JP · Hokkaido · 43.77°N 142.37°E

asahikawa

Shoyu ramen, the winter penguin walk at Asahiyama Zoo and an easy base for Biei.

Best time
December to March for snow and the zoo's penguin walk, but it gets properly cold, often below −10°C at night. July and August are mild, with the flower fields nearby at their best.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to New Chitose Airport near Sapporo, usually via Tokyo or another hub. From Sapporo, the limited express train takes about 1.5 hours. Asahikawa also has its own airport with domestic flights from Tokyo.
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JP · Hokkaidoasahikawa43.77°N 142.37°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Shoyu ramen, the winter penguin walk at Asahiyama Zoo and an easy base for Biei.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingAsahikawaJP, Hokkaido
KLasahikawa
≈ 6,029 km from KL, as the crow flies
Asahi Bridge20220211

Photo: Nryate · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Hokkaido's second-biggest city sits in the middle of the island, about an hour and a half north of Sapporo by train. It's known for its shoyu ramen and Asahiyama Zoo, and it makes an easy base for the fields of Biei and Furano and the mountains of Daisetsuzan.

Makan

  1. Asahikawa ramenShoyu ramen with a 'double soup' of pork and seafood broth, often with a layer of oil on top to keep it hot in the cold.Map ↗
  2. Shio horumonSalted pork offal grilled at the table, a local favourite with beer.Map ↗
  3. Local sakeAsahikawa has a long brewing history, using snowmelt water from the Daisetsuzan mountains.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Asahiyama ZooKnown for enclosures that let you watch animals up close, like the penguins swimming overhead in a glass tunnel. In winter the penguins go for a daily walk through the snow.Map ↗
  2. Asahikawa Ramen VillageA cluster of the city's well-known ramen shops in one spot, handy for trying a few bowls.Map ↗
  3. BieiRolling patchwork fields and the Blue Pond, about an hour's drive south.Map ↗
  4. AsahidakeHokkaido's highest peak, with a ropeway up to steaming vents and alpine walks. Autumn colours arrive here earlier than anywhere else in Japan, around September.Map ↗
  5. Asahikawa Winter FestivalBig snow sculptures in early February, around the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Pavements are icy in winter. Wear shoes with good grip.
  • Malaysians drive on the left too, but you need an International Driving Permit from JPJ to rent a car in Japan. A car makes Biei and Furano much easier in summer.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.