If you go to Asahikawa for sightseeing, you may encounter other visitors who say, “We came here for the food!”.
Asahikawa is said to be the “kitchen of Hokkaido”, and is known to have all kinds of delicious eats!
We’ve asked Asahikawa locals who love to drink and eat to introduce you to their some of Asahikawa’s best dinner spots!

Definitely recommended for those who like to drink! For a night out in Asahikawa, go to a long-established izakaya!

One of the best places to dine in Asahikawa, recommended by Asahikawa drinkers, is a long-established pub! As Asahikawa is a city of sake, there are many varieties of delicious local sake, and the local sake from the suburbs come to Asahikawa.
As Asahikawa is a city with many delicious local sake, as well as a gathering place of all sorts of  local sake from neighboring suburbs.

The long-established izakaya is the perfect place to enjoy local sake, the food that goes with it, and the local atmosphere.
Asahikawa has a lot of great pubs that have been loved by the locals for a long time.

 

Now the most famous izakaya not only in Asahikawa, but in all of Hokkaido! Sanshiro’s.

The Sanroku (36) area is a famous area with a series of bars located at 3jo 6chome in the center of the city by the river, and is one of the liveliest areas in Asahikawa at night with its dazzling neon lights.

On the outskirts of the Sanroku area is where you will find Sanshiro.
Sanshiro is loved by many drinkers, and in fact has been featured in the media so much that it is no exaggeration to say that it is now the most famous long-established izakaya (Japanese style pub) in Hokkaido.

Founded in 1946, it has the appearance of an old private house, and once you step inside, you can feel a cozy retro vibe reminiscent of the Showa period.

 

The first thing that will surprise you at Sanshiro is the variety of sake! They have a wide range of sake, ranging from local Hokkaido sake to famous sake from all over Japan.

It’s especially nice to be able to drink most of the delicious local sake from the Asahikawa area.
Especially during the winter season, I recommend the “yakikan,” which is made by directly heating a bottle of sake over a fire, to warm your body and soul. Of course, draft beer and cold sake are also great!
Also, Hokkaido’s unique “corn tea” is highly recommended! This tea has the aroma of corn and can be mixed with alcohol or simply drunk as a tea! Both drinkers and non-drinkers will enjoy this local Hokkaido drink.

 

 

 

Quoted：呑んちゃん

The first thing I recommend at Sanshiro is to order the “proprietress’s seasonal tray”!

The menu changes depending on the season, and you will find a variety of seasonal specialties in small bowls, such as boiled vegetables, salads, seasonal sashimi, and new specials.

It is recommended that you order your favorite snacks after trying out these seasonal dishes!
You can enjoy the seasonal ingredients of Hokkaido grilled on the kamado grill, which has been in use since the establishment of the restaurant.

You can try the famous “pork motsu”, “shinko-yaki”, “tamago-yaki”, or the owner’s special pickles made from local vegetables.
The cozy atmosphere, the food, and the drinks make this a great place to experience the charm of Asahikawa, so be sure to visit Sanshiro for yourself!

Asahikawa’s fish cuisine is here! Seasonal Cuisine Izakaya Shibata

If you want to eat the best fish in town during your evening, I highly recommend “Shibata”. This is another long-established izakaya that has long been loved by Asahikawa locals.

The store’s sign says that it is a “sashimi restaurant,” and there is no mistaking that sign! The sashimi is fresh and excellent, and the restaurant serves delicious fish dishes.
The restaurant is extremely popular with gourmet locals and tourists alike, so be sure to make a reservation when you visit.

Quoted：とんちゃん日記

One of the must-try dishes at Shibata is the “Kinki no Nimono (Stewed Kinki)”.
It is a luxurious dish that goes well with any kind of sake. With the braised kinki and the restaurant’s signature sashimi, you can have as many drinks as you like.
Another unexpected item that I would like to recommend is the liver dish.
This restaurant is known for their seafood, but liver is also a specialty of this restaurant.

Quoted：とんちゃん日記

One of the dishes that I would like you to try is the “fried liver. The liver with sweet and spicy sauce has no odor, and even those who are not fond of liver will find it so easy to eat.
If you are not a fan of liver, you will be surprised at how easy it is to eat.
And what’s more, Shibata also offers a special “ara-jiru” (a kind of soup made from fish and vegetables) to finish off the meal.
This soup is so delicious that it could be the main course of the meal, and if you enjoy it at the end of a night of drinking, you can be sure that it will gently soak into your drunken stomach.

Not only can you taste  delicious fish, but you can also enjoy the comfortable and cozy atmosphere of this izakaya.

Enjoy the soul food of Asahikawa citizens, “Shinkoyaki”!

Quoted：呑んちゃん

Among Asahikawa’s nighttime gourmet food is “Shinkoyaki”, the soul food of Asahikawa citizens.

The term “Shinkoyaki” is often used in the suburbs of Asahikawa, so there are many people that might  have never heard of it. Shinkoyaki is a side of a young chicken that is grilled and seasoned, and it is a local gourmet food that every Asahikawa local must know.

It is a proud local delight because of its bold appearance, the fact that it goes well with beer, and the fact that you can enjoy all the different parts of the chicken at once. If you want to enjoy local gourmet food on your trip, you should definitely try “Shinkoyaki”.

There are countless restaurants in Asahikawa that serve “Shinkoyaki”, and the seasoning and cooking methods vary.

If you’re not sure where you can find it, check out the website of the Asahikawa Shinkoyaki Association, where you can learn more about the history of Shinkoyaki, how to enjoy it, and the restaurants that serve it.

I cannot decide what to eat! If you can’t decide what to eat, just go to the restaurant district “Furarito” or “Paris Street”.

“I can’t decide what to eat!” “I want to enjoy all of Asahikawa’s nightlife!” If you want to enjoy Asahikawa’s nightlife in one go, this is the place to go.

The restaurant alley “Furarito” and the bar alley “Paris Street” are the best places to visit.
“Furarito” and “Paris Street” are not names of stores, but names of streets. These two streets are beloved by the locals for their many bars and restaurants, and are famous as Asahikawa’s foody neighborhoods.
For more information on “Furarito”, please click here for more information on sightseeing spots.

Both streets are lined with many charming stores in a modern atmosphere once you step inside.

Shinshiyaki, sushi, oden, jingisukan, ramen… there is a great variety of restaurants to choose from.
If you go to all of the restaurants in each alley, you will be able to enjoy all of Asahikawa’s nighttime delicacies in one night.

Asahikawa night gourmet’s standard keyword is “Sime -something”.

After all that drinking, there’s nothing like topping your evening with some late-night munchies!
After a night of drinking, it’s a standard practice to end the night with something more delicious, and Asahikawa is perfect for their wide variety of “Shime” (meaning “End of the night”) menus.
To conclude this column, I’d like to introduce some of the restaurants that I recommend for late-night finishers in Asahikawa.

Standard and stable! Shime-ramen” at the famous Asahikawa Ramen

Ramen is one of the most popular meals in Hokkaido.
Asahikawa is one of the best ramen towns in Hokkaido, along with Sapporo and Hakodate so of course, there are many ramen stores where you can have your ramen for your “Shime” meal.

One of the best is “Asahikawa Ramen Kasui”, located in the city center.
They serve a unique combination of wavy noodles with a rich seafood and pork broth, where it seems like it would be heavy yet somehow is light and warm on your stomach, making it the perfect ending to your night.
The tender pork chashu (pork belly) and the thin, coarse Hokkaido noodles make this one of the best ramen in Asahikawa.

Quoted：旭川らーめん かすい

Another place I’d like to introduce is “Ramen Kato-ya”. At this restaurant, you can enjoy a local Asahikawa dish called “Horumen (hormone ramen)”, a ramen topped with fried tripe and vegetables. 

For those who think that tripe may be little too heavy on your stomach, I recommend the “Spicy Uma Ramen” and “Back Fat Ramen” as well.

Quoted：旭川しょうゆホルメン

Asahikawa is a ramen battleground, so near just about any bar, you will find a ramen shop.
In addition to these two stores, there are so many other great restaurants that stay open until late at night.
Ramen is the best choice for a late-night munchy to finish your night out in Asahikawa!

If  ramen is too heavy, try this! “Sime Soba.

Quoted：食の道場 とらの穴

“Ramen is too heavy, but I still want to eat noodles.” For those noodle lovers looking for a Ramen alternative for their “Shime”, I recommend Soba Yukiya, another local delicacy.

This is a trendy restaurant where you can enjoy soba noodles until late at night.
The light soba noodles made with local Kamikawa buckwheat flour.
You can also enjoy the unusual “Soba Sashimi”, which are fresh raw soba noodles!

It is said that people come here to end their night with “Shime”, but end up continuing drinks so they can pair it with their noodles.

Summary

Were you able to get a glimpse of Asahikawa late-night? As the “kitchen of Hokkaido,” all of Hokkaido’s specialties come together in Asahikawa.
Restaurants use delicious local ingredients because this town believes in “local production for local consumption”.

Please enjoy such a night gourmet in Asahikawa!

If you’ve come to Asahikawa and are looking for something to do, please check out the activities available in the Furano area near Asahikawa and Asahikawa!

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