Asahikawa Attractions

Asahikawa is a charming city located in central Hokkaido, with the Ishikari River and its tributaries flowing through it. As the second-largest city in Hokkaido, it connects the central, southern, eastern, and northern parts of Hokkaido and is close to Furano and Biei, two famous Hokkaido tourist destinations, so that most visitors take it as a crucial transit point for visiting Hokkaido and take a one-day trip here. 

Asahikawa is renowned as the “City of Art” for its frequent artistic activities. Its cityscape is distinctive, with the magnificent Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group as its backdrop and numerous European-style buildings and parks dotted around the city. Meanwhile, it is also well-known for Asahiyama Zoo, Asahikawa Winter Festival, and Asahikawa Ramen Village.

Asahikawa in Winter

Best Things to Do in Asahikawa in Winter

1. Visiting Asahikawa Winter Festival

Asahikawa Winter Festival is the second largest snow festival in Hokkaido, which is held for a week in early February, usually overlapping with the Sapporo Snow Festival. The venue is located in the city center's Tokiwa Park, where spectacular snow and ice sculptures are displayed; entertainment facilities such as snow mazes and snow slides suitable for both adults and children; and at night, dazzling fireworks are released, taking the festival atmosphere to a peak.

2. Skiing

Kamui Ski Resort is located within the city of Asahikawa, and there are also ski resorts such as Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Ski Area, Furano Ski Resort, Sahoro Resort Ski Area, and Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake surrounding it, making it a city surrounded by ski resorts. If you come to Asahikawa during the ski season, you must experience the excitement of skiing.

Best Places to Visit in Asahikawa

Penuins in Asahiyama Zoo

1. Asahiyama Zoo

Asahiyama Zoo is the northernmost zoo in Japan and also the largest polar zoo in the country, known throughout the world for its close interactions between animals and visitors, especially the performance of “penguin parade” in winter. The zoo has carefully created the most natural habitat for its 124 species of 700+ animals, such as penguins, polar bears, seals, and chimpanzees, providing a comfortable environment.

2. Tokiwa Park

Tokiwa Park, located in the east of Asahikawa, is a comprehensive entertainment park with 188 hectares (465 acres) of land around Tokiwa Pond. The park is dotted with flowers and trees, and in spring, cherry blossoms; in early summer, irises; and in autumn, chrysanthemums, creating a colorful scene. Stand by the pond, visitors can enjoy the graceful swans and the popular cormorants' adorable poses. Besides, the park has many entertainment facilities, including a giant Ferris wheel and water bikes.

3. Asahikawa City Museum

Step into the Asahikawa City Museum, and you'll feel as though you've traveled back in time to the history of Hokkaido. Through a wealth of exhibits and the latest historical research, the museum tells the story of the people of Hokkaido living in harmony with nature, leaving visitors with a deep appreciation of the rich heritage of this land.

4. Ueno Farm

Ueno Farm is known as one of the seven major gardens in Hokkaido, with about 2,000 kinds of plants, allowing visitors to enjoy different varieties of flowers from spring to autumn. 

5. Kaguraoka Park

In spring, more than 500 cherry blossom trees in Kaguraoka Park compete with each other in blooming, creating a cloud of pink and white that is breathtakingly beautiful. In addition to cherry blossom viewing, the park is also a great place for camping, hiking, and winter skiing.

Famous Destinations for Tasting Food in Asahikawa

1. Asahikawa Ramen Village

Asahikawa Ramen

If you want to try ramen in Asahikawa, go to the Ramen Village where you can find over ten ramen shops offering different styles and flavors of ramen. Among them, Asahikawa Ramen Aoba-honten is an old brand that started as a roadside stall in Asahikawa in 1947. It offers a fusion of the essence of seafood and meat bones without using artificial seasonings, resulting in a rich and flavorful taste.

2. Taisetsu Beer House

The Taisetsu Beer House, which has been open for over 20 years, is a red brick warehouse transformed into a snowy beer garden. Its beer is made with the pure water from Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group and high-quality ingredients, winning numerous awards in Japan. The steak and mutton barbecue are the most popular options for dinner, and it is a great experience to enjoy it with a cold beer!

More Attractions to Visit in Asahikawa

1. Asahikawa Science Museum

Not only is the Asahikawa Science Museum an important science education base in Hokkaido, but it is also an ideal choice for family outings. The museum provides visitors of all ages with a rich and immersive experience through its laboratories, experience rooms, and astronomical telescopes. The telescope here is particularly noteworthy, as it allows visitors to glimpse the secrets of the stars even during the day.

2. Kamikawa-jinja Shrine

Kamikawa Shrine, established in 1920, has been a sacred place for locals to pray for blessings and experience traditional culture.

3. Otokoyama Sake Brewing Museum

The Otokoyama Sake Brewing Museum showcases the history and brewing process of sake with valuable documents, sakeware, and various brewing tools, and has a free tasting area, making it the best place for visitors to know about the sake culture of Japan.

4. Nicholas Observation Tower

The Nicholas Observation Tower, open only during the summer, offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. The view around dusk is particularly enchanting, earning the tower the nickname “the paradise of lovers” and making it an ideal choice for proposals or romantic dates.

5. Kamikoto Pond

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Kamikoto Pond is known as the “abode of gods” and is a scenic spot in the Asahikawa area where you can enjoy the view of the rapidly flowing Ishikari River.

How to plan an Asahikawa day trip?

One-day trip:

Asahikawa Station → Asahiyama Zoo → Asahikawa Ramen Village → Ueno Farm/Tokiwa Park → Asahikawa Station

Tokiwa Park in Asahikawa

After arriving at Asahikawa Station in the morning, take a 40-minute bus to Asahiyama Zoo and spend 2 - 3 hours visiting the zoo. Then, take a 30-minute bus to Asahikawa Ramen Village to taste delicious ramen. After lunch and a short break, take a 35-minute bus to Ueno Farm or a 50-minute bus to Tokiwa Park to enjoy the natural scenery. Finally, return to Asahikawa Station to your next destination.

If you want to stay in Asahikawa for a few more days, you can add the attractions you are interested in to your itinerary.