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Hokkaido Itinerary - Asahikawa ( Free Sake Tasting & visiting the largest national park in Japan - Daisetsuzan National Park!)


Summary
Day 1: Singapore - Hakodate Airport – Check in Hotel Hachimanzaka - Hakodate Dining Gaya
Day 2: Hakodate Morning Market - Ikura Tei - Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse - Lucky Pierrot- Onuma Quasi-National Park - Check-in Granvillage Toya Daiwa Ryokan Annex - Dinner at Ippontei
Day 3: Lake Toya - 岡田屋 - Fujimori Fruit Farm– Jozankei Hoheikyo Dam -Arrive in Sapporo – Suage 2 –  Shopping at Sapporo – check in at Hotel Sunroute New Sapporo
Day 4: Nijo Fish Market - Farm Tomita – Bluepond – Check in Ys Hotel Asahikawa Ekimae – Dinner at Aeon Mall
Day 5: Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum - Daisetsuzan National Park - Set off to Shari – Dinner at 焼肉工房くりから知床斜里店– Check in Hotel Route Inn Grantia Shiretoko Shari Ekimae
Day 6: Lake Notoro – Lunch at Shiretoko Satomi– Hiking at Shiretoko Five Lake – Check in Hotel Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel
Day 7: Shiretoko Goko Lake - Kaminoko Pond – Forest of Akan Tsuruga Resort HANAYUUKA – Explore Lake Akan area
Day 8: Lake Akan - Lake Akan Eco Museum Center -  Lake Onneto - Butadon no Tonta Michelin Bib Gourmand – Rokkatei flagship - Kangetsuen Hotel
Day 9: Buta Don Pancho - Shopping in Sapporo  - HOTEL MYSTAYS Sapporo Nakajima Park 
Day 10: Sapporo - Singapore

Read the summary of our 10 Days 9 Night Hokkaido Itinerary here

Read more about tips of self-drive in Hokkaido here 
Read more about Hakodate here
Read more about Lake Toya here
Read more about Asahikawa & Daisetsuzan National Park here
Read more about Shiretoko here
Read more about Lake Akan here
Read more about Obihiro here

We continued our journey from Biei and arrived Asahikawa at night. Located in the northern part of Hokkaido, Asahikawa is the second largest city in Hokkaido. Unlike Sapporo, Asahikawa is not popular with tourist. Despite that, we decide to stop at Asahikawa for the night before continuing our journey to the east.
We check into Ys Hotel Asahikawa Ekimae near Asahikawa Train station and it has the perfect location. Located next to the train station and Aeon Shopping mall, the hotel is very accessible and convenient. We visited Aeon shopping mall and visited 五谷 restaurant for dinner. It was simple and satisfying. I think it is difficult to go wrong with the choice of restaurant in Japan.

Aeon Asahikawa station Shopping mall
Address: 7 Chome-2-5 Miyashitadōri, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaidō 070-0030, Japan
Opening Hours: 9am - 9pm, Daily

Day 5: Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum - Daisetsuzan National Park - Set off to Abashiri
Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum
After having breakfast at H favourite Fast Food restaurant – Matsuya in Japan, we stop by the award-winning Sake Brewery - Otokoyama Sake Brewery. In the Brewery Museum, one can learn about the history of sake, how it is made. The best part? You get to try some of the Sake for Free.

The polishing ration on every bottle of sake determines the quality of the sake. If a bottle says 30% polishing ratio, it means that 70% of each grain has been polished away. Daiginjo aka big Ginjo Sake means they are polished to at least 50%. So I had my first Daiginjo at the brewery. Since then, we have fallen in love with Sake and have added it to our home collection.

Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum
Address: 7 Chome Nagayama 2 Jo, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 079-8412, Japan
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm , daily

Daisetsuzan National Park
After the sake tasting session, we visited the largest national park in Japan - Daisetsuzan National Park. The national park is unspoiled and is a paradise for outdoor adventures. Plus, it is also the best place to see fall colours and winter.

There are many ways to explore Daisetsuzan National Park. We took the easy way up by taking the ropeway via Kurodake Ropeway. Afterwards, we took a walking trail that leads us to the chairlift station. The chairlifts bring us up to the 7th station of Kurodake. Click here to find out more about the route from Kurodake. The more advanced hiker can opt to explore Daisetsuzan National Park via Mount Asahidake.

We visited Daisetsuzan National Park previously in summer and it was beautiful! The view is so great that we didn’t mind visiting the national park again! With the autumn foliage and weather, this place is truly a paradise. After our visit to Daisetsuzan National Park, we set off to Shiretoko and spent a night there.

Other things to do in Asahikawa
Asahiyama Zoo
Another popular destination in Asahikawa is the Asahiyama Zoo. Opened since July 1967, the zoo is one of the most popular zoo in Japan. With visitor allowing to observe the animals from a different view, it gives visitors a different experience. Family with kids will love that! Especially the penguin's pool.

Asahiyama Zoo
Address: Higashiasahikawacho Kuranuma, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8205, Japan
Opening Hours: 10:30am - 3:30 pm

Asahikawa Ramen Village
Ramen lovers will not miss Asahikawa Ramen Village. The village is the house of 8 most well-known ramen shop in Asahikawa. You will definitely be spoilt for choices.  The downside? The Ramen village is located in the suburbs of Asahikawa.

Asahikawa Ramen Village
Address: 4 Chome-119−48 Nagayama 11 Jo, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 079-8421, Japan
Opening Hours: 11am - 8pm , Daily 

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