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Many tourists flock to snowy destinations in Japan, including Muslim travelers who may reside in warmer climates. A destination we recommend is Asahikawa, a city in Hokkaido with a range of services suitable for Muslim travelers. One of the biggest events in Asahikawa is the Asahikawa Winter Festival, during which huge snow statues and ice sculptures are displayed on the streets. In past years, there was even a snow mosque on display.
Visit the following link for more information on Muslim-friendly restaurants and facilities in Hokkaido: Welcome Hokkaido Muslim & Vegetarian Guide
An easy-to-explore snowy town with Muslim-friendly amenities
Asahikawa is a popular city in north-central Hokkaido, within easy reach of Sapporo, and by direct flight from Tokyo. A flight from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Asahikawa Airport takes less than 2 hours. From Sapporo, the prefectural capital of Hokkaido famous for its Clock Tower and Snow Festival, you can take the Limited Express Kamui or Lilac from Sapporo Station. The trip takes less than 90 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 in the JR Asahikawa Station. There is 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 in various languages are also available at the counter, sure to come in handy for your trip.
Asahikawa Airport
Address: (Prayer room location) 2F Higashi 2-sen-16-98, Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
TEL: +81-0166-83-3939
Open: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Access: From Asahikawa Station, take a direct bus (approximately 35 minutes)
Asahikawa Airport
Asahikawa Tourism and Local Products Information Center (in JR Asahikawa Station East concourse)
Address: 8-3-1 Miyashita-dori, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaido
Open: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Access: From Asahikawa Airport, take a direct bus (approximately 40 minutes)
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 those who are new to the sport can enjoy suitable slopes at these ski resorts. In Asahikawa, it begins to snow earlier than elsewhere in Japan, usually from late October. Temperatures can get down to minus 7 degrees Celsius or even lower in peak winter, around January to February. Around this time, the snow can be piled nearly two meters high. Make sure to dress appropriately to protect yourself against cold weather.
“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, powder snow gives a sensation of floating when you ski over it. For this reason, it is attractive to many skiers.
You can rent skiwear and equipment, including skis and snowboards, so feel free to take up the challenge.
Only in winter: places in Asahikawa to play in the snow for free
If you do not feel like getting sporty on your trip, the city of Asahikawa itself has many places for casually experiencing the snow. Rental skis and snow tubes are also available at many parks, some of which are listed below. Be sure to wear a cap, gloves, and warm clothes. These areas are usually open from December to March, but it’s best to check the days and hours beforehand as they may change depending on the weather or other conditions.
Asahikawa City also has a free ice-skating rink in front of the JR Asahikawa Station every winter. The rink is open to the general public, 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 borrow skis for free:
1. Asahikawa Kitasaito Garden (Winter Garden)
You can enjoy a tube sliding course and a ski walking course at Asahikawa Kitasaito Garden, around a 10-minute walk from the JR Asahikawa Station. The tube sliding course allows you to slide down a gentle slope on a rubber tube. The ski walking course involves walking a 800-meter trail on skis.
Address: 1, Miyamae 2-jo, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaido
Asahikawa Kitasaito Garden (around Garden Center)
Access: From JR Asahikawa Station, walk to the garden (approximately 10 minutes)
Asahikawa Kitasaito Garden (Winter Garden)
Ski Walking Course (no admission charge, equipment can be borrowed)
Open: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Return equipment by 4:00 p.m.)
2. Hanasaki Sports Park
For more ski walking, visit Hanasaki Sports Park and its ski walking course. There is also an outdoor ice-skating rink in the large park. Skating equipment can be rented.
Address: Hanasaki-cho 1-chome to Hanasaki-cho 5-chome, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaido
Access: From Asahikawa Station, take a bus to Starfinn Kyujo Mae bus stop (approximately 16 minutes)
Ski Walking Course (no admission charge, equipment can be borrowed)
Open: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Return equipment by 5:00 p.m.)
Ice-skating Rink (admission charge and skate rental required)
Open: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Return equipment by 8:00 p.m.)
3. Shunkodai Park
If you wish to feel relaxed in nature, we recommend spacious Shunkodai Park, which has two ski walking courses with 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-shi, Hokkaido
Access: From Asahikawa Station, take a taxi to the park (approximately 17 minutes)
Ski Walking Course (no admission charge, equipment can be borrowed)
Open: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Return equipment by 5:00 p.m.)
Asahiyama Zoo is fun in the snow
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.
Photo copyrights: 旭川市旭山動物園
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. A prayer space is available upon request at the zoo’s support center, so you need not be concerned about your prayer times during your visit. It is recommended to inform the zoo a few days in advance to ensure a prayer room is ready for your visit.
Photo copyrights: 旭川市旭山動物園
Asahiyama Zoo
Address: Kuranuma, Higashiasahikawa-cho, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaido
Access: From Asahikawa Station, take a bus to Asahiyama Zoo bus stop (approximately 40 minutes)
From Asahikawa Airport, take a bus to Asahiyama Zoo bus stop (approximately 35 minutes)
Local Hokkaido dishes to warm both body and mind
Hokkaido has many delicious foods, including seafood and mutton barbecue. Sapporo, Asahikawa, and Hakodate are also well-known for their local versions of ramen. Asahikawa has a number of Muslim-friendly restaurants.
The ramen restaurant Asahikawa Sanpei’s Main Store offers the Muslim-friendly menu item “Healthy Chicken Miso Ramen,” made with halal-certified chicken. The soup tastes rich but has a refreshing aftertaste, and the roasted chicken main topping is delicious. For some kick, you can choose from six levels of spiciness. Why not try a bowl of spicy ramen to commemorate your trip to Hokkaido? It will help you forget the cold.
You should also try Muslim-friendly soba noodles at Soba Yukiya. The restaurant uses soba noodles made exclusively from buckwheat flour produced in Kamikawa, Hokkaido. Be sure to ask the staff for their Muslim-friendly side dish options of which they have a few such as their dashi-maki tamago, a type of Japanese omelet. Why not relax over Muslim-friendly buckwheat tea while basking in the restaurant’s calm, authentically Hokkaido atmosphere?
It is very cold during winter in Asahikawa. Delicious ramen and soba noodles will help to warm your body and soul.
Asahikawa Sanpei
Address: 1F Endless17, Hidari 1-go, 7-chome, Ichijo-dori, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaido
Access: From Asahikawa Station, approximately 6 minutes by foot
Soba Yukiya
Address: 1F 329, 7-chome, Sanjo-dori, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaido
Access: From Asahikawa Station, approximately 6 minutes by foot
Asahikawa’s natural scenery is magnificent year round
Asahikawa offers beautiful scenery in each season, not just winter. Kamuikotan is one such scenic spot, where the folklore of the Ainu, the indigenous people of northern Japan, lives on. Though slightly remote, Kamuikotan is accessible from central Asahikawa by bus. There is also Shujitsu-no-Oka, a scenic spot closer to Asahikawa Airport. This hilly area is known for a single road that winds the entirety of its 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 Blue Pond (Shirogane Aoiike) in Biei, close to Asahikawa. The surface of the pond is strikingly blue, and the larch trees that stand in the pond add to the mysterious atmosphere. The scenery and appearance of the pond changes depending on the season and time of day. This image shows Shirogane Blue Pond in summer.
Kamuikotan
Address: Kamuikotan, Kamui-cho, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaido
Access: From Asahikawa Station, take a bus (approximately 35 minutes)
Shirogane Blue Pond
Address: Shirogane, Biei-cho, Kawakami-gun, Hokkaido
Access: From Asahikawa Station, take a train to Biei Station (approximately 35 minutes), then take a bus (approximately 20 minutes)
Alternatively, from Asahikawa Station, take a bus (approximately 70 minutes)
Shujitsu-no-Oka
Address: 31-go, Nishikagura 4-sen, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaido
Access: From Asahikawa Station, take a taxi (approximately 25 minutes)
Try visiting Asahikawa in different seasons to appreciate its unique beauty. The area is easily to reach, so if you are planning to tour vast Hokkaido, consider adding a side trip to Asahikawa.
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