate.

[In case of bad weather] In case of bad weather, it may be canceled. No cancellation fee will be charged.

[Caution] Be sure to follow the instructions of the guide for safety.

[Things to prepare] Warm clothes, a knit cap (a hood that covers the ears is good), gloves. Things that are good to have are warmers, spare socks, drinks, etc.