Which Asahikawa
will you meet today?

Ramen · City center

Closed Mon

Established in 1978. Personally, the first place I visit when going to Asahikawa is the main branch of 味特 本店 (AZITOKU). THE Asahikawa ramen. The soy sauce broth with a mellow pork bone flavor is irresistible. Miso is also popular among locals. It is cherished as a finishing bowl of ramen (shime). The owner welcomes you with a kindly smile. Although it is a long-established shop, the interior is very clean after renovations, making it easy for women to enter as well. There are more locals than tourists.

Ramen · Toyooka

Closed Mon

AZITOKU Toyooka (味特 豊岡店) is located between the airport and the city. While the main branch opens at 17:00, this location opens from lunchtime, so I often eat here on days when I arrive in Asahikawa without having lunch. It takes about 20 minutes by car from Asahikawa Airport. The restaurant is spacious and easy to enter. I always order the shoyu ramen.

Ramen · City center

Closed Wed

Founded in 1947. The receptionist welcomes you warmly. The seafood flavor is stronger than the soy sauce ramen at other shops. Although it is a long-established restaurant, it moved to a new building, so the interior is very clean.

Ramen · Kaimono Park street

No regular closing day

Founded in 1969. Well-balanced Asahikawa Ramen. It has also been featured in the Michelin Guide Hokkaido.

Ramen · City center

Closed Thu

Founded in 1947. Love it or hate it. But once you love it, you can't stop. Jet-black soy sauce ramen with a strong seafood flavor. The interior has a diner-like atmosphere. It originally started as an ice cream shop.

Ramen · Toko

Closed Thu

Originally from Ramen Kura. Salt and miso ramen are popular.

Ramen · Sanroku (bar district)

Irregular holidays

A ramen restaurant with a wide variety of options. I had horumon ramen (offal ramen) here for the first time. If you order, go for the spicy miso horumon ramen.

Ramen · Toyooka

Closed Fri

Founded in 1996. The place to go for morning ramen (asa-rāmen). Open from 9:00. Famous for its green onion ramen (negi rāmen), it serves salt, soy sauce, and miso broths, with nearly 20 menu items. Personally, I recommend the green onion offal ramen (negi horu rāmen).

Ramen · City center

Closed Mon

Founded in 2006. Opened by someone who trained at Santouka. With a rich menu, you can even buy Chinese steamed buns. The bright interior gives it a different atmosphere from other long-established Asahikawa Ramen shops. Next door, there is also a cafe operated by the same shop. The shop states that "there are no recommendations," so the style is to order whatever you like.

Ramen · City center

Established in 1967. A one-of-a-kind soy sauce ramen with the aroma of ginger. The signature menu is ginger ramen. It has a slightly different flavor from "THE Asahikawa Ramen" such as Ajitoku, Baikoken, and Tenkin. Therefore, it is highly recommended for the second day or later of your Asahikawa trip.

Ramen · City center

Irregular holidays

Founded in 1999. When it comes to finishing the night with ramen in Asahikawa, this is the place. The moment you step into the restaurant, everyone orders the same thing: "Medium spicy, please." Asahikawa ramen is typically all about soy sauce, but here everyone orders the medium-spicy miso. A special miso sauce kneaded with peanuts. The Peko-chan candy you get when leaving the restaurant brings a little joy.

Ramen · City center

Irregular holidays

Founded in 1952. A bowl that has long been eaten in Asahikawa. Standard Asahikawa ramen. The characteristic curly noodles were adopted precisely because Asahikawa is cold. The soup clings to the noodles, warming your body all at once. Covering the surface with a lard oil film to keep it from cooling down is also unique to Asahikawa. Order the shoyu (soy sauce). If you like it, try the chashumen.

Izakaya · City center

Closed Wed

Just by coming here, you can enjoy Asahikawa's ingredients thoroughly, not to mention horumon and zangi. Recommended for those who want to drop in casually and feel the vibe of Asahikawa.

Izakaya · Sanroku (bar district)

Closed Sun

A restaurant facing a narrow alley. Even if it's your first time, the interior is so relaxing you won't feel like a newcomer. Yet, there are few tourists. The landlady is friendly, making it comfortable even for solo diners. They grill over charcoal right in front of you. The monkfish liver namero is exquisite. The oden kurumabuta-fu is too.

Bar · Kaimono Park street

Irregular holidays

This is the place to go for whisky. Opened by someone who worked at the Conrad. Located deep in Kaimono-dori Shopping Park (Kaimono-koen), in a quiet area away from the 3-jo 6-chome district (3-6-gai). The interior has a calm atmosphere, and the owner is friendly while maintaining a comfortable distance. Customers are mainly locals, and in winter, foreign ski tourists also visit. If you order, definitely go for whisky. If whisky isn't your strong suit, try a fruit cocktail.

Bar · City center

Closed Sun

The owner is warm and cool. You can visit alone, as a couple, as a married couple, with male or female friends, or in a large group. You can play darts. Recommended as a second stop for drinks. All-you-can-drink plans are also available.

Bar · City center

Closed Sun

The food quality is so high you wouldn't expect it from a bar. With plenty of seats, even large groups can visit with peace of mind. There is a wide variety of ramen, and the quality is high. All-you-can-drink options are also available.

Bar · City center

Closed Mon

A shisha (waterpipe) lounge located in the basement in the downtown area. A moderately sized and relaxing atmosphere. A place to take a breather after a night out. Shisha is ordered per device with no cover charge, and there is a one-drink minimum (based on web info).

Snack bar (hostess-run lounge) · Sanroku (bar district)

Closed Sun

A snack bar located in Sanroku-gai. With clear pricing and a warm welcome for first-timers, it's easy to enter. Recommended for trips with male friends.

Sushi · City center

Closed Mon

A restaurant that is hard to find in Tokyo. It features such high-quality ingredients, yet has an unbelievable variety of menu items. On top of that, the prices are reasonable. This quality at this price is unique to Asahikawa.

Sushi · City center

Closed Sun

When you want to eat sushi at lunch. Lunch is a course meal where you can choose between nigiri or chirashi. It faces a passage inside a building, so you can enter without getting wet even on snowy days. The reviewer always orders nigiri.

Offal & yakiniku · City center

Closed Mon

Anyway, it's cheap and delicious. Prices feel like half of Tokyo's. It's a smoky, traditional long-established restaurant, and your clothes will smell.

Jingisukan (lamb BBQ) · City center

No regular closing day

A well-known restaurant that needs no introduction. If you come to Asahikawa, start here. There is smoke, but the smell doesn't cling to your clothes as much as at Sumiya or Ginneko. The interior is bright, making it easy for first-timers to Jingisukan or couples to enter. If you're ordering, raw lamb (Nama-ramu) is the only choice to start.

Shinko-yaki (grilled chicken) · City center

Closed Mon

A restaurant where you can eat Asahikawa's specialty, Shinkoyaki. It is a bit far from the center, but it is along the route from Art Hotel or Dormy Inn Asahikawa toward the downtown area, so it is easy to fit into your itinerary if you are staying there. It is a smoky-style place. An ideal restaurant for a trip with guys. First, order the Shinkoyaki.

Cafe · City center

Closed Sun

The moment you open the door, there is a wonderful aroma of coffee. Classical music plays softly, creating a comfortable atmosphere. When you want to relax while enjoying authentic coffee, this is the place. Founded in 1939. It opens at 10:00 AM, so it can also be used for morning coffee. A cheesecake set is available.

Cafe · Higashikawa

A shop standing quietly amidst expanding paddy field scenery. The sugar butter crepe has a crispy dough, offering a sensation you cannot taste anywhere else. In summer, enjoy it on an outside bench with coffee while gazing at the scenery. You can leisurely drink coffee while looking at the paddy field scenery.

Cafe · Asahikawa outskirts

Closed Wed, Thu

A restaurant with delicious cheese. Since it is located away from the city, there are few tourists. The owner runs it alone, so you should visit with plenty of time. Popular with women. You can spend a relaxing time in a quiet place away from the city. If you order something, get the gratin.

Cafe · City center

A place to have a parfait or soft-serve ice cream as a shime (final dish). Opened by an independent chef from Art Hotel. Finishing with ramen is the classic Asahikawa style, but come here on nights when you want to end with something sweet. The operator finishes with soft-serve ice cream and hot coffee.

Cafe · Toyooka

Closed Mon

After eating at Ajitoku Toyooka branch, come here. 1-minute drive. With prices like a decade ago, it's hard to believe that butter toast with coffee is 500 yen. An elderly couple provides kind service. The interior, atmosphere, and menu all evoke the Showa era. True to a Showa-era kissa, you can enjoy coffee in a relaxed atmosphere.

Cafe · City center

Irregular holidays

The view from the terrace seats is amazing and you could stay here all day. The Chubetsu River flowing right in front is wonderful. Many people walking their dogs make it very soothing. Pets are allowed on the terrace seats. It is a chain store, but this location itself is the destination. You can calmly and slowly drink coffee while looking at the river. There are electrical outlets, so it is also recommended when you want to do PC work in Asahikawa.

Cafe · Toyooka

Irregular holidays

A shop where you can feel the commitment. The staff's customer service and the way they brew coffee both convey their love for coffee. Since each cup is carefully brewed one by one, it is suitable for when you want to quietly enjoy your coffee.

Cafe · Higashikawa

Closed Thu

With a rich drink menu, you can also buy coffee beans inside the shop. The 2nd floor houses the general store "nook", allowing you to go shopping right after your meal. Great for lunchtime when you come to Higashikawa.

Cafe · City center

No regular closing day

This is the place to go for breakfast. You can enjoy a comforting bowl of soup curry starting in the morning. They also sell products from Higashikawa.

Sights · Nakafurano

No regular closing day

Overwhelmingly Hokkaido-like scenery. Walking through the grounds, you can smell lavender, so not only was it 'beautiful,' but the fragrance stays in your travel memories. There is also an experience facility where you can compare the scents of lavender oils.

Sights · Nishi-Kagura

Although it is a tourist spot, there are not many tourists. A place where you can view Mt. Daisetsuzan and Mt. Tokachidake together. 15 minutes by car from Asahikawa Airport, 25 minutes from Asahikawa Station. I want you to park your car, look at the scenery, and feel the wind.

Sights · Biei

No regular closing day

Admission is free, with the only cost being the parking fee. A blue and magical pond. Popular among women, couples, and families.

Sights · Asahikawa outskirts

An airport resilient to snow. The flight operation rate is 99.5% (FY2024), meaning almost no cancellations despite being in a heavy snowfall area. Over 99% for four consecutive years starting from FY2015. The reasons are: a local snow removal team made of local farmers (WAX WINGS, December–March) continuously clears snow from the runway, it is located in a basin making it less susceptible to bad weather, and it has private power generation resulting in zero cancellations during the 2018 Hokkaido-wide blackout. This is the first thing to tell anyone worried about winter flights to Asahikawa being cancelled due to snow.

Sights · Higashikawa

Rich in local ingredients and reasonably priced. The cut melon here is the sweetest I've ever had. Since some items are not sold at the airport, many people buy their souvenirs here.

Sights · Biei

Groundwater splits into multiple streams flowing down from rock crevices, looking like a white beard, which is why it is called "白ひげの滝" (Shirohige-no-taki). The drop is about 30m. Unlike typical waterfalls where a river plunges over a cliff, this is a rare type called a "senryubaku" (subsurface waterfall) where groundwater wells up from the rock face and falls. Located in Shirogane, the same area as the Blue Pond, and the water color is in the same color family.

Hotels & inns · City center

Art Hotel Asahikawa is the only hotel in Asahikawa with both a spa and a gym (others have only one or the other). The view from the 15th-floor breakfast venue "MINORI" is spectacular, giving a true sense of Asahikawa. The hospitality is high-level. However, since the spa is in the basement (B1F), no views can be expected, and there is neither an open-air fresh-air bathing area nor an open-air bath. It is a bit far from the station, about a 15-minute walk. There is a Seicomart right in front (no Hot Chef).

Hotels & inns · City center

3-minute walk from Asahikawa Station. "Kagura no Yu" is an authentic natural hot spring pumped directly from a hot spring well on the hotel premises. The cold water bath, made using abundant underflow water unique to the foot of the Daisetsuzan mountain range, is exquisite. Non-guests are also welcome. The spa is located in the basement (B1F) and has no view; the open-air bath and outdoor air-bathing area are for men only.

Hotels & inns · City center

The "Kamui no Yu" hot spring on the top 10th floor is of high quality. You can enjoy natural hot spring water pumped from 1,200 meters underground in the open-air bath. Featuring an auto-aufguss sauna, cold water bath, and outdoor air-bathing space, it is also popular among sauna enthusiasts. It is a bit far from the station, but closer to the station than Art Hotel.

Hotels & inns · City center

Extremely popular among skiers and women. Featuring a WAX BAR and drying room, it is a hit with ski lovers who prefer hotels over private lodgings. The interior spatial design and sense of excitement are the best in Asahikawa. The spa is exclusively for guests and free of charge. It features lying baths, a sauna, a mist sauna, and a cold plunge bath, but because it is on the basement first floor, there is no view, and there is neither an open-air bath nor an outdoor air-bathing space.

Hotels & inns · City center

The location is superb, right between Asahikawa Station and the central district. There is a sauna and a large public bath (Tenninkyo Onsen "Tabibito no Yu") on the 17th floor, offering great views both morning and night. However, the drawbacks are the lack of a cold water bath, open-air bath, and outdoor seating area. Having a laundry room and Seicomart on the 1st floor is also very convenient. Since there is a parking lot on the hotel premises, you can get in and out of your car without getting wet even in the rain.

Hotels & inns · City center

Near Asahikawa Station, the abundance of spas stands out. In addition to the natural hot spring "Minapirika no Yu", there are open-air baths, saunas, outdoor air-bathing areas, electrical baths, plus bedrock baths and aesthetic salons. Views cannot be expected. Non-guests can also use the facilities. 2 minutes on foot from the East Exit of JR Asahikawa Station.

Hotels & inns · Higashikawa

A 100% hot spring source inn. Spring water is available to drink inside the building. The dishes by the head chef, who trained at Akasaka's "Tsuyama", are exquisite, making the stay about more than just the baths. However, the melon served with meals is only available in summer.

Hot springs · Kamifurano

No regular closing day

An authentic sauna known as the "Northern Sacred Place" by sauna enthusiasts nationwide. It is a rare facility where you can dive into the snow after the sauna, and some people visit Asahikawa just to come here. About 55 minutes by car from Asahikawa Airport. It is far, but you will not regret it. Accommodation is available, but meals are self-catering.

Hot springs · Higashikawa

Closed Wed

When you arrive at Asahikawa Airport, start here. Also here before your return flight. A hot spring facility supervised by Kengo Kuma, about a 15-minute drive from the airport. The two types of saunas, the cold water bath using groundwater, and the open-air bath feel amazing. The shower heads and hairdryers are ReFa.

Hot springs · City center

No regular closing day

A sauna facility where you can also stay overnight. Open 24 hours, so you can go whenever you feel like it. A relaxing space with a nostalgic Showa-era atmosphere. Its strength compared to Hakuginso and Minapirika no Yu is that you can bathe anytime, 24 hours a day.

Furniture & crafts · City center

Closed Tue

A craft hub symbolizing the furniture city of Asahikawa. Even without buying, you can enjoy just looking at the furniture. Woodworking experiences are popular, making it a valuable facility the whole family can enjoy.

Farms & markets · Kamifurano

About 40 minutes by car from Asahikawa Station, or about 30 minutes from Asahikawa Airport. The white corn is truly sweet. It has such a high sugar content that it almost makes your mouth feel sticky afterwards. In summer, beautiful scenery spreads out, centered around lavender. If you are buying souvenirs, their vegetable set is the most appreciated. The corn, melons, and potatoes are all unbelievably delicious and sweet. The staff at the sales area are all pleasant people, making it a joy to visit.

Shrines & temples · Kagura

A shrine that has walked alongside the city of Asahikawa. During the Meji period, there was a vision to make this Kamikawa/Asahikawa area the "Capital of the North"—the central city of Hokkaido's development—and there was even a plan to build an imperial detached palace around the current Kamikawa Jinja shrine. Although it was never ultimately realized, that history still remains in Kaguraoka. If history had turned out slightly differently, Asahikawa might have become a completely different city as the center of Hokkaido.

Game meat · Takasu

Closed Tue

Speaking of Hokkaido, it's Ezo sika (Ezo deer). You should definitely try the luxurious Ezo deer steak. Many people who dislike gibier (game meat) say, "I can eat it here." There is a dog run. You can also buy souvenirs.

Zoo · Higashi-Asahikawa

No regular closing day

A classic you cannot miss when visiting Asahikawa. Nationally known for its "behavioral exhibitions" that showcase animals' natural movements. With features like the seal's cylindrical tank and the penguin's underwater tunnel, you are close to the animals, making it enjoyable even for adults. Perfect for families with children, couples, and first-time visitors to Asahikawa.