Image credit: Live Japan
Driving to Asahikawa right after we flew in to Hokkaido, it took about 2 hours 15 minutes. It was past lunch time so we decided to try the famous Hachiya Ramen.
Food recommendations coming soon...
After lunch we checked-in to our hotel: Art Hotel Asahikawa. We had wanted to pop by Otokoyama Sake Brewery before dinner but by the time we checked in, got our luggage and lazed around in our hotel room, it was already dinner time. So we decided to head down to Heiwa Dori Shopping Street. I read online that Heiwa Dori had Seibu (a mall with high-end brands) and Feeeal (a mall for the younger generation). This was totally not the case! The streets were completely empty, the hubs asked if this is an inhabited town! I've never see any city so empty before, we were saying that it felt like we were in an apocolypse movie and the last humans on earth. It was such an odd feeling. The stroll down was very pleasant though, we seemed to be the only ones so it felt calm and safe from Covid.
When it came to dinner though, we could not get a seat anywhere! The streets were empty but restaurants were all full, something that we could not comprehend! We finally managed to get a seat in a restaurant that serves skewers and had this special dish called Kamameshi. It's rice soup boiled at your table for 30 minutes before you can eat it. When you open up the top, the soup has been absorbed into the rice leaving the fish slices on top.
After dinner, we called it an early night as everyone was tired from the travelling.
Things to do in Asahikawa
Next day we got up bright and early and headed to Asahiyama Zoo, the highlight attraction of the place. The drive was about 25 minutes and there is an open space free parking across the road.
ASAHIYAMA ZOO
This quaint little zoo looked unimpressive from the gate and the inside. But the layout of the attractions are very well thought out. Each enclosure was built to bring you up close with the animals and capitvate you. I thought this small zoo would only take 2-3 hours if we walked slowly but in the end we stayed there the whole afternoon as the children (and adults) lingered at every enclosure, thoroughly enjoying the experience.
Why you should visit Asahiyama Zoo
1. The animals signs were handwritten! Super effort!
2. The duck pond had periscopes so you could see them dive underneath instead of only ever seeing them on the water surface
3. The penguin enclosure entrance is a tunnel where you could see them swimming above you and at the top, you could see them walking and/or feeding sessions
5. They put up live size signages of different types of penguins, names and sizes. A very visually interesting way to compare the different species in a glance
6. Live size signage’s of seals, names and sizes too!
7. Get up close with the polar bear either through a glass or cage. Like right next to you close!
8. Types of bears, names and sizes again. So fun!
9. Seal cake at the cafe. Too cute!
10. Goats and other smaller animals at the kids area
11. Kids area petting zoo
12. Right next to the majestic Japanese crane
13. Watch a lion sleep. It's the first time I heard the deafening roar of a lion! Never realised how loud it was
14. Giraffe enclosure is below ground so that you get to see their face up close, instead of their legs at other zoos!
15. The long and uphill entrance of Asahikawa Zoo
ASAHIYAMA ZOO
Opening hours: 9:30am - 5:15pm
Cost: ¥800 (approx. SGD7.35)
Parking: Free
Address: Higashi Asahikawa-cho, Kuranuma, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8205 Japan
Phone: 0166-36-1104
There was no where nearby to eat, so we drove to the Asahikawa Ramen Village for lunch. Shopped at Uniqlo after lunch before heading to Ueno Farm.
UENO FARM
This private English-style garden is about 10-minutes drive away from Asahikawa Zoo. It's a pretty walk and stroll around the gardens filled with many different flowers. A small hike up the hill will reward you with a panoramic view of the area and two very instagrammable shots of the rainbow chairs and the infinity swing.
The kids also had fun looking for the hidden gnomes in the garden. They are supposed to come back to the counter to tell the staff how many gnomes they found and if correct, they get to choose a prize from the prize basket! (The boy got a bendy snake and the girl got a sword)
After all that, we took a refreshing break at the cafe for some soft serve. Yum!
UENO FARM
Opening hours: 10am-5pm
Cost: Adult ¥1,000 (approx. SGD9.18), Child ¥500 (approx. SGD4.60)
Parking: Free
Website: https://uenofarm.net/home/
Address: 16-chōme-186-2 Nagayamachō Asahikawa, Hokkaido 079-8431 Japan
Phone: 0166-47-8731
Where we planned to go but missed (why did I think kids can follow a schedule?)
The plan was to go to Kamuy Kotan (The Village of the Gods), and watch the Traditional Ainu dance. But it was already 5pm and the kids were tired. So we went back to town to get dinner instead.
KAMUY KOTAN
Address: Kamuikotan Kamuicho, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-0185 Japan
OTOKOYAMA SAKE BREWERY
Opening hours: 9am-5pm
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.otokoyama.com/museum/en/
Address: 7-1-33, Nagayama 2-jo, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaido 079-8412 Jaoan
Phone: 0166-47-7080
TIP: In Japan, GPS systems in cars use the phone number as the location, instead of addresses. Listed them here for you!
Comentarios