Asahikawa Trip Overview
This value-packed trip with a nationally-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Asahikawa!
Asahikawa is a large city in Hokkaido and great for travel. Surrounded the Taisetsuzan mountains, the area is blessed with powder snow in the winter and stunning scenery year-round, making it an ideal spot to visit. This is a great place in Japan to get out of doors and explore the city on foot, and if you are in town in the summer months then you can expect warmer temperatures and a riot of color when the cherry blossom blooms in the spring.
Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that’s best for you!
Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.
Note*2: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 hours
Starts: Asahikawa, Japan
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Asahikawa Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
This value-packed trip with a nationally-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Asahikawa!
Asahikawa is a large city in Hokkaido and great for travel. Surrounded the Taisetsuzan mountains, the area is blessed with powder snow in the winter and stunning scenery year-round, making it an ideal spot to visit. This is a great place in Japan to get out of doors and explore the city on foot, and if you are in town in the summer months then you can expect warmer temperatures and a riot of color when the cherry blossom blooms in the spring.
Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that’s best for you!
Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.
Note*2: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Stop At: Asahiyama Zoo, Higashi Asahikawacho Kuranuma, Asahikawa 078-8205 Hokkaido
Asahikawa Zoo is popular for its exhibition style called “action exhibition” where animals roam around in open areas, allowing visitors to see the more natural status of the animals. A variety of animals live here including both sea and land animals such as, giraffes, lions, polar bears, and penguins.
This is a fun-packed place. Visitors can observe the animals from various angles in their unique enclosure. Penguins and seals swim freely through underwater tunnels; polar bears splash into the water; lesser pandas walk on a suspension bridge 3.5m above ground; and orangutans climb up a 17m tower.
Visitors can see animals being fed throughout the day. Don’t forget to check the feeding time beforehand! This is a must see when visiting Asahikawa.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Snow Crystal Museum, 3-1-1 Minamigaoka, Asahikawa 070-8028 Hokkaido
The snowy landscape in Hokkaido is truly spectacular. This museum allows visitors to get a true experience of the beautiful Hokkaido winter throughout the year. The museum takes you 18m underground down a hexagonal spiral staircase resembling snowflakes.
The first highlight is the “ice corridor”. Across the glass on both sides of the 60 meter aisle is the world at -15℃, with an ice pillar on display. The main section of the museum is the Snow Crystal Room – a display of 200 photos of snowflakes creates stained glass like windows surrounding the room.
You can dress up as princess and have your photo taken as if you are Anna and Elsa from Frozen! Look for snow crystal motifs throughout the museum while you walk around.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ueno Farm, 16-186-2 Nagayamacho, Asahikawa 079-8431 Hokkaido
In 1989, Ueno farm started a small business selling rice. The owner started planting flowers like lupine and chamomile on the side of the paddy field.
The landscape has further developed to become what is known as ‘Mother’s garden’. You will find flowers and plants that can only be found in Hokkaido due to its climate and landscape.
More than 900 species have been planted here. This large garden is a beautiful place to take a walk. After that, enjoy drinks and snacks at the cafe in the remodeled barn that dates back more than 65 years. The cafe serves produce local to Hokkaido!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Mt. Asahidake, Yukomambetsu, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun 071-1472 Hokkaido
Asahidake is the highest mountain within the Daisetsuzan National Park and peaks at 2291m (7516ft). The 10 minute cable car ride starts at 1100m (3600ft) and transports you to Sugatami Station at a lofty 1600m (5250ft) elevation.
There is an astonishing diversity of alpine flora at the peak of the mountain in the summer, with over 360 species of flowers blooming. These flowers begin to bloom mid-June despite snow still remaining at the top of the mountain.
A wide range of wild animals and birds call this home including, brown bears, Kita foxes, Ezoshima squirrels, black woodpeckers, owls, and white-tailed eagles. October is the best time to visit for spectacular foliage.
If you are there a little earlier, you can still catch the foliage at the top of the mountain. At the beginning of September, leaves start to turn red in the area around Sugatami Station, lasting until middle of the month. Highly recommended!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Asahidake Ropeway, Asahidake Onsen, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun 071-1472 Hokkaido
Asahidake is the highest mountain within the Daisetsuzan National Park and peaks at 2291m (7516ft). The 10 minute cable car ride starts at 1100m (3600ft) and transports you to Sugatami Station at a lofty 1600m (5250ft) elevation.
There is an astonishing diversity of alpine flora at the peak of the mountain in the summer, with over 360 species of flowers blooming. These flowers begin to bloom mid-June despite snow still remaining at the top of the mountain.
A wide range of wild animals and birds call this home including, brown bears, Kita foxes, Ezoshima squirrels, black woodpeckers, owls, and white-tailed eagles. October is the best time to visit for spectacular foliage.
If you are there a little earlier, you can still catch the foliage at the top of the mountain. At the beginning of September, leaves start to turn red in the area around Sugatami Station, lasting until middle of the month. Highly recommended!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Asahikawa Kitasaito Garden, 1 Miyamae 2 Jo, Asahikawa 078-8392 Hokkaido
This large garden is directly connected to JR Asahikawa Station. The garden spans across 12 hectares, right in the middle of the city. 80000 plants from over 300 native species have been planted in the garden.
Alongside the riverbed promenade of Chubetsu River, there is a section called “River Border Flower Bed” where lies the 6500 plants of grassland made of 50 different species. Kawaranadeshiko and Ezomisohagi are especially magnificent.
It’s designed based on the local dye craft called Yuukara Ori. This can be viewed in the period from May to September.
There are many other places of interest such as “Suigen Meadow” in which the hagi is in full bloom in May. Katakita’s path is the walking path with eleven kinds of mukugets which can be enjoyed from late summer to autumn.
This is all accessible free of charge! If you have spare time at JR Asahikawa, this is definitely a spot you want to check out.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sounkyo Onsen, Kamikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun 078-1700 Hokkaido
Sounkyo Onsen is a popular hot spring spot with its convenient location close to the major tourist bases around Asahikawa. The Ice Water Festival is held between January 25th to March 20th.
About 30 large and small ice statues line up in the field of the riverbed at the Ishikari River that spans 10,000 m2. The shrine, the observation deck, and the slide made of ice are lit up with seven colors of light at night. Daily fireworks displays are held until March 5th.
At the festival, local drinks like sake from Takasago Distillery (mentioned above) are available at the ice bar. Icefall shrine fortune tellers and ice slides are also available.
If you are staying at Sounkyogyu Onsen, there are shuttle buses available from Asahikawa Airport and Sapporo Station. Bundle up and head out, day or night, for fun at the festival!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Asahikawa Ramen Village, 11-4 Nagayama, Asahikawa 079-8421 Hokkaido
Even though ramen is trending all over the world now, little is known about Hokkaido style ramen. In Hokkaido, there are three styles from different regions: Sapporo miso style, Hakodate salty style, and Asahikawa soy sauce style.
Asahikawa style is made by blending pork based stock and fish based stock, finished by soy sauce to give flavor.
They usually have a thick layer of oil floating over the stock in the bowl; this keeps the broth from cooling down in the cold Hokkaido winter. You can sample a variety of ramen styles from different shops in Asahikawa at this village.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Otokoyama Sakezukuri Museum, 7-1 Nagayama2jyo, Asahikawa 079-8412 Hokkaido
Taisetsuzan is one of the hundred most celebrated mountains in Japan. The beverage Otokoyama is brewed using the underground water from this mountain, and the harsh, frigid climate of Asahikawa is perfect for Japanese sake brewing. Otokoyama has a clear, dry taste, and is light on the tongue.
Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum displays materials about the history of Otokoyama and Japanese sake brewing culture. Rare documents from the Edo Period and sake drinking sets are also on display.
The third floor displays various tools for sake brewing, such as a huge barrel. A multilingual (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and Thai) video introducing the brewing process and the history of Otokoyama can also be viewed on this floor.
Visitors can do tastings of Otokoyama on the first floor. The museum shop offers seasonal sake, as well as numerous products that can only be purchased at the museum.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Asahikawa Heiwa Street Shopping Park, Asahikawa 070-8507 Hokkaido
Asahikawa Heiwadori Retail Park, established in 1972, features the first pedestrianized road in Japan. The park has been a city fixture for a long time, with a wide variety of restaurants and stores carrying everyday times. The park stretches for one kilometer starting at JR Asahikawa Station.
If you are looking for souvenirs, visit the Machinaka Koryukan Shop (Japanese). The store handles goods featuring Asahikawa characters, processed goods, and handicrafts, so it is entertaining just looking at the merchandise.
Benkei, famous for its lamb shabu-shabu (Japanese hot-pot dish), is another popular spot. This is different from a mutton barbecue, as the lamb is well-seasoned and soft.
The park draws many visitors as the site of various events, such as the Snow Sculpture Contest in February (held along with the Asahikawa Winter Festival), the Asahikawa Summer Festival in August, and the Asahikawa Food Market in September.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Arashiyama Baihodo, 2-13-8 Asahigaoka, Asahikawa 070-0822 Hokkaido
The Arashiyama of the North is a nickname for Asahikawa’s Asahioka area, so-called because the atmosphere of this lovely place resembles that of Kyoto’s famous Arashiyama.
For example, the natural park Arashiyama Park is a wonderful spot to soak in the great outdoors and refresh yourself, with hiking trails and more.
Not only that, but the Arashiyama of the North is famous for the large number of craftspeople who make this area their home. The region is dotted with workshops for pottery, glass, and dyeing… not to mention charming cafés!
Duration: 1 hour
