Asahikawa Taisetsu Area Guide - 【Official】Heart of Hokkaido Tourism Guide

Asahikawa City

Located near the very center of Hokkaido, Asahikawa is a vital transportation hub of the northern region, where four rivers, including the Ishikari River originating from the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range, flow through the city. With a diverse range of thriving industries—from agriculture and wholesale/retail trade to food processing and furniture manufacturing—the city serves as the economic and industrial heart of Northern Hokkaido. As a gathering point for a rich variety of fresh ingredients from across the region, Asahikawa has developed into a premier terminal city boasting an exceptional culinary scene and excellent accommodations.
At the core of its tourism is the Asahiyama Zoo—the northernmost zoo in Japan and the region’s top attraction. By seamlessly connecting this with other local gems, such as the science museum, ski resorts, and museums celebrating Ainu culture, as well as nearby hot springs and scenic nature, Asahikawa serves as an ideal travel hub where visitors can enjoy highly efficient and deeply rewarding regional tours.

Takasu Town

Takasu is one of Hokkaido’s leading rice-producing areas with agriculture centered on rice farming. Nestled in lush natural surroundings, we strive to create a town filled with smiles, ensuring a safe and comfortable life for everyone from young children to seniors. While our famous “Ookami no Momo” (wolf’s peach), tomato juice is already a bestseller, our premium Takasu Beef and local venison products are also becoming highly popular.

Higashikagura Town

Home to Asahikawa Airport, Higashikawa is the gateway to Northern Hokkaido. Alongside thriving rice and vegetable farming, the community takes pride in creating beautiful landscapes as “Higashikagura, the Town of Flowers.” The area is packed with hidden gems highly recommended for international visitors! Relax at “Mori-no-yu Hanakagura,” a natural hot spring resort, or head to “Higashikagura Forest Park” for year-round outdoor adventures—from summer camping to winter buggy rides. You can also explore charming local spots, including authentic handmade soba restaurants and delicious ice cream shops.

Toma Town

A town where we receive the precious gift of life from the “food” we eat, utilize the strength of “wood” grown resiliently through wind and snow, and find comfort in the beauty of blooming “flowers.” In Toma, we drive regional revitalization, community building, and tourism through our dedicated “Shoku-iku” (Food Education), “Moku-iku” (Wood Education), and “Hana-iku” (Flower Education) initiatives. At the foot of Mt. Toma lies the “Toma Sports Land,” a paradise for outdoor sports where families can enjoy field athletics surrounded by nature. The area is packed with family-friendly attractions: “Kurumina-no-niwa,” a beautiful garden featuring flower beds, lawns, and edible berries and vegetables; the “Papillon Chateau” insect museum; and the “Healthy Chateau” hot spring facility. It is a warm, welcoming town where families can truly relax and spend quality time together. We are also highly acclaimed for our exceptional agricultural products, led by the legendary “Densuke Watermelon”—Japan’s premier luxury watermelon—as well as some of the highest-quality rice in Hokkaido.

Pippu Town

Famous as the “Town of Skiing and Strawberries,” Pippu is a vibrant hands-on travel destination offering strawberry picking in early summer and excellent skiing slopes in the winter. Agriculture is the core of the community, and the town is proudly celebrated as the birthplace of “Yumepirika”—one of Hokkaido’s most prestigious premium rice brands. With two major national highways and an expressway network running through it, Pippu serves as a key regional transportation hub, surrounded by lush green pastoral residential areas that boast breathtaking views of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range. Local highlights include the newly renovated JR Pippu Station—once made famous by a legendary Japanese TV commercial—and Pippu Shrine, which is currently gaining great popularity as a spiritual “power spot” for matchmaking and good fortune.

Aibetsu Town

With an agricultural focus on rice, mushrooms, and livestock, along with thriving upland farming of vegetables and buckwheat (soba), Aibetsu proudly stands as one of Hokkaido’s leading mushroom producers. Embracing its identity as the “Town of Mushrooms,” the community strives to add value to its agricultural and livestock products through internal processing and retail (sixth-sector industrialization), while creating a unique town that seamlessly blends agriculture with recreation. The Ishikari River runs through the town, featuring an expansive park golf course on its right bank and a scenic auto-camping ground on its left, offering the perfect environment to refresh your mind and body in the great outdoors. For the ultimate relaxing experience, the secluded “Kyouwa Onsen” hot spring offers wholesome cuisine featuring local mushrooms and wild mountain vegetables, including a full-course mushroom dining experience.

Kamikawa Town

This area is home to Sounkyo Onsen, which is known for its columnar cliffs, and has many tourist attractions, such as the “Galaxy and Meteor Falls”, which has been selected as one of the “100 Best Waterfalls in Japan”.
Among them, Mt. Kurodake, which represents Daisetsuzan National Park along with Mt. Asahidake, is also popular with many tourists, and the early morning sea of clouds tour is also popular.
The Sounkyo Visitor Center provides real-time information on nature and attractions in Daisetsuzan National Park. In addition, the Daisetsu Forest Garden in the northernmost part of the Hokkaido Garden Road is a beautiful garden that harmonizes with the flowers that bloom in the changing seasons and the mountains of Daisetsuzan that can be seen up close. The Sounkyo Onsen Icefall Festival, which is usually held from late January to mid-March, attracts many tourists as one of Hokkaido’s leading winter events.

Home to the famous Sounkyo Onsen—celebrated for its dramatic, columnar-jointed cliffs—this area boasts numerous iconic sightseeing spots, including the Ginga and Ryusei Waterfalls, both selected among the “Top 100 Waterfalls of Japan.” Mt. Kurodake, which stands alongside Mt. Asahidake as a symbol of Daisetsuzan National Park, is immensely popular with tourists, and its early-morning sea of clouds (unkai) tours receive high acclaim. At the Sounkyo Visitor Center, guests can learn about the relationship between people and the nature of the national park, while accessing real-time updates on local wilderness conditions and highlights. Furthermore, Daisetsu Mori-no Garden, marking the northernmost point of the Hokkaido Garden Path, offers a breathtaking landscape where flowers blooming throughout the changing seasons harmonize beautifully with the grand peaks of the Daisetsuzan Mountains standing close by. In winter, the Sounkyo Onsen Ice Waterfall Festival (Hyobaku Matsuri), held from late January to mid-March, stands out as one of Hokkaido’s premier winter events, attracting countless visitors from around the world.

Higashikawa Town

Serving as the gateway to Daisetsuzan National Park, Higashikawa is home to Mt. Asahidake (2,291 m), the highest peak in Hokkaido, where visitors can immerse themselves in majestic nature throughout the seasons. The town draws countless travelers from across the nation—welcoming hikers, climbers, and cyclists in the summer (July), and those seeking Japan’s earliest and most breathtaking autumn foliage in the fall (September). Deep within the national park lies Tenninkyo Gorge, famous for Hagoromo Falls—a stunning, graceful waterfall designated as one of the “Top 100 Waterfalls of Japan.” Unique for a community that lives entirely on mineral-rich underground water flowing directly from the Daisetsuzan mountain range, Higashikawa offers exceptionally safe and delicious agricultural produce. This abundant lifestyle has also fostered a vibrant local culture, making the town highly popular for its stylish, cozy cafes.

Biei Town

Conveniently located almost exactly midway between Asahikawa and Furano, Biei is a charming town blessed with rolling wave-like hills and a grand, lush natural environment. Just a 15-minute drive from Asahikawa Airport, it offers exceptional access, standing as one of Japan’s premier tourist destinations while proudly holding membership in “The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan”. Visitors are captivated by the town’s contrasting charms—from the beautifully designed streets in front of Biei Station to the scenic rolling hills shaped by the harmony of nature and human hands. Nestled at the foot of the Tokachidake Mountain Range with sweeping panoramic views, Shirogane Onsen offers an easy, relaxing hot spring experience. Renowned as the “Spring of Rejuvenation,” it provides the perfect retreat to soothe your body and mind.