Things to do in Fukagawa

Get close to animals from all parts of the world at the Asahiyama Zoo. There are hundreds of animals and over 100 species to discover, each housed in re-creations of its natural habitat. Asahiyama Zoo has a mission to showcase the authentic behavioral traits of its residents and not just the animals themselves as exhibits. With its excellent facilities and innovative approach, the zoo welcomes over one million visitors annually.

On an island famed throughout Japan for its flower fields, visit Farm Tomita, home to some of the most beautiful displays of wildflowers. During the blooming season, fields dazzle in vivid hues of blue, purple, red, white and yellow, creating picture-perfect images. Stroll between 13 themed areas which spread across a hillside in the shadow of Mount Tokachi. Browse lavender inspired art work and shop for lavender oils.

Make your way to the Asahikawa Ramen Village to satisfy your taste buds on different varieties of ramen noodle soups. Slurping ramen is a quintessential pastime of Japanese culture and a tradition that has been enjoyed for centuries. Visit Asahikawa Ramen Village to satisfy your hunger before sightseeing or to refuel after a busy day of activities.

Ribbons of color greet visitors at Shikisai-no-oka, Japan’s gigantic flower garden. Flowers grown together by common type create swaths of intense colors over 37 acres (15 hectares) of gently rolling hills. Take a deep breath to experience a fragrance like no other. The beauty changes naturally through the year, with the peak season for color from late April to late October. In winter the area becomes a popular spot for snow rafting, tubing and snowmobiling.

The Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art provides an introduction to the art and handicraft culture of the Dohoku area of northern Hokkaido. Asahikawa is home to a thriving woodworking industry with artisans engaged in all types of creation. The gallery strives to showcase the talents of regional craftspeople via themed exhibitions. See displays of everything from statues and furniture to ceramics and paintings at the Asahikawa Museum of Art.

Ueno Farm on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido is an enchanted garden dream. Its developers sought to achieve English charm and succeeded quite nicely. Stroll along brick paths leading to cozy benches in a magical maze of plants.

A visit to Asahikawa City Museum presents a comprehensive overview of the lifestyles of the indigenous groups living on Hokkaido island. The Ainu people are descendants of a tribe of hunter-gatherers that lived in Japan from 1400 to 1700. They inhabit Hokkaido and areas of Russia, including the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. View the information in the Asahikawa City Museum to learn about the evolution of the Ainu, see examples of their homes and understand how they coexist with nature.

Spend a day appreciating nature amid the hilly and forested landscape of Kaguraoka Park. Set on the left bank of the Chungbetsu River, Kaguraoka Park was established in the early 1900s with the planting of a thousand trees. Today it is one of the best places in Asahikawa to admire cherry blossom trees and spot several species of forest wildlife. Enjoy picnics on the lawns, browse varied plant types at a botanical garden and visit a Shinto shrine.