Arashiyama Pottery Village (Arashiyama Togei no Sato 嵐山陶芸の里)
A wonderful year-round destination to take friends and visitors alike is Asahikawa's own Pottery Village. 
Located on top of Asahigaoka Hill 旭岡, the Pottery Village is really a neighborhood that hosts a number of art studios and shops. Well-located signs within the neighborhood direct you toward the various studios and shops, which are tucked among some of the nicest and most architecturally interesting homes in Asahikawa.
It is easy to spend a morning or an afternoon walking from place to place, browsing the beautiful works of art in search of a special treasure, a gift or even inspiration for your own endeavors. Many of the shops, of course, focus on pottery, but you can also find fine Hokkaido wood crafts, hand-blown glass creations and much more. In addition, some of the studios and shops are constructed so that you can watch the artists at work.
After strolling and shopping through the Pottery Village, if you find yourself in need of a snack or meal, there are 
several restaurants and cafés to choose from. I always enjoy stopping in at Restaurant Goroso ゴローソ for a delicious Italian meal or, in winter, a nice mug of hot chocolate.
Traveling by car:
If you follow Highway 12 west, you will see a sign for the Pottery Village (in English) pointing uphill from the stoplight after the exit to the AEON center. Continue to follow the signs up the hill. Some parking is available on top of Asahigaoka Hill. There is also parking available at the base of the hill outside of the Northern Wild Plants Garden. In this case, you will need to follow the signs for the Northern Wild Plants Garden.
Traveling by bus:
Take Asaden Bus #23/
Hours:
Most shops open by 10:00am and most restaurants by 11:00am
Map:
Stop by a visitors center in Asahikawa and ask for a map of the Arashiyama Togei no Sato （嵐山陶芸の里）. Or, ask in any one of the shops in the Pottery Village itself.
