Asahikawa (Hokkaido)
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7 Sightseeing Spots in Asahikawa to Enjoy Without Getting Wet Even on Rainy Days

Asahikawa has many impressive facilities you can visit even when the weather takes a sudden turn for the worse. While experiencing the vast, great outdoors is one of the highlights of a trip to Hokkaido, here are some recommended sightseeing spots where you can enjoy the charm of Asahikawa indoors.

A showroom where you can experience the warmth of wood through Asahikawa furniture

Asahikawa Design Center, where over 30 companies from around Asahikawa City have permanent exhibitions and host special exhibitions twice a year
Asahikawa Design Center, where over 30 companies from the Asahikawa area have permanent exhibits and host special exhibitions twice a year.

Surrounded by the magnificent Daisetsuzan mountain range, including Mount Asahi, Asahikawa City is also known for its abundant timber. Leveraging these resources, furniture making has been practiced here for over 100 years. Asahikawa furniture is known worldwide for its high-quality wood and sophisticated design. The Asahikawa Design Center features booths centered around more than 30 manufacturers in and around Asahikawa City. At the special exhibitions held twice a year, various events are organized with the theme of enriching life through wooden furniture.

Experience sophisticated design and the warmth of wood

Introducing the world of wooden furniture through twice-yearly special exhibitions and conveying the appeal of each manufacturer through corporate booths
The twice-yearly special exhibitions introduce the world of wooden furniture, while company booths showcase the unique appeal of each manufacturer.

Once you have experienced how closely wood is tied to daily life, head to the individual company booths. Unique and sophisticated furniture designs are arranged in a spacious area, and they are all so excellent that they will make you want such furniture in your own living room. You can also enjoy encountering designs that highlight the skills of craftsmen who are well-versed in the softness of wood. Of course, you can also purchase the displayed furniture, so it is a great place to look for pieces you like.

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The museum features everything from futuristic designs to gentle, traditional pieces. Through the warmth of wood, you can feel Japanese traditional culture.

Asahikawa Design Center
  • Address1-35 Nagayama 2-jo 10-chome, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido MAP
  • AccessApprox. 19 minutes by car from JR Asahikawa Station
  • Bus accessTake a bus from JR Asahikawa Station, get off at "Nagayama 2-jo 10-chome", and walk for about 1 minute
  • Business hours10:00 - 17:00
  • ClosedTuesdays (except on public holidays), year-end and New Year holidays
  • Admission FeeFree
  • TEL0166-48-4135
  • ParkingFree

An encounter with science that begins with wonder, enjoyable for all generations

A large planetarium that recreates the starry sky as seen from Asahikawa
A large planetarium that recreates the starry sky as seen from Asahikawa.

The interior is divided into four zones: a permanent exhibition room, an experimental laboratory, an observatory, and a planetarium. The dome-shaped planetarium on the first floor is particularly spectacular. A projector made by Carl Zeiss, known for the beauty of its starry skies, projects a sky full of stars across the entire dome, making it one of the largest in Hokkaido. The design is also considerate of universal design, allowing anyone to experience it, and introduces constellations visible depending on the season. The permanent exhibition is also divided into Earth, Space, and Northern Country corners, equipped with explanations that even small children can understand and facilities for scientific experiences.

Not only experience the romance of space, but also acquire scientific knowledge

It is the oldest public astronomical observatory with a telescope for celestial observation where sunspot observations have been continuously conducted
It is the oldest public astronomical observatory equipped with a telescope for celestial observation to have continuously conducted sunspot observations.

Once you have enjoyed the indoor facilities, be sure to head up to the rooftop observatory. While astronomical observation is not possible on rainy days, you can get an up-close look at two telescopes: a large 65cm aperture Cassegrain reflecting telescope in an 8m dome, and a 20cm aperture refracting telescope in a 5m dome. The 65cm reflecting telescope is the third largest in Hokkaido. You might even be able to imagine the scale of the universe. I also recommend the museum shop on the first floor, which sells science and astronomy-related goods, as well as unique food items inspired by space food.

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With an impressive planetarium, an astronomical observatory, and hands-on corners where people of all generations can enjoy experiencing science, there is so much to do that you won't be able to finish it all in one day.

Asahikawa Science Center "Saipal"
  • Address3-32 Miyamae 1-jo 3-chome, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido MAP
  • AccessApprox. 4 minutes by car from JR Asahikawa Station
  • Bus accessTake a bus from JR Asahikawa Station, get off at "Kagakukan-mae", and walk for about 1 minute
  • Business hours9:30–17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
  • ClosedMondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a holiday), year-end and New Year holidays (December 30–January 4, though open on January 2), and the last weekday of every month
  • Admission FeePermanent Exhibition Room (1 day): Adults 410 yen, High school students 280 yen
    Planetarium (1 show): Adults 330 yen, High school students 220 yen
    Permanent Exhibition Room (1 day) + Planetarium (1 show) set: Adults 520 yen, High school students 350 yen
    *Free for junior high school students and younger
    *From October 1, 2026: Permanent Exhibition Room (1 day) Adults 610 yen, High school students 400 yen,
    Planetarium (1 show) Adults 490 yen, High school students 320 yen,
    Permanent Exhibition Room (1 day) + Planetarium (1 show) set: Adults 770 yen, High school students 500 yen
  • TEL0166-31-3186
  • ParkingFree

A memorial museum in the birthplace of Akutagawa Prize-winning author Yasushi Inoue, where you can trace his life

Inside the building, which houses the relocated study from the house in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, where Yasushi Inoue lived, handwritten manuscripts and other items are on display
The museum houses the relocated study from the house in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, where Yasushi Inoue once lived, and displays his original manuscripts.

Yasushi Inoue, who had a major influence on Showa-era literature and was active in the post-war Japanese literary world, won the Akutagawa Prize for "The Bullfight" in 1950. The Yasushi Inoue Memorial Hall displays materials that chronicle his 83-year life, including his own research notebooks, handwritten manuscripts, literary works, and pieces by artists with whom he was close. The study and drawing room from the house where he lived in Setagaya Ward have been relocated to the memorial hall, and with explanatory notes posted on the walls of the corridor, you can learn how he spent his time in these rooms as you walk through.

A reception room filled with a vast collection of literature and laid with Persian carpets

A reception room surrounded by documents and books lined up on floor-to-ceiling bookshelves
A reception room surrounded by literature and books lined up on shelves that reach the ceiling.

It is said that every time he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature starting in 1981, he would tell the press who flocked to him that it was pointless to get one's hopes up for something with the same probability as being hit by a falling stone from the sky, and he would hold a "No-bel Prize" party in this drawing room to celebrate his disappointment. It is also interesting to look around while recalling the anecdote that, drawing on his experience as a newspaper reporter, he understood the feelings of the press and continued to treat them with courtesy.

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A valuable memorial museum where you can experience the worldview of a literary master. The relocated study and drawing room faithfully recreate the atmosphere of the time when they were writing.

Inoue Yasushi Memorial Museum
  • Address7-chome, Shunkō 5-jō, Asahikawa City, HokkaidoMAP
  • AccessApprox. 20 minutes by car from JR Asahikawa Station
  • Bus accessTake a bus from JR Asahikawa Station, get off at "Shunkōen-mae," and walk for about 2 minutes
  • Business hours9:00–17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
  • ClosedMondays (or the following day if Monday is a holiday), year-end and New Year holidays December 30–January 4 *Open every day from July 27 (Mon) to August 24 (Mon) (subject to change annually)
  • Admission FeeGeneral 300 yen, High school students 150 yen, Free for junior high school students and younger *From October 1, 2026: General 450 yen, High school students 220 yen, Free for junior high school students and younger
  • TEL0166-51-1188
  • ParkingFree

Learn about the history of sake brewing passed down since the Edo period

Exhibits include materials related to "Otokoyama" sake, which is brewed using underflow water from the Daisetsuzan mountains, as well as valuable documents and sake vessels from the Edo period
Exhibits include materials related to "Otokoyama" sake, which is brewed using underflow water from the Daisetsuzan mountains, as well as valuable documents and sake vessels from the Edo period.

"Otokoyama" is a sake brewed using spring water affectionately known as the "water of longevity." The museum displays materials related to this famous sake, which was presented to the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period and depicted in ukiyo-e prints by artists such as Kitagawa Utamaro and Utagawa Kuniyoshi, as well as valuable documents and sake vessels from the Edo period. Furthermore, during the brewing season, you can also observe parts of the sake-making process.

The famous sake known as "Otokoyama," loved by everyone since the Edo period

In front of the museum, there is a giant slide shaped like a 1.8-liter sake bottle, which you can enter through the mouth of the bottle to slide down
In front of the museum, there is a giant slide shaped like a 1.8-liter sake bottle, which you can enter through the mouth of the bottle to slide down.

Otokoyama is a refined sake named after Otokoyama Hachimangu Shrine by Sanemon Yamamoto, who was brewing sake in Itami, Hyogo during the Edo period. It was inherited by Yamazaki Sake Brewery (the predecessor of Otokoyama Co., Ltd.), which has been brewing sake in Hokkaido since 1887 (Meiji 20), and has been passed down continuously in the northern land. Under the harsh climate and the underflow water of Mt. Daisetsuzan, a crisp, dry, and light sake is produced. Since the flavor created by Hokkaido's nature is a defining characteristic, please be sure to enjoy a tasting on the first floor.

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You might want to reflect on the distant past while tasting sake that people in the Edo period may have also enjoyed.

OTOKOYAMA SAKE PARK
  • Address1-33 Nagayama 2-jo 7-chome, Asahikawa, Hokkaido MAP
  • AccessApprox. 14 minutes by car from JR Asahikawa Station
  • Bus accessTake a bus from JR Asahikawa Station, get off at "Nagayama 2-jo 6-chome," and walk for about 2 minutes
  • Business hours9:00–17:00 (tasting and cafe until 16:30)
  • ClosedYear-end and New Year holidays (December 31, January 1–3)
  • Admission FeeFree
  • TEL0166-76-5548
  • ParkingFree

Encounter Ainu history and culture

In the spacious lower-floor hall, you can learn about the great nature of Hokkaido and the history of its people
In the spacious lower-floor hall, you can learn about the great nature of Hokkaido and the history of its people.

The museum located inside the Asahikawa Taisetsu Crystal Hall has a two-story structure with upper and lower floors, where you can learn about the history of Hokkaido and more. The main theme of the lower floor is "Living through the severe cold: animals, plants, and people." Natural and human-related materials are exhibited, allowing you to learn about Asahikawa's geology, topography, climate, and ecosystem. It is a valuable opportunity to learn about the ingenuity of the people who have survived in the harsh wilderness.

The lives and cultures of each era transmitted across time

A reconstructed pit dwelling. If you peek inside, you can see how people lived
A reconstructed pit dwelling. You can see what life was like by peeking inside.

The upper floor introduces the lives of people from ancient times, the indigenous Ainu people, and settlers represented by the Tondenhei (soldier-settlers). Dwellings from each era have been reconstructed and relocated, such as pit dwellings, the chise where the Ainu people lived, and the Tondenhei-ya, which were the homes of the Tondenhei. Daily necessities are also on display, accurately conveying what kind of homes they lived in.

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Visiting a piece of modern history that is not often covered in school education will be a good opportunity to learn about Hokkaido.

Asahikawa Museum
  • AddressKagura 3-jo 7-chome, Asahikawa, Hokkaido (inside Asahikawa Taisetsu Crystal Hall) MAP
  • AccessApprox. 5 minutes by car from JR Asahikawa Station
  • Business hours9:00–17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
  • Closed2nd and 4th Monday (or the following day if it is a public holiday), year-end and New Year holidays (December 30–January 4), open daily from June to September
  • Admission FeePermanent Exhibition: Adults 350 yen, High School Students 230 yen, Elementary/Junior High Students Free *From October 1, 2026: Adults 440 yen, High School Students 290 yen
  • TEL0166-69-2004
  • ParkingFree

An art museum that collects paintings, prints, and sculptures by artists with ties to northern Hokkaido.

The museum regularly organizes exhibitions of wood carvings, woodwork, chairs, and other works by domestic and international artists collected by the museum
The museum regularly organizes exhibitions featuring wood carvings, woodwork, chairs, and other works by domestic and international artists collected by the museum.

Located in Tokiwa Park, a place of relaxation for Asahikawa citizens and a hub for art and culture in the northern Hokkaido area, this museum allows you to encounter numerous valuable collections. As a museum unique to Asahikawa City, where the furniture and woodworking industries are thriving due to the land being blessed with forest resources, it has collected many wooden sculptural works by talented artists from both Japan and abroad.
The first exhibition room hosts special exhibitions, special collection exhibitions, and special exhibitions introducing excellent works from Japan and overseas. In addition, the second exhibition room holds special exhibitions that introduce works from the museum's collection from various perspectives, so you should go and enjoy encountering the works.

The spacious lobby also features a museum shop and a cafe.

The entrance hall, where sunlight streaming through the glass windows creates a gentle contrast
The entrance hall, where sunlight streaming through the glass windows creates a gentle contrast.

In addition to art exhibitions, the Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art also features a museum shop and a cafe run by a volunteer group.
At the cafe, you can enjoy coffee in cups created by local Asahikawa potters, and at the shop, you can purchase crafts associated with Asahikawa. They also occasionally sell goods related to their exhibitions.

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This is a valuable art museum where you can encounter not only works by authors associated with northern Hokkaido, but also art from both Japan and abroad.

Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art
  • AddressInside Tokiwa Park, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido MAP
  • AccessApprox. 8 minutes by car from JR Asahikawa Station
  • Bus accessTake a bus from JR Asahikawa Station, get off at "4-jo 4-chome", and walk for about 5 minutes
  • ClosedMondays (if a public holiday, closed the following weekday; however, open during Art Week), Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 – January 3), exhibition change periods, etc.
  • Admission FeeGallery 1 Admission: Varies by exhibition
    Gallery 2 Admission: General 260 yen, High School/University Students 150 yen
  • TEL0166-25-2577
  • ParkingFree (Please use the Tokiwa Park parking lot)

Japan's northernmost zoo, where you can see animals in their lively, natural states up close.

You can see polar bears up close through the glass as they swim or walk around.
Through the glass, you can see polar bears swimming or walking around up close.

Asahiyama Zoo is famous nationwide for its ingenious design that allows visitors to observe animals in their natural state up close. You can see animals full of life. In the giant pool, you might even encounter a polar bear diving to catch its food just as it would in the wild. The sight through the reinforced glass, designed to let you see their movements underwater, is spectacular. There are also scenes unique to Hokkaido, such as seeing penguins taking a walk on the snow during the snowy season.

Behavioral displays that allow you to observe animals in their natural state.

A variety of facilities designed to bring out the animals' natural abilities and behaviors.
Numerous facilities designed to bring out the animals' natural abilities and behaviors.

Asahiyama Zoo has indoor facilities throughout the grounds, so you can observe the animals regardless of the weather. If you are lucky, you might even see chimpanzees taking shelter from the rain under the eaves of the facilities. It is also reassuring to know that free umbrella rentals are available for use within the zoo.

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In the Wolf Forest, created with the image of Hokkaido's forests from 100 years ago, you can see wolves that once inhabited the region. While the Ezo wolf used to live in Hokkaido, it is now extinct, and Asahiyama Zoo currently keeps timber wolves.

Asahiyama Zoo
  • AddressKuranuma, Higashiasahikawa-cho, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido MAP
  • AccessApprox. 23 minutes by car from JR Asahikawa Station
  • Bus accessTake a bus from JR Asahikawa Station, get off at "Higashi-Asahikawa Kogyo Danchi 1-jo 2-chome," and walk for about 13 minutes
  • Business hours2026
    May 1 – October 15: 9:30–17:15
    October 16 – November 3: 9:30–16:30
    November 11 – December 29: 10:30–15:30
  • ClosedChanges annually
  • Admission FeeAdults (high school students and older): 1,000 yen, junior high school students and younger: free
  • TEL0166-36-1104
  • ParkingFree, with private paid parking available nearby

MAP

Nearby Hoshino Resorts facilities
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*The information provided is current as of the date of the article's update. Please check in advance as it may be subject to change.