Whilst we’ve visited Asahikawa a few times previously, this visit seemed to be particularly fun. It was cold and snowy and we focussed on visiting little ski areas such as Horotachi, Kamoidake, Hinata, and Wassamu where the powder was untracked and delightful. We also visited Canmore but won’t be returning. Our finale was a big powder day at Kamui.

In the evenings we enjoyed wandering the streets looking for cute bars and restaurants. We were once again drawn to Furarito Alley and we rediscovered a little family-run eatery that we visited in 2008 and its charm hadn’t changed.

We stayed at the OMO7 Hotel which was a great spot to stay (you can see our review here) and had very convenient parking.

You can see more on thoughts of the benefits of using Asahikawa as a base on the Asahikawa overview page.
See our video here

We utilised Asahikawa as a base for 4 nights to visit Otoe cat skiing and Pippu Ski Resort, and once again we loved our experience in this city. We’ve visited Asahikawa multiple times in the past 10 years and it’s evolved a little. Other than the train station being completely rebuilt, Asahikawa has become more international friendly, with more restaurants with English menus popping up, and more Asahikawa hotels that have staff that can speak English. Nonetheless it hasn’t lost its Japanese soul, and it’s a nice addition to a Hokkaido ski trip to hang out in a city.

We stayed at the JR Inn Asahikawa, which is a lovely modern hotel next to the station. Whilst we didn’t need to use the train station, the car parking was very convenient and the direct access to the Aeon Mall and its many cheap eateries was a major bonus.

And heading out to explore Asahikawa and its many restaurants was once again a highlight. We visited Furariito Alley and despite one of the restaurants becoming a hit on TripAdvisor, the other little establishments remain very cute and authentic.
See our video here

Asahikawa makes a great base for exploring a few of the quality Hokkaido ski resorts. Rather than staying at a Japanese ski resort that may have too many Western influences, the city of Asahikawa provides a genuine Hokkaido experience. English is not widely spoken and there are very few Westerners. Those not fluent in Japanese may find this rather tricky to get by, but adventurous travellers will appreciate the benefits that this affords.

Pros of Asahikawa: access to a few ski resorts; an array of interesting restaurants and drinking holes, and hotels that provide great value for money accommodation.

Cons: brrrrrrrr and the commute to the ski resorts each day.
See our video here