Asahikawa

Asahikawa is Hokkaido's second-largest city and the gateway to Daisetsuzan National Park, Japan's biggest national park. Sitting at the confluence of several rivers in a vast inland basin, it experiences some of Japan's coldest winters — and harnesses that climate to create unforgettable experiences.

The city is home to the acclaimed Asahiyama Zoo, where innovative exhibit design lets visitors watch penguins walk, polar bears dive, and seals swim through overhead tubes. Asahikawa is also the birthplace of Asahikawa ramen — a rich, soy-based style with a signature layer of lard that keeps the broth piping hot in the frigid winters.