Asahikawa, Hokkaido – a Muslim-friendly town where you can enjoy snow to the fullest. Why not enjoy a wonderful winter experience in Asahikawa and other cities in Hokkaido? | JAPAN Welcome Guide for Muslim Visitors / English

Asahikawa, Hokkaido – a Muslim-friendly town where you can enjoy snow to the fullest. Why not enjoy a wonderful winter experience in Asahikawa and other cities in Hokkaido?

Many tourists likely look forward to snow in Japan, including of course, Muslim travelers who reside in warmer climates. A destination we recommend is Asahikawa, a city in Hokkaido that is actively preparing to receive Muslim travelers. There is an increasing number of restaurants and stores offering Muslim-friendly food and services in the area, thanks to cooperation between the city and local businesses. One of the biggest events in Asahikawa is the “Asahikawa Winter Festival”, where huge snow statues and ice sculptures are displayed on the streets. There was even a snow “Mosque”, back in 2019, alongside stalls serving Muslim-friendly food. Even now, the city is still looking forward to welcoming Muslim travelers.

An easy to explore snowy town, Muslim-friendly right from its gateway.

Asahikawa is a popular tourist area in Hokkaido, on par with Sapporo and Hakodate.
The city of Asahikawa is in north-central Hokkaido. It is a tourist city, reachable by highway, railway or airplane. A flight from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Asahikawa Airport takes roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes. It is also easily accessible from Sapporo, the prefectural capital of Hokkaido famous for its Clock Tower and Snow Festival, via flight in from New Chitose Airport. If you prefer rail travel, take the Rapid Airport from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station and transfer to the Limited Express Kamui or Lilac. The total travel time will only take you about 2 hours and 10 minutes.

If flying to Asahikawa, you can use the Prayer Room in Asahikawa Airport. The Prayer Room is located on the 2nd floor, in the Waiting Area of the International Departures Lounge. Provisioned with a Wudu facility, it is free to use anytime while the airport is open.

A prayer space is also available at the “Asahikawa Tourism and Local Products Information Center” located at JR Asahikawa Station. You can rent a mat and qibla compass for use during prayer. To use the prayer space and items, ask a staff member at the information counter during business hours. Travel brochures written in various languages are also available at the counter, surely to come in handy for making your trip even more enjoyable.

Asahikawa is located in the “Hokkaido Powder Belt”, an area that has many ski slopes with some of the best powder snow in the world. Even if you are new to the sport, there are also many ski resorts for beginners to enjoy. In Asahikawa, it begins to snow earlier than elsewhere in Japan, usually falling in late October. Snow in certain areas here also does not melt away as fast, sometimes leading to temperature drops to minus 7 degrees Celsius and two meter deep snow piles in peak winter, around January to February. In this season, snow sometimes piles nearly two meters deep. Can you imagine how cold it is in minus 7 degrees Celsius? It is as if you are in a freezer. So, make sure to protect yourself against cold weather when visiting the area!

“Powder snow” refers to fine, dry snow. It contains less moisture than other types of snow, making its texture soft and fluffy when piled on the ground. Unlike moist snow, powdery snow creates a sensation of floating when you ski on it. For this reason, it attracts many skiers.

Ski lessons for beginners are also available at many ski resorts (reservations required). You can rent skiwear and equipment including skis and snowboards, so feel free to take up the challenge!

Asahikawa Airport
Asahikawa Airport
Address: [Prayer room location] 2F, 16-98, Higashi 2-sen, Higashikaguracho, Kamikawagun, Hokkaido
TEL: 0166-83-3939
Open: 7:30 am – 8:30 pm
Closest station/bus stop: Asahikawa Airport (Bus Stop); 0-min walk.

Asahikawa Tourism and Local Products Information Center (in JR Asahikawa Station East concourse)
Address: 8-3-1, Miyashita-dori, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Access: from Asahikawa Airport (approx. 30min by taxi; approx. 40-min by shuttle bus)

~ Ski Resorts and Hotel in Asahikawa ~

OMO7 Asahikawa by Hoshino Resorts
(A city tourism hotel with excellent access from various ski resorts)
Address: 9 Chome, 6jo-dori, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Access: Airport Bus from Asahikawa Airport (approx. 50 minutes)
Bus from JR Asahikawa Station (Dohoku Bus Ski Links Line; Links #455, approx. 8-min.)

Kamui Ski Links
Address: 112, Nishioka, Kamuicho, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Access: Bus from JR Asahikawa Station (Dohoku Bus Ski Links Line: Links #455, approx. 40-min.)

Pippu Ski Resort
Address: 17-go, Kita 7-sen, Pippucho, Kamikawagun, Hokkaido
Access: from JR Asahikawa Station (Dohoku Bus: No. 1 or2Nayori Line, No.5 Aibetsu Line, No. 32 Yuyu Pippu Ski Resort Line; approx. 55-min)

Only in winter – Places in Asahikawa to play in the snow for free

If you do not feel up to getting sporty on your trip, the city of Asahikawa itself has many places for casually playing in the snow in winter. Rental skis and snow tubes are also available at many parks, some of which we listed below. Be sure to wear a cap, gloves, and warm and comfortable clothes when visiting! These areas are usually open from December to March, but be sure to check the days and hours beforehand as they may change depending on weather or other conditions.

Other than local parks, Asahikawa City prepares a free ice-skating rink in front of JR Asahikawa Station every winter. The rink is open to citizens and tourists alike, with ice skates available at no charge. Wearing a cap and gloves is advised to prevent injury.

~Three recommended parks in Asahikawa where you can rent skis for free~

①Asahikawa Kitasaito Garden (Winter Garden)

You can enjoy a “Tube Sliding Course” and a “Ski Walking Course” at “Asahikawa Kitasaito Garden”, a 10-minute walk from JR Asahikawa Station. The “Tube Sliding Course” allows you to you ride a tube and slide down a gentle slope in the garden. The “Ski Walking Course” involves walking a 600-meter course while wearing skis.

Address: 1 Chome, Miyamae 2-jo, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Asahikawa Kitasaito Garden (around Garden Center)
Access: 10-minute walk from JR Asahikawa Station

◇Ski Walking Course (No admission charge)
Open hours: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

②Hanasaki Sports Park
For more ski walking, visit “Hanasaki Sports Park” and its 2.8-kilometer ski walking course. There is also an outdoor ice-skating rink in the large park. Skating equipment can be rented.

Address: 1 Chome – 5 Chome, Hanasakicho, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Access: Dohoku Bus / Asahikawa Denkikidou Bus, Get off at Kitako-mae Bus Stop

◇Ski Walking Course (No admission charge)
Items available for rental: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (items must be returned by 5:00 pm)

◇Ice-skating rink (Admission charge required)
Open hours: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

③Shunkodai Park
If you wish to feel relaxed in nature, we recommend the 52.42 hectare “Shunkodai Park”. With west-side and east-side courses that are each 2.5 kilometers long, the “Shunkodai Ski Walking Course” has a total length of 5 kilometers. If you enjoy being active, take the challenge and walk these courses on skis.

Address: 5/6-sen 3-go ~ 5-sen 5-go, Chikabumi, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Access: Dohoku Bus, Get off at Ryoiku Center-mae Bus Stop

◇Ski Walking Course (No admission charge)
Items available for rental: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (items must be returned by 5:00 pm)

The popular tourist spot “Asahiyama Zoo” is also Muslim-friendly

Only a 40-minute local bus ride from Asahikawa Station, “Asahiyama Zoo” is well-known for its “Penguin Walk”, held only during the snowy season. The Penguin Walk is held to exercise the penguins and prepare their bodies for the next breeding season, as they tend to be inactive in winter.

Asahiyama Zoo’s exhibits are “behavioral exhibits”, designed to allow for the animals to comfortably behave as they would in nature, and for visitors to observe them actively. A “Prayer Space” is available in the zoo that can be used upon inquiry at the zoo’s Support Center, so you need not be concerned about your prayer-times during your visit.

Asahiyama Zoo
Address: Kuranuma, Higashiasahikawacho, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Access: Bus from JR Asahikawa Station (Bus No. 41 or 47, leaving from Bus-touch No.6in front of the station #6 Bus-touch; approx. 40-min) → Asahiyama Zoo
Direct bus from Asahikawa Airport (approx. 35-min) → Asahiyama Zoo

Local Hokkaido food to warm both body and mind

Hokkaido has many delicious foods, including seafood and Genghis Khan, or Mongolian mutton barbecue. Sapporo, Asahikawa and Hakodate are also well-known for their “Local Ramen”. Meanwhile, Asahikawa proudly boasts some Muslim-friendly restaurants.

The ramen restaurant “Asahikawa Sanpei” offers the Muslim-friendly menu item “Yonpei Tori Miso Ramen”. The miso-flavored, chicken-based soup is cooked with flavorful bonito, kombu seaweed, extract of dried shiitake mushrooms, vegetables and scallops, and contains no chemicals. The soup tastes rich but has a refreshing aftertaste, and the roasted chicken main topping is the cherry on top. For some kick, you can choose from 6 levels of spiciness, ranging from 0 to 5. Why not try fiery hot ramen to commemorate your trip to Hokkaido? It will for sure make you forget the cold.

You should also try Muslim-friendly soba noodles at “Nino Yukiya”. The restaurant uses 100% soba noodles made exclusively from buckwheat flour produced in Kamikawa Town, Hokkaido. As a side dish, we recommend freshly deep-fried seasonal vegetable tempura. Other than soba, The restaurant also offers a variety of creative cuisines including sushi, sashimi and Hokkaido beef steak. Be sure to make a reservation so that the restaurant can prepare Muslim-friendly ingredients. Not only the food, but also the dishes and furniture used at the restaurant are also made in Hokkaido. Why not relax over Muslim-friendly Tartary buckwheat tea while imbuing the restaurant’s calm, authentically Hokkaido atmosphere?

It is very cold in winter in Asahikawa. Delicious ramen and soba noodles will surely warm your body and mind.

Asahikawa Sanpei
Address: 1F, Endless17, Hidari 1-go, 7 Chome, Ichijo-dori, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Access: 4-min walk from Asahikawa Station

Nino Yukiya
Address: 1F, 8-1293-1, Sanjo-dori, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Access: 7-min walk from JR Asahikawa Station

Asahikawa’s magnificent natural scenery is in all year round

Last but definitely not least, Asahikawa offers beautiful scenery in each season, not just winter.
“Kamuikotan” is one such scenic spot, where Ainu (indigenous people of Northern Japan) folklore lives on. Though slightly remote, Kamuikotan is accessible from central Asahikawa City by bus. There is also “Shujitsuno Oka”, a scenic spot closer to Asahikawa Airport. This hilly area is known for a single road that winds through it, with a series of ups and downs. The road evokes the image of a roller coaster, while the hill affords spectacular views of Hokkaido’s vast plains and mountains.

Another place of note is “Shirogane Aoiike”, in Biei Town close to Asahikawa City. The water surface of the “Aoiike” (Blue Pond) is strikingly blue, with blighted larches around the pond adding to the mysteriousness of the scenery. The scenery and appearance of the “Aoiike” changes depending on the season and time. This image shows the “Aoiike” in summer.

Kamuikotan
Address: Kamuikotan, Kamuicho, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Access: from JR Asahikawa Station (Dohoku Bus bounds for Rumoi; approx. 26min) → Kamuikotan

Shirogane Aoiike
Address: Shirogane, Bieicho, Kawakamigun, Hokkaido
Access: From Asahikawa Station (JR Furano Line; approx. 34min) → 3-min walk to Biei Bus Station (Dohoku-Bus; approx. 20-min) → Shirogane Aoiike Iriguchi

Shujitsuno Oka
Address: 31-go, Nishikagura 4-sen, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Access: from Central Asahikawa City (approx. 40-min by Car)
from Asahikawa Airport (approx. 5-min by Car)

It goes without saying that we do recommend that you try visiting Asahikawa across different seasons. The area is so easy to get to, so if you are planning to tour vast Hokkaido, why not make a side trip to Asahikawa?

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