Welcome to Asahikawa
Asahikawa is the second largest city in Hokkaido and boasts a great combination of lush scenic beauty and urban amenities. The Taisetsuzan Mountain Range that surrounds the city is not only a haven for deep powder snow lovers, but also the source of Asahikawa’s 130 rivers, providing fresh water to the city and making for excellent local produce, food, and world-class sake.
Upon exiting JR Asahikawa Station, one is met with the pedestrian-only street Kaimono Koen that extends for blocks and is lined with the perfect mix of shopping malls and smaller specialty shops. The city’s grid system makes for easy navigation and the central entertainment district is located just a few minutes from the station at 3-jo-dori 6-chome (3-6). Even by spending the entire vacation in the downtown core, one could never possibly visit even a fraction of the 1,300 restaurants and bars in the area.
Asahikawa has the reputation of being the coldest place in Japan. The low temperatures coupled with low humidity make for some of the lightest, driest snow imaginable. Kamui Ski Links is a mere 30 minute drive from central Asahikawa where skiers and boarders will find the most liberal off-piste policy in the country with runs designed “for skiers by skiers.” The highest peak in Hokkaido, the live volcano Mt. Asahidake is also close by the city and offers the best backcountry skiing around. In the summer months, the Taisetsuzan Mountain Range also offers amazing hikes and breathtaking views.
Festivals are another thing Asahikawa does better than anywhere else. Whether it is the high intensity summer parades with fireworks, food stalls, and beer gardens galore, or the magical winter festival with Guinness Record holding snow sculptures and world-class ice sculptures lining the main shopping street, this is a city that guarantees not-to-be-missed events in any season.
The city has recently gained ample media attention both domestically and internationally for its creative approach to animal exhibits at the Asahiyama Zoo. The philosophy of allowing animals to lead a normal healthy life similar to that of in the wild has led to the first documented cases of a number of animals breeding in captivity. Because visitors are able to see the animals in natural-like settings, the Asahiyama Zoo has overtaken Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo as the most popular in Japan.
