Asahikawa accommodation from AU$56

Asahikawa is on the record as the coldest city in Japan, but don’t let that deter you. The frigid climate is the reason why the city’s top attractions exist in the first place, and the temperature is fine most of the year. The city is close to many of the ski resorts on mountain ranges, which are especially popular during December to March. The closest slope is a 30-minute drive away. In February, you’ll have a great reason to brave the cold as ice sculpture artists from across the globe arrive for the Asahikawa Winter Festival, which takes place in Tokiwa Park.

If you’d rather stick to the city itself, there’s plenty to do here as well. The liveliest area in Asahikawa is its main shopping drag, Kaimono Koen. Here you can spend to your heart’s content with 14 blocks of shops and restaurants, and if you’ve still got some energy left in those legs at nightfall, it is also the city’s one-stop place for nightlife.

Nightclubs and bars in this city can be havens of warmth during the cold season, coupled with a warm serving of Sake from popular Japanese breweries based in Asahikawa. The Otokoyama Brewery is worth the visit because it also has a museum. Then, during the spring and summer there is nothing better than enjoying a drink in an outdoor beer garden. Asahikawa has a staggering 1,300+ bars and restaurants!

The city is also home to the Asahiyama Zoo, one of the most famous zoos in Japan and the second most popular behind Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. Though small, the zoo has cool ways to get close to the animals. The polar bears can be seen swimming underwater, while the penguin enclosure is viewed through a glass tunnel and the seal section makes you feel like you’re right amongst them.

That’s certainly not all there is to Asahikawa; if you have the drive, it will keep on delivering. From hot springs and golf in the countryside, to cycling along the Ishikarigawa River during spring, there really is so much to enjoy. So wot are you waiting for? Asahikawa hotels go well with a few days in Sapporo accommodation to get a feel for Hokkaido’s two biggest cities, or make it part of a grand adventure around Japan. Don’t forget your flight to Japan!