Asahikawa旭川

A thriving world of art, filled with fountains and statues. Set against the magnificent background of Mt. Daisetsu-zan.

Asahikawa is located almost in the center of Hokkaido, and is the second largest city in the prefecture after Sapporo. The city is full of natural splendor, with the magnificent Mt. Daisetsu-zan in the background and 120 rivers flowing through it. It is also the gateway for tourism to Soun Gorge and the Furano area. Asahikawa's thriving art world has led it to be called a town for art. Fountains and sculptures dot the shopping park along Heiwa-dori Avenue, the road that leads straight from Asahikawa Station.

Situated on a hill overlooking the town, the Hokkaido Traditional Arts and Crafts Village is full of buildings resembling castles from the Middle Ages in Europe, and has the atmosphere of an amusement park. There is a gallery of works made using the world-famous Yukara-ori, the traditional textile fabric of Hokkaido, from which you can get a better understanding of traditional Japanese crafts.

The Ban'ei horse racing at Asahikawa Horse Race Track is a competition unique to Hokkaido. It is a test of both strength and speed where the horses pull an iron sleigh. Ban'ei horses are said to have twice the power of thoroughbreds, and the races are powerful and dynamic.

Also, Asahikawa has a ramen-noodle area the equal to that found in Sapporo, and its countless ramen-noodle restaurants are always busy.