Give your legs a workout and spend a half day seeing some of the most beautiful natural scenery in Japan in the Bankei forest. After pickup at your downtown Sapporo hotel or the train station, travel to the forest with your guide. Grab your snowshoes and poles and get ready to explore this famously untamed spot. Snowshoeing is easy to learn — if you can walk, you can snowshoe.

As your guide points out some of the characteristics of the wilderness just 20 minutes from the center of the city, you’ll learn about the history and biodiversity of the area. Walk the snow-covered landscape, feeling the tranquility of the forest in winter. Keep your eyes open for some of the indigenous fauna of the area, including deer, red foxes, spotted woodpeckers, squirrels and chipmunks. This is a great way for people of all ages to get off the beaten track, literally.

After building up a hunger, tuck into a bowl of curry soup at a local favorite restaurant in Sapporo. After lunch, relax on the drive back to your departure point.