Asahikawa Winter Festival
The Asahikawa Winter Festival (旭川冬まつり, Asahikawa Fuyu Matsuri) is Hokkaido's second largest winter festival after Sapporo's Snow Festival. The festival takes place over a week in early February, about the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival. Hence, it is possible for winter visitors to visit both festivals on the same trip as the two cities are only an 80 minute train ride apart from each other.
While Asahikawa may not be able to boast having Hokkaido's biggest winter festival, it certainly has one of the biggest snow sculptures. Every year one massive sculpture is made as a stage for music and other performances. The giant sculpture of a Korean fortress in 1994 even made into the book of Guinness World Records as the largest snow construction built.
The giant snow sculpture is located in the riverside Asahibashi Site, one of two festival sites, which is named after the nearby bridge. Other attractions found at this site vary from year to year, but usually include several smaller snow sculptures, snow slides, snowmobile rides, horse-drawn sleigh rides and an ice bar. The Asahibashi Site also serves as the location for the festival's opening and closing ceremonies, and a small, daily fireworks display.
The festival's second site is the Heiwa Dori pedestrian street, which leads over roughly one kilometer from Asahikawa Station to the vicinity of the Asahibashi Site. About 50 ice sculptures are displayed there, to be judged in an ice sculpture competition. For the first few days of the festival the sculptors can be seen at work, after which the sculptures are left on display. The sculptures look particularly attractive in the evenings when they are illuminated.
Getting there and around
The Heiwa Dori pedestrian zone leads from Asahikawa Station for about one kilometer through the center of town. From its end, it is about a 10-15 minute walk to the festival's Asahibashi Site by foot. Alternatively, there are free shuttle buses that run about every 30 minutes between Asahikawa Station and the Asahibashi Site during the festival.
How to get to and around Asahikawa
Questions? Ask in our forum.
Links and Resources
Hotels around Asahikawa
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Mimatsuso RyokanSituated within 48 km of Azumamachi Hall and 1.2 km of Tokiwa Park in Asahikawa, Mimatsuso Ryokan offers accommodation with seating area. This 1-star ryokan offers free shuttle service. The ryokan features rooms with air conditioning, free private parking and free WiFi. At the ryokan, every unit comes with a tatami, a flat-screen TV, a shared bathroom, bed linen and towels. The units are equipped with heating facilities. Asahikawa Yojo Station is 1.8 km from the ryokan, while Ayako Miura Literature Museum is 2.4 km from the property. Asahikawa Airport is 15 km away.View on Booking.com -
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Asahikawa RideSituated in Asahikawa, near Tokiwa Park, Asahikawa Yojo Station and Asahikawa Civic Cultural Center, Asahikawa Ride features a shared lounge. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and full-day security, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The guest house has family rooms. Every unit comes with a safety deposit box and certain rooms are fitted with city views. All units at the guest house are fitted with a shared bathroom and bed linen. A ski equipment rental service, a ski pass sales point and ski storage space are all available at the guest house, and guests can go skiing in the surroundings. Azumamachi Hall is 47 km from Asahikawa Ride, while Ayako Miura Literature Museum is 2.6 km from the property. Asahikawa Airport is 14 km away.View on Booking.com -
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JR Inn AsahikawaOpen from March 2015, JR Inn Asahikawa offers simple accommodation directly connected to JR Asahikawa Station. A public bath and laundry facilities are available on site. Free WiFi is provided throughout the property. Featuring a minimalistic design, all rooms are fitted with original pillows and a flat-screen TV. Shower facilities are provided in all rooms, while only some rooms come with a bathtub. Asahikawa JR Inn is a 35-minute drive or airport limousine ride from Asahikawa Airport. Asahiyama Zoo is a 30-minute drive away. There is an Aeon shopping centre adjacent to the hotel. The hotel offers various facilities and services including free luggage storage. Parking is available on site for a fee. A buffet breakfast is available at the on-site restaurant.View on Booking.com -
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HOTEL AMANEK AsahikawaSet within 2.2 km of Kaguraoka Park and 300 metres of Asahikawa Station, HOTEL AMANEK Asahikawa provides rooms in Asahikawa. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage space and free WiFi. The property is non-smoking and is located 48 km from Azumamachi Hall. At the hotel, each room includes a wardrobe and a flat-screen TV. All units at HOTEL AMANEK Asahikawa include air conditioning and a desk. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Asahikawa Yojo Station, Tokiwa Park and Ayako Miura Literature Museum. Asahikawa Airport is 15 km away.View on Booking.com -
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Morinoyu Hotel HanakaguraSet in Asahikawa, within 18 km of Asahikawa Yojo Station and 19 km of Kaguraoka Park, Morinoyu Hotel Hanakagura offers accommodation with a restaurant and free WiFi throughout the property as well as free private parking for guests who drive. The property is around 20 km from Ayako Miura Literature Museum, 21 km from Tokiwa Park and 17 km from Kashiwaen Park. Asahikawa Airport is 9 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Dormy Inn AsahikawaDormy Inn Asahikawa is a 10-minute walk from JR Asahikawa Train Station. It offers modern accommodation with a large public hot-spring bath and free in-room wired internet. Guestrooms offer both air conditioning and heating facilities. Each room is equipped with a fridge, an electric kettle with green tea, and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. A humidifier and a trouser press are also provided. Guests can enjoy a relaxing bath at the natural hot spring bath located on the hotel’s top floor. Sauna facilities are also available. Other facilities include a coin-operated laundrette. Complimentary Japanese Yonaki (Ramen) noodles are available from 21:30-23:00 on a first-come, first-served basis. Hot coffee is also served from 15:00-23:00 to guests arriving to the property. Asahikawa Dormy Inn is a 40-minute drive from Asahiyama Zoo and about a 10-minute drive to Kamikawa Shrine.View on Booking.com -
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9 C Hotel AsahikawaSituated in Asahikawa and with Azumamachi Hall reachable within 47 km, 9 C Hotel Asahikawa features a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi throughout the property and a bar. Located around 2 km from Kaguraoka Park, the hotel is also 500 metres away from Asahikawa Station. Private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. At the hotel, rooms are equipped with a desk, a TV, a shared bathroom, bed linen and towels. The rooms will provide guests with a fridge. Guests at 9 C Hotel Asahikawa can enjoy an Asian breakfast. Speaking English and Japanese, staff will be happy to provide guests with practical advice on the area at the reception. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Asahikawa Yojo Station, Ayako Miura Literature Museum and Tokiwa Park. Asahikawa Airport is 15 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Lampstand STAY AsahikawaLampstand STAY Asahikawa is set in Asahikawa, 1.8 km from Ayako Miura Literature Museum, 2 km from Tokiwa Park, and 1.9 km from Kaguraoka Park. Built in 1909, this 1-star ryokan is within 47 km of Azumamachi Hall and 1.4 km of Asahikawa Yojo Station. The ryokan offers rooms with air conditioning, free private parking and free WiFi. At the ryokan, the units come with a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, bed linen and towels. A fridge and kettle are also featured. The units are equipped with heating facilities. There is a coffee shop on-site. Asahikawa Station is 600 metres from the ryokan. Asahikawa Airport is 13 km away.View on Booking.com -
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Hotel Route Inn Grand Asahikawa EkimaeJust a 3-minute walk from Asahikawa Station, Hotel Route Inn Grand Asahikawa Ekimae offers accommodation with private parking on site. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. Decorated in natural earth tones, all carpeted rooms feature air conditioning, heating and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. An air purifier/humidifier, electric kettle, hairdryer and refrigerator are provided. The private bathroom comes with a bath, shower, free toiletries and high-tech toilet. Guests can unwind in the public bath on the 17th floor that boasts a city view. Free ironing services are available at the 24-hour front desk. The property offers a drinks vending machine and coin-operated washing machine. Meeting facilities, fax and photocopying services can be arranged for an additional fee. A Japanese and Western-style buffet breakfast including freshly baked bread is provided at the on-site restaurant La Mer. There is a coffee shop and convenience store on the ground floor. Ayako Miura Literature Museum and Asahikawa Museum of Art are 10 minutes by car from the property. Hotel Route Inn Grand Asahikawa Ekimae is a 35-minute drive away from Asahiyama Zoo and Asahikawa Airport.View on Booking.com -
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Hotel WBF Grande AsahikawaSet in Asahikawa, 47 km from Azumamachi Hall, Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa features a spa and wellness centre and views of the city. With a restaurant, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The hotel has a sauna and a 24-hour front desk. At the hotel, the rooms include a desk and a flat-screen TV. Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa offers some units with mountain views, and every room is equipped with a kettle. At the accommodation all rooms are fitted with bed linen and towels. Guests at Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa can enjoy a buffet breakfast. The hotel offers a hot spring bath. Popular points of interest near Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa include Ayako Miura Literature Museum, Asahikawa Yojo Station and Kaguraoka Park. Asahikawa Airport is 14 km from the property.View on Booking.com
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