Explore Asahikawa: Attractions and Itinerary
Asahikawa is the second-largest city in Hokkaido, after Sapporo. Its most famous attraction is the Asahiyama Zoo. A winter visit is recommended to see the animals playfully enjoying the snow, along with the popular penguin walk.
by Natalie Su | Birger Strahl
From Sapporo to Asahiyama Zoo
Take the train from JR Sapporo Station to JR Asahikawa Station. The journey takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 4,690 yen, while a round-trip ticket is 5,500 yen. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket machines. For more details, click here.
Exit JR Asahikawa Station from the North Exit and head to Bus Stop No. 6 at the Transportation area. Take bus No. 41 or 47 to Asahiyama Zoo. The one-way fare is 500 yen (take a numbered ticket when boarding and pay the fare when getting off). The bus ride takes about 40 minutes, with buses running every 30 minutes. Be sure to check the time for the last bus—if you miss it, you can take a taxi, which costs around 4,000 yen.
Asahiyama Zoo Combination Ticket
Where to buy: Ticket Counter inside JR Sapporo Station
Price: 6,830 yen for adults, 2,960 yen for children
Validity: 4 days
The combination ticket includes:
- Round-trip JR train tickets from Sapporo to Asahikawa
- Round-trip bus tickets from Asahikawa Station to the zoo
- Admission to Asahiyama Zoo
Where to Stay in Asahikawa
If you prefer not to do a day trip, you can stay near JR Asahikawa Station. For example:
JR Inn Asahikawa
The hotel is in a prime location, directly connected to JR Asahikawa Station. It features a public bath, and there is an Aeon Mall downstairs, making it convenient for dining and shopping.★★★ Location 9.3 | Facilities 9.0 | Value for money 8.7
Y’s Hotel Asahikawa Ekimae
The hotel is directly opposite JR Inn and has a public bath with slightly newer facilities. It’s a 2-minute walk to JR Asahikawa Station, and the bus stop for getting around the city is right downstairs.★★★ Location 9.2 | Facilities 8.7 | Value for money 8.7
Asahiyama Zoo
Asahiyama Zoo is Japan’s northernmost zoo, best known for its winter penguin walk.
Hours: Summer 9:30 AM - 5:15 PM, Winter 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM. Hours may vary, so please check the official website before your visit.
Admission: 1,000 yen for adults, free for junior high school students and younger
Recommended visit time: 3 - 4 hours
Tips：
- From December to February, there are two penguin walks daily, usually at 11 AM and 2:30 PM. For the schedule, see here.
- The zoo map, including an English version, can be found here.
- For a list of animal species, click here.
Website: Asahiyama Zoo Official Website
Selected Video: The Penguin Walk, Animals in snow at Asahiyama zoo,winter 2024
Thank you for reading, and may you have a wonderful journey!
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