Asahikawa (旭川) is the second-largest city on the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan. It is located at the confluence of four rivers and is surrounded by hills. It is near the centre of Hokkaido, and is a good base for visiting the nearby Daisetsuzan mountain range and the picturesque Biei-Furano area. The place has few foreign visitors, though Asahiyama Zoo attracts many Japanese tourists.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
With 130 rivers and streams, and over 740 bridges in the city, Asahikawa is a pleasant city to walk or cycle around, especially during the warm season. It is a middle-sized city with a rural feel and direct access to the mountain and outdoor areas. 1 Tourist Information Center, 8 Chome-3-1 Miyashitadōri (in Asahikawa Station), ☏ +61-166-24-2552. This center is a good place for information on transit and lodging. You can also buy local merchandise. 2 Higashikawa Information Center (東川町インフォメーションセンター 道草館), Higashimachi 1-1-15, Higashikawa, Kamikawa (on Highway 1150, a few kilometres SE of central Asahikawa), ☏ +81 166 68-4777.
The city has an extensive bus network. All attractions are easily reached by bus from the main train station. Sightseeing Bus Fan Fan, ☏ +81 166-23-4161. July 1-September 30. This bus service covers three circuits in a hop-on hop-off style and takes you to the main attractions, including the zoo. The buses have an hourly frequency. 1 day ¥800, 2 days ¥1000. Most of the sites are easily accessible by foot from the main train station, though others like the zoo, Otokoyama brewery, and the ski resorts need a bus or taxi. Most of the town is in flat land and cycling is easy in summer. Cycling is allowed in the pedestrian lane of all streets, and some streets have special bicycle lanes.
1 Hokkaido Traditional Art Craft Village (北海道伝統美術工芸村 hokkaidō dentō bijutsukōgei mura). Asahikawa Furniture Center. Romantic Road (Tree tunnel and Churches) (ロマンティック街道 romantikku kaidō), Kaguraoka Park~ Midorigaoka. The road that leads from Kaguraoka forest to the residential area of Midorigaoka is known as the “romantic road”, because of the trees that line both sides of the street, and the two wedding chapels close by. In the summer time, the trees on either side of the road create a tunnel of green over the entire road.
Asahikawa is the coldest city in Japan, holding Japan's temperature record of -41°C (in 1902). It's not that bad most of the time though, and the good side to cold and snow is that there's some great skiing nearby. Kamui Ski Links (カムイスキーリンクス) (just west of town). The local favorite. (updated Dec 2015) You can also do cross-country skiing in some of its parks, including the Tomizawa skiing course at Kamui no Mori Park. Biei and Furano are each about one hour away. Back-country options include Asahidake and Kurodake. If you come in summer you will enjoy fine weather with maximum temperatures sometimes exceeding 30 °C.
Asahikawa is known as one of Japan's gourmet towns, and despite its small size, contains many restaurants of nearly every description. Many restaurants are clustered in the Kaimono Koen (Shopping District Park) area, in front of the JR station. This makes touring a number of restaurants on foot a viable option for a day trip. Asahikawa's ramen noodles are nationally famous, with shoyu (soy sauce) being the flavor of choice. There are also a large number of ethnic restaurants. Hokkaido is generally known for having good dairy products, and Asahikawa is no exception. 1 Ramen Village (旭川ラーメン村) (about 6km NE of the town center.).
Asahikawa is famous for its sake, especially Otokoyama (男山, lit. "man mountain"), which is probably Hokkaido's best-known label. Other local sakes include Takasago (高砂) and Taisetsu no Kura (大雪の蔵). Beer fans will wish to look for the local Taisetsu microbrew. 1 Taisetsu Brewery (大雪地ビール taisetsu ji-bīru), 11-1604-1 Miyashitadori (near the train station, past the Kitasaito Hospital), ☏ +81 166 25-040. Set in an old brick warehouse near the railway station, this beer pub offers its own brewed beer in a western setting. Worth a visit only for beer lovers.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Aug, Asahikawa typically sees ~26°C daytime highs and 21 rainy days.
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