Asahikawa’s free sightseeing spots

Arashiyama Observatory

"Arashiyama Observatory" is a spectacular spot with a panoramic view of Asahikawa City.
Trees grow thick in the summer, so the best time to visit is during autumn, when the leaves began to fall.
When the weather is nice, you can see the Daisetsuzan Mountain range such as Mt. Asahidake and Mt. Kurodake in the distance.

Near the observatory, there are historic sites such as the « Chisekotsu Sasa bamboo Hut Garden Site, » the «  Manganese Ore Exploration Site » and the «  Chikabumiyama Kunimi Stone Monument ».

In the past there used to be a public ski resort in Arashiyama and a jumping platform next to it.

From «  Arashiyama Observatory, » you can walk to the northern wildflower garden (Arashiyama Park Asahikawa). It is a good course for trekking. But be careful when enjoying your walk in the nature, lately some bears have been seen nearby.

Facility name: Arashiyama Observatory
Address: Arashiyama, Etanbetsu-cho, Asahikawa-shi and Takasu-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
Phone: 0166-52-1934 (To Asahikawa City Parks and Greenery Association)
Parking lot: Yes

Arashiyama Park Asahikawa, the Northern Wildflower Garden

Also in Arashiyama, there is the « Arashiyama Park Asahikawa». There is a walking path with a total length of 5.2 kilometers. In the spring, you can enjoy walking while watching the asian fawn lily and the corydalis fumari communities.

Unfortunately, the park is closed during late-autumn and winter, but the facility "Arashiyama Park Center" built at the entrance of the Arashiyama Park Asahikawa stay open. The building is closed on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month and during New Year holidays.

The "Arashiyama Park Center" entrance is free, materials related to the Ainu people and photographs of the plants living in Arashiyama are displayed inside.

In addition, in the Arashiyama Park Asahikawa, there is a museum «  Ainu Cultural Forest / Traditional Kotan », featuring a restored Ainu Kotan (village), their houses « Cise, » their food storage « Pu , » etc…

Facility Name: Arashiyama Park Asahikawa
Address: Takasu Town Arashiyama Park Center
Phone: 0166-55-9779
Business hours: 9 am to 5 pm (admission is until 4:30)
Regular holidays: 2nd and 4th Mondays (closed on the following Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
Parking lot: Yes

Kamuy-Kotan

« Kamuy-Kotan , » which appeared in the popular comic « Golden Kamuy, » is a popular place within the Golden Kamuy fans.

In Golden Kamuy, Toshizo Hijikata cuts a suspension bridge and drops Shiraishi, the King of Jailbreak, into the river to prevent him from being taken to the 7th Division. After that, Kiroranke saved him with a wooden boat.

Although it was not held this year due to the influence of the coronavirus infection, the « Kotan Festival » is held every year on September 23, during which Ainu traditional dances are featured.

If you cross the suspension bridge over the Ishikari River, you can see the «  Former Kamuy-Kotan Station Building » and its platform built in 1897.

An JNR Class D51 steam locomotive with its 3 cars is also on display, making it a popular spot for railroad fans.

Additionally, there is the « Kamuy-Kotan giant's kettles » (Asahikawa’s designed memorial monument) that has been eroded by the flow of the Ishikari River over many years, and the « Kamuy-Kotan dugout » (Hokkaido designed it as an historic site). The Kamuy-Kotan dugout is the ruins of a village where people lived even before the Ainu.

Name: Kamui Kotan
Location: Kamuy-kotan, Kamui-cho, Asahikawa
Parking lot: Yes

Conclusion

In this article we introduced you three sightseeing spots: the Arashiyama Observatory, the Arashiyama Park Asahikawa and Kamuy-Kotan. These places are especially recommended to people coming from outside Hokkaido.