Things To Do in Winter Asahikawa

Hokkaido has a number of nationally famous tourist destinations, such as Sapporo, Hakodate, Furano, and Otaru.
Because of that, Asahikawa never received much attention as a tourist destination despite being the second-largest city in Hokkaido. 

However, ever since Asahiyama Zoo became the new popular spot, Asahikawa joined the list of popular tourist destinations in Hokkaido.
Aside from the Asahiyama Zoo, visitors may ask, “What else is there to do in Asahikawa? Where can I find great food and activities?” 

To answer all those questions, let’s dive deep into the winter wonderland of Asahikawa!

Coldest City in Japan!? Experience the Asahikawa Winter

Asahikawa is located in the central part of Hokkaido, surrounded by the Daisetsuzan mountain range, and has an inland climate which makes it hot in summer and cold in winter.
The temperature usually ranges from 30°C (86°F) in summer and -10°C (14°F) in winter. It also recorded the coldest temperature in Japan, -41°C (-41.8°F).

Over the past 10 years, Asahikawa’s temperatures are among the lowest when compared to other cities in Hokkaido.
The snowfall amount is not noticeably high, but the low temperatures keep the snow and create the beautiful snowy scenery in winter.
Asahikawa is not only known as a resort but also offers many fun winter activities.

 

Activities in Winter Asahikawa

Ski and Snowboard at Kamui Ski Links

The first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of winter activities in Hokkaido is ski and snowboard!
Many visitors travel to Hokkaido just for these activities.
For those who love winter activities and are staying in Asahikawa, we recommend Kamui Ski Links, which is only a 30-minute drive from Asahikawa Station and a little over an hour by bus from Asahikawa Airport.
Because of its convenient access, you can make a plan to go directly to the ski resort as soon as you arrive in Asahikawa.

Kamui Ski Links, the most popular ski resort in Asahikawa is known for easy accessibility and the abundance of slopes for all levels of participants.
There are 25 courses, ranging from a kids sled course, forest course with poles for beginners, a wide course for practicing snowboard, and an unpaved course for the advanced.
The “gold course” is their signature course where participants can experience the vast nature of Hokkaido.

A must experience at the Kamui Ski Links is the quality of the snow.
Power snow quality is loved by skiers worldwide and is usually available on advanced courses. 
Despite Asahikawa’s location in central Hokkaido, the Sea of Japan can be observed from the top of the mountain at the Kamui Ski Links.

Quoted：カムイスキーリンクス

These breathtaking views are available due to clean and unpolluted air. Only in Hokkaido is where you can ski and enjoy the view of the ocean. 
The most famous place to ski in Hokkaido may be Niseko, but Kamui Ski Links is loved and recommended by the locals.

Basho Trip offers a flat-rate plan that offers rides between the hotel and Kamui Ski Links.
This plan can be flexible depending on the number of passengers and gears to be loaded.
It also offers rides to other ski resorts in the suburbs of Asahikawa.

Let’s Enjoy Wakasagi (smelt) Fishing

The second activity we recommend is wakasagi fishing on a frozen lake.
Fishing can be enjoyed year-round, but it is most fun in the winter where you get to drill holes on ice to fish!
If you’re staying near Asahikawa, Lake Kanayama in Minami Furano is a recommended spot.
It’s about a 2-hour drive from Asahikawa. 

At Lake Kanayama, the entire lake freezes in January through February, making it ideal for wakasagi fishing.
“Shibareru” means “extreme, severe cold” in the Hokkaido dialect and every time you breathe in the air, the cold air passes through your nose into your body for a “shibareru” sensation!

Wakasagi you catch can be cooked on the spot!
The water quality of Lake Kanayama is top-notch, making the fish just as fresh. Eating a freshly caught, fried wakasagi under the winter sky is one of a kind experience! 

Wakasagi fishing caters to a wide range of needs, including beginners who have ever fished, a family with young children, or a party of large gatherings.
The fishing rod is simple and light, making it easy for everyone including children to enjoy.
Our wakasagi fishing plan is accompanied by experienced guides for maximum support and joy.

The Asahikawa International Ice Sculpture Competition

One of the main winter activities in Asahikawa is the “The Asahikawa International Ice Sculpture Competition,” held in Heiwadori Shopping Park in early February in conjunction with Asahikawa Winter Festival.

Quoted：旭川市役所 2018氷彫刻世界大会

Around 70 ice sculpture professionals from Hokkaido to Okinawa participate in this competition and roughly 1 million people from the world come to visit this festival.
These professionals will spend 40 hours carving out some fine detailed sophisticated sculptures from a slab of ice.
The sculptures are illuminated at night for a beautiful display, making this festival a must-visit spot in winter Asahikawa. 

This annual event is growing and attracting more people every year.

Horseback Ride in Winter

Many people may think of horseback riding as a spring or summer activity, but in Asahikawa, it is an activity available even in winter.

Did you know that horseback riding is becoming a popular activity in recent years?
It is often associated with “horse therapy,” where not only has therapeutic benefits but also trains your core muscles.
For these reasons, the demand for horseback riding has increased and many parents have their children experience it as well. 

It is a beginner-friendly activity and is located within a short driving distance from Asahikawa Airport and Asahikawa Station.

Local Favorite Asahikawa Food

Hokkaido is also known for its exquisite cuisine that uses local natural ingredients.
Asahikawa is famous as the gourmet city within Hokkaido and due to its geographical location, various kinds of meat, vegetables, and even seafood are all available.

Asahikawa Ramen Village

One of the most popular Hokkaido food is ramen. Asahikawa is among the top ramen desitnations along with Sapporo and Hakodate.
There are flavor-specific restaurants such as miso, shio (salt), and shoyu (soy sauce) so the joy of ramen is endless.

Quoted：旭川観光コンベンション協会

The Asahikawa ramen is renowned for its yellow-colored noodles. Asahikawa Seimen, Fujiwara Seimen, and Kato Seimen are some of the long-established noodle factories.
Many restaurants have a specific type of noodles they use and some make their own in-house noodles. 

While every ramen spots in Asahikawa taste great, the first place we recommend is the nationally famous “Santouka.”

Quoted：山頭火

“Aoba”a top-ranking ramen restaurant.

Quoted：OFFICE SOME

“Baikouken” a rich flavor with refreshing after taste has locations in Tokyo.

Quoted：きょうも食べてみました。

“Asahikawa Ramen Village” is where you can access the 8 of most well-known ramen shops including the ones above!

Quoted：旭川観光コンベンション協会

It is conveniently located about 30 minutes by car from Asahikawa Airport, 20 minutes from Asahikawa Station, and 15 minutes from the zoo, making it relatively easy to access from anywhere.
The Asahikawa Ramen Village has 8 stores in one spot for you to find your favorite bowl of ramen depending on your mood of the day.
You can’t miss out on enjoying ramen, a staple of Hokkaido’s gourmet cuisine.

Please be sure to check out our articles where we actually visit the stores and review the delicious ramen shops.

Asahikawa’s Favorite – “Daikokuya” Jingisukan

JIngisukan is a lamb bbq popular all year, but it peaks in winter.
Jingusukan along with ramen is a staple of the Hokkaido gourmet and gaining more popularity than ever for its healthiness. 

It is rich in protein, iron, and zinc which helps warm the body from inside and the vegetables such as carrots, leeks, and onions that you eat with the meat also have similar health benefits.
In Asahikawa, “Daikokuya” is the number one jinguskan restaurant loved by the locals.

 

Quoted：ushigyu.net

Established in 2002, this restaurant has been featured in in-flight magazines and their most popular dish is the “fresh lamb jingisukan.”

The jingisukan served at Daikokuya are served in large pieces to cook over charcoal. The meat is fresh and tender, great for first-timers!

Accompany the meat with locally grown vegetables along with the in-house sauce for the perfect taste.
The restaurant is located in central Asahikawa, very close to Asahikawa Station making it assessable for visitors.
The recently renovated restaurant has a large occupancy, but reservations are recommended.

Takasago Sake Brewery

How about a fine sake on a cold night in Asahikawa?
Asahikawa is home to mane sake breweries due to its abundance of high-quality water from the Daisetsuzan mountain range and rice production.
If we had to pick one bottle for recommendations, it would be the “Kokushi Musou” from the Takasago Sake Brewery.

Quoted：Goodday北海道

Kokushi Musou is usually a crisp, dry sake to be enjoyed cold, but we also have a selection of sakes recommended for lukewarm and hot sake in winter.

Takasago Sake Brewery offers tours of its factory by appointment, and tasting is also available. Sake will surely warm up your cold body.
In addition to the “Kokushi Musou” available only in Hokkaido, you can also buy “nigori” sake, which is seasonal and limited in quantity.
Other souvenirs such as amazake (sweet sake) and sake kasu (sake lees) are also available for purchase for those who do not normally drink sake.

What to Wear in Winter Asahikawa

Did we make you want to plan a trip to Asahikawa?
Let’s just go over the proper clothing to wear as it does get cold, especially in December when it snows almost every day.
Be sure to wear all the winter gear you can think of, including down jackets, hats, gloves, and earmuffs! It also gets cold from the feet up, so it is recommended to wear boots or boots with non-slip shoes, especially if you are not used to wearing them.

The temperature usually drops to -10°C (14°F) so always be careful when walking and never have hands inside your pockets.
The indoor temperature is hot and may cause you to sweat, so bringing an extra inner layer of clothing may be good.

Winter Asahikawa Activity and Food Summary

Asahikawa offers much more than hthe Asahiyama Zoo.
For first-time visitors, simply experiencing the extreme cold will surely be an unforgettable experience.
We hope you enjoy your trip to Asahikawa in winter!

For Hokkaido activity experiences visit Basho Trip