Asahiyama Zoo is the most northern in Japan and houses a huge number
of animals across a wide range of species. Some of the most popular
exhibits are the polar bear house where it is possible to see the animals
very close up through glass walls (This exhibit is particularly good
at feeding time, but be sure to arrive early!). The penguin pool contains
a 360° see through walk-way running through the middle of the pool.
The seal house has a similar see through area. The large cat house
allows visitors to see the animals close up through glass walls. Monkey
mountain and the orangutan tower are also popular. There is a farm
animal petting area for kids and also a small roller coaster. The zoo
is open all year however many animals may be hibernating or closed
indoors during the winter season. Top
Admission
General ¥580 Summer period
General ¥290 Winter period
Opening Hours
9:30 am to 5:15 pm daily April 28th to October
20th
11 am to 2 pm November 3rd to March 30th
Closed
Winter period : closed Wednesdays and Thursdays
and December 30 to January 5th.
Getting There
-
Phone
-
Asahikawa
Sculpture Museum
Housed inside a beautiful old western-style officers club, known
as Kaikosha, which was built at the end of the Meiji era, this museum
was built to honor a sculpture closely associated with Asahikawa,
Teijiro Nakahara. The museum has various displays from modern sculptors
from both Japan and abroad. Top
Admission
Free
Opening Hours
9 am to 5 pm
Closed
Mondays, New Year holidays.
Getting There
-
Phone
0166-52-0033
Address
1-chome, 1-jo, 4-ku
Banei
Horse Racing ( Asahikawa Horse Race Track)
The Asahikawa Horse Race Track is home to a unique Japan only race,
banei horse racing. Banei or draft horses are huge when compared
to their thoroughbred companions (almost twice the size and weight).
This race involves the horses pulling heavy sleighs ranging in weight
from 500 to 1000 kgs. The course also includes two large mounds the
horses must negotiate. The race was developed from old competitions
between first settlers some 200 years ago. Top
Admission
-
Opening Hours
-
Closed
-
Getting There
-
Phone
0166-75-3100
Address
500 Kamiubun, Kamui-cho, Asahikawa.
Biei
Biei is a small town located south-west of Asahikawa. The town
is mainly famous for it’s beautiful scenery. Surrounded by
slowly rolling hills, the landscape lends itself well to farming
and has been divided up and put to this use. Some areas are used
to produce various types of flowers in the summer months and thus
a large colorful carpet can be seen in the mid summer. While the
winter sees few crops the area is still particularly beautiful and
well worth viewing for some postcard winter Hokkaido shots. Top
Admission
-
Opening Hours
-
Closed
-
Getting There
-
Phone
-
Clark Horse
Garden
For those who like a little adventure or would like to see the
surrounding area of Asahikawa from a different perspective Clark
Horse Garden is the ideal place to start. Located just a few minutes
from the Asahiyama Zoo,
horse rides of different types and lengths are offered. Beginners
are welcomed as are more experienced riders. The horse trekking course
takes visitors into the Sakuraoka Hill area where some beautiful
scenery can be enjoyed. Horse trekking is offered all year round
with summer and winter rides. There is also a coffee shop which serves
various meals and drinks. Top
Located approximately 30 min. drive south / south-west from Asahikawa,
Furano is well known for two main reasons, in winter, skiing and
in summer, flowers. To find-out information about the Furano ski
areas please visit our Winter Sports & Resorts page.
While the winter offers large amounts of fresh snow and good ski
areas the summer offers a colorful patchwork of beautiful flowers
and scenery. There are several farm areas where beautiful flowers
and plants can be viewed however the most famous of these flower
farms is perhaps Tomita Farm. The farm consists of various fields
planted with a variety of flowers in eye pleasing rows. The farm
area is completely free of charge to look at. The farm earns it’s
money by selling a variety of products directly to the consumer.
Lavender is the main flower grown and many lavender products can
be purchased including soap, perfumes and even lavender soda. There
are several restaurant areas and lookouts. The flowers are at their
peak from the end of July to the beginning of August. This area becomes
particularly crowded on the weekend so if driving be aware it may
take longer than usual and it is recommended to park your car before
the farm area and walk as the car parking area often has up to 1
hour waits. Top
Admission
Free
Opening Hours
Best times for flowers are mid / late July to
early / mid August.
Hanabito house, Dried flower house, Potpourri house, Perfume workshop are open
until 4 / 5 pm.
Closed
Some sections closed November to April.
Getting There
-
Phone
-
Heiwa
Dori Shopping Street
Running directly away in a north-east direction from Asahikawa
Station for about 15 blocks, Heiwa Dori Shopping Street is a wide
pedestrian shopping fair, which is home to most of Asahikawa’s
large department stores and brand name shops. The street is almost
always teeming with people even during the harsh winter but is particularly
busy in the summer when markets, fresh fruit and vegetable stalls
and various other novelty shops will come outside to enjoy the summer.
The street is also lined with various sculptures of interest that
have been produced by some of Asahikawa’s well known artists.
This shopping street is also located next to the famous Asahikawa
entertainment area called Sanroku. Top
Admission
-
Opening Hours
Most stores are open 10 am to 9 pm with some
opening earlier and closing earlier. Times may vary in the
winter season.
Closed
-
Getting There
-
Phone
-
Hokkaido
Asahikawa Museum of Art
Located in the south west corner of Tokiwa
Park, the museum has a permanent exhibition of woodwork created
in the Asahikawa area. Other regularly changing exhibitions are
also on display at various times of the year. Exhibitions included
Japanese and foreign art works and various exhibitions of famous
writers from the central Hokkaido region. Top
Admission
General admission is¥100 however prices may
vary for special exhibitions
Opening Hours
10 am to 5 pm daily
Closed
Mondays, new year holidays and periodically for
rearrangement of exhibitions
Getting There
-
Phone
0166-25-2577
Address
In Asahikawa City Tokiwa Park (7 Jo Dori)
International
Dyeing & Weaving Art Museum
Displaying works from more than 80 countries around the world this
museum was the first of it’s kind in Japan. The majority of
exhibits are from the 18th and 19th centuries and include a variety
of famous tapestries and textiles. Examples of such works include
the “Gobelin Tapestry” which was commissioned by Louis
XV as a gift to the French Royal family and red dyed textiles from
the Tang Dynasty in China. Top
Admission
General fee ¥550
Opening Hours
9 am to 5:30 pm daily April to November
Closed
December to March
Getting There
-
Phone
0166-61-6161
Address
3-chome, Minamigaoka, Asahikawa
Sanroku
Entertainment Area
Much like Sapporo’s Susukino entertainment
area, this area is conveniently located next to the main down town
area, less than 5 min. walk in a north-west direction from JR Asahikawa
Station. Covering about 12 blocks and containing more than 1,300
bars, restaurants, clubs and cocktail bars Sanroku is definitely
the center for nightlife in Asahikawa. Restaurants and entertainment
facilities cater to any kind of budget ranging from the cheap to
the extremely expensive. Specialties in this area are the sushi and
crab shops however many other kinds of food can be found. There is
a summer festival held in this area each year which brings out the
Asahikawa residents for fun times and street parties. Top
Admission
-
Opening Hours
-
Closed
-
Getting There
-
Phone
-
Address
6-chome, 3-jyo (And nearby area), Asahikawa
Snow Crystal
Museum
Featuring a covered passageway with natural ice moldings and a
painted dome entitled “Northern Sky” (Kita no Sora) the
museum houses a music hall where various concerts and weddings are
held and an ice cloister. The beauty and mystery of snow and ice
are the themes for all the types of displays and projections throughout
the museum. Top
Admission
Adults ¥650
Opening Hours
9 am to 5:30 pm (5pm February to March)
Closed
December and January, Mondays February and March
Getting There
-
Phone
0166-63-2211
Address
3-chome, Minamigaoka, Asahikawa.
Taisetsu
Crystal Hall
Taisetsu Crystal Hall was built in 1993 and contains three facilities,
a concert hall, a historical museum and an international convention
hall. The theme of the permanent exhibition at the museum is “The
Relationship Between Humans and Nature” . The museum houses
various materials used by humans since the prehistoric ages. It also
contains interesting material on the local area of Asahikawa and
the Ainu people. Top
Admission
Free
Opening Hours
8 am to 5 pm Daily
Closed
2nd and 4th Monday and December 30th to January
4th
Getting There
-
Phone
0166-69-2004
Address
7-chome, Kagura 3-jyo, Asahikawa
Tokiwa
Park (Tokiwa Koen)
This park is located in the midst of the down town area and provides
a lovely place to relax after a hard day sightseeing or shopping.
The park contains poplar trees, elms and Sakhalin firs. There is
a large pond (Chidoriga Pond) in the center where visitors can enjoy
row boating or simply watch the birds. Also contained within the
park is a Youth Science Center, River Amusement Museum Public Hall,
Central Library and the Hokkaido
Asahikawa Museum of Art. Top
Admission
-
Opening Hours
-
Closed
-
Getting There
Walk north up to the end of Heiwa Dori Shopping
Street (away from the station) and turn left. Approximately
15 min walk from the station.
Phone
-
Yukaraori
Folkcraft Museum
Yukaraori fabrics were first created in Asahikawa and have gained
worldwide recognition for their beauty and detail. The fabrics are
woven in traditional styles using traditional patterns and themes.
Many themes of these exquisite fabrics are based on the nature of
Hokkaido itself, such as “Drift Ice” and “Rugosa
Rose”. Several masterpieces that were created over long periods
with painstaking detail are on display along with many other examples. Top
Admission
General ¥450
Opening Hours
9 am to 5:30 pm everyday April to November (5
pm December to March)
Closed
Mondays December to March
Getting There
-
Phone
0166-62-8811
Address
3-chome, Minamigaoka, Asahikawa
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Hotel Address:
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FEATURE ARTIST
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