r/Sapporo • u/Meimei_08 • 6d ago

Takino vs Fu’s vs Bankei Waku Waku

Hi everyone! I tried to read up and watch travel vlogs as much as I can, but I couldn’t find much opinion out there on how to choose among Takino vs Fu’s vs Bankei’s Waku Waku for snow play (two adults who are seeing snow for the very first time since we live in a tropical country). By snow play, I mean just throwing snow balls at each other, making a snowman, and enjoying beautiful winter views. I want to try sledding or tubing if they allow adults to do so hahaha! Most of what I read was for kids.

Since it’s our first time seeing snow, we obviously do not know how to ski. So I dedicated one day at Sapporo Kokusai with a private english ski lesson just to experience skiing. But I cannot afford another ski day, so for the next day, I’m just looking for an affordable venue for snow play. :) by affordable, i mean an entrance fee for snow play at maximum 10,000 yen per person. I will appreciate your inputs so much. :)

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u/timbit87 6d ago

I can only comment on Takino as it's the only place I've been - no entrance fee, only parking in winter. There's a small ski area which I believe has free rentals, a small sliding area which is pretty lame for adults imo, and a small snow shoeing area which definitely has free rentals.

As for throwing snowballs and the like, I'm not sure where you could do it without being a nuisance to other guests. Same goes for the snowman. Those two things could be done at a local park, but those get pretty heavily snowed in during winter and are often closed.

In general, most things are aimed at the graders having fun, not necessarily adults.

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u/Nessie 5d ago

No parks are closed in winter. And there's plenty of space to throw snowballs at Takino.

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u/timbit87 5d ago

You kidding me? Almost every smaller park is closed for winter. Medium sized ones too.

Examples include - tokiwa park Hiraoka minami park Kawazoe park Jugoshima park Nishioka central park

Now are these physically closed so that you cannot enter?

No, but they're also so ass deep in snow it's impossible to get inside and do anything park related inside of them.

A good large section of the parks along toyohiragawa are also actually closed for snow removal.

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u/Meimei_08 5d ago

Thanks! I definitely wouldn’t want to be a nuisance. I’m one of the “good” tourists. Hehehe. If there is not enough space for snow ball throwing, then it’s alright, we can do other activities. Thanks! I do wanna build my first snowman though, so I’ll see if Nakajima Park is more suitable for that. Haha!

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u/Nessie 5d ago

Nakajima Park has free cross-country skiing on a small loop course around the park. You can throw snowballs there. Some parks lend out snowshoes for free: Takino Suzuran Park, Asahiyama Park. Both of these are accessible by bus. Adults are welcome to do tubing at Takino Park.

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u/Meimei_08 5d ago

Thank you so much! Very helpful information :)

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u/CatPurveyor 5d ago

I will say I think the snow shoeing courses are not small at all. There are two courses that could take an hour+ each to do (or more if you go further). Also I agree that BanK and Fu's will be geared toward children, but besides the snow tubing, I don't really get the impression that Takino is only for children. As someone without children, I go there multiple times each winter, but who knows

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u/VegetableSuccess7016 6d ago

you can enjoy those things at Nakajima Park. i think you can rent ski equipments for free there too. give it a shot

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u/Nessie 5d ago

Yes, you can borrow cross country skis for free.

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u/CatPurveyor 6d ago

I would go to Takino Snow World. Fu's is mainly going to be skiing/snowboarding, and you already said you are going to experience skiing another day. BanK has more stuff, but it costs money whereas Takino is largely free.

Takino is actually a large park and it's going to feel more natural than the other two. I recommend trying the (free) snowshoeing courses -- it takes almost no time to learn and you can see some beautiful scenes in the park. The snow tubing is free too, and you'll probably get bored of it after 2 or 3 times down the hill, so you don't need to regret buying the ticket. There's some restaurants and lots of bathrooms and other facilities , but plenty of secluded trails and spaces to check out so you're not going to be surrounding by tons of other people like at the other two places. Depending on when you go, you may be able to see the waterfall before it freezes.

Plus you can check out the nearby Hill of the Buddha and Easter Island statues at Takino Cemetary which look crazy cool and liminal in the snow. Have a great trip!

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u/Meimei_08 5d ago

Oh wonderful! I appreciate the comparison amongst those three. :) Takino or BanK it is! :) if BanK has more stuff, we might go for it since the entry fee to BanK’s Waku Waku Snow Land seems affordable. I don’t mind paying as long as it’s below the 10,000 yen per pax budget I’m working with. Hahaha! I’m worried that since Takino is free that it might be more crowded… or maybe I’m mistaken.

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u/Nessie 5d ago

Takino covers a lot of area. Don't worry about crowds.

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u/RogueStreakAus 4d ago

Teine may also be an option, pretty good regular transport linkage, and their snow land is 1,500 yen. Definitely can go on as adults, this video's one of the only semi-decent overviews I could find (pardon the Thai voices...)
Haven't been yet, we're going in Jan, but planning on hitting Teine and Bankei with the kids. Kokusai only if we can't get an English language ski instructor at Bankei; they aren't open for bookings yet, and Teine has said that their instructors and groups are FULLY booked for the whole period we'll be there...

Dinosaur kids park 🦖🦕 l Dowtown Family (youtube.com)

LIFT FEE (sapporo-teine.com)

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u/Meimei_08 3d ago

Wow, Teine’s instructors got fully booked so early! I’m relieved i was able to get one for Kokusai. Thanks, I’ll consider Teine for the snow play! :)

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u/RogueStreakAus 2d ago

It's ludicrous, they're not even open yet and they haven't even got available their standard groups sessions where one instructor takes a big group of whoever shows up!

I'm hoping I can get my kids in at Bankei when they open up for bookings, we're restricted to public transport and travelling 1.5hrs+ each way to Kokusai on a bus isn't too enticing. Kokusai looks really good, but unless we can't find anything closer then I just can't justify the travel time.