Asahikawa: A thriving northern city with happy
citizens and beautiful natural surroundings,
ready to capture the attention of the world

Asahikawa City is a central city in Northern Hokkaido that overlooks the majestic Daisetsuzan mountains, and is home to numerous rivers including the Ishikari River. The four seasons of Asahikawa are distinct, each with their own uniquely beautiful characteristics. In addition, the urban services of the city, including medical care, welfare, education, and cultural programs, all work in harmony. Asahikawa is an important transportation and logistics hub due to its central location in Hokkaido, and is home to the Asahikawa Airport, which is even equipped for international flights. Asahikawa produces a substantial amount of crops thatplay an important role in Japan's food supply, and is also home to
several manufacturing industries such as furniture, that have been developing with an emphasis on the use of design and technology. In Asahikawa, we are striving to be “A thriving northern city with happy citizens and beautiful natural surroundings,ready to capture the attention of the world.”
In order to control population decline and build a sustainable city, all citizens, from children to the elderly, live with peace of mindand work to create a city that attracts many people from both in Japan and overseas. Under these circumstances, especially in order to enhance the vitality of the local economy, we are working to attract companies in various fields. Excellent regional characteristics such as having few natural disasters, many convenient urban features, and lush nature are big attractions for Asahikawa.
Asahikawa has numerous tourism resources. For example, foods that make use of abundant agricultural products and seafood gathered from all over Hokkaido, Asahiyama Zoo, famous for its behavioral exhibits, and several ski resorts near the city abundant in high quality powder snow that even attracts attention from overseas skiers. We promote wide-area tourism by promoting the appeal of the entire region to Japan and overseas with DMO at the head of regional tourism development.
This city summary aims to introduce you to the various highlights of Asahikawa, and also serves as a means of showing you the city’s current projects and policies. We hope this booklet will help you understand a little more about Asahikawa.

Features

Asahiyama Zoo

Asahiyama Zoo wants people to feel comfortable discovering the wonder, beauty, and nobility in the behavior of animals through the unfiltered display of their day to day actions in a place overflowing with life.

Asahiyama Zoo brings many visitors that resonate with this ideology from Japan and beyond.

At present, Asahiyama Zoo is looking to challenge itself to do more though activities such as cooperating with environmental protection agencies in conservation efforts to help the nearly extinct Borneo Elephants.

Heiwa-dori Kaimono Koen

Japan’s first permanent pedestrian-only shopping area, Heiwa-dori Kaimono Koen is full of specialty shops and places to eat.

Asahikawa Furniture

Thanks to the Imperial Japanese Army 7th Division being established towards the end of the Meiji Era in the 1890’s, a large number of artisan carpenters moved to Asahikawa from the main island of Japan. Skills passed down over this 100 year long history serve as a strong foundation for Asahikawa’s furniture industry. In recent years, Asahikawa Furniture has been growing into a recognized brand domestically and internationally receiving praise for its superb functionality and design.

Rice

Asahikawa takes pride in having the largest rice cultivation area and highest harvest yield in Hokkaido. The quality and taste of its rice has earned it a reputation as one of the finest in the country.

Planted Area: 5,770 hectares (2023 crop) 
Harvest Yield: 35,900 tons (2023)
For more details, please visit Asahikawa's rice

Local Sake

At one time Asahikawa was called the northern sea of delicious sake. There are currently 3 sake breweries and one beer brewery making their own original beverages.