Asahikawa and Daisetsuzan: Free Sake Tasting at Otokoyama and the Kurodake Ropeway

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Asahikawa is a handy overnight stop between Furano and eastern Hokkaido. Stay by the station, taste sake for free at Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum the next morning, then drive about an hour to Sounkyo and take the Kurodake Ropeway into Daisetsuzan National Park, Japan's largest, for some of Hokkaido's earliest autumn colours.

We drove on from Biei and reached Asahikawa at night in early October 2018, on our 10-day Hokkaido self-drive. Asahikawa is Hokkaido's second-largest city, but unlike Sapporo it's not very touristy. We stopped here for the night before continuing east.

Night in Asahikawa: Aeon Mall and Gokoku

We checked into Y's Hotel Asahikawa Ekimae near Asahikawa Station, and the location was perfect, right next to the station and Aeon Mall. We went to the mall and had dinner at Gokoku (五穀), a set-meal restaurant. It was simple and satisfying; it's hard to go wrong with restaurants in Japan. Compare Asahikawa hotels on Agoda.

Aeon Mall Asahikawa Ekimae: 7-2-5 Miyashita-dori, Asahikawa; open 9am–9pm when we visited.

Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum

After breakfast at Matsuya, H's favourite fast-food chain in Japan, we stopped at the award-winning Otokoyama Sake Brewery. In the museum, you learn about the history of sake and how it's made. The best part? You can taste some sakes for free.

The polishing ratio on each bottle tells you a lot about the sake's quality. A 30% polishing ratio means 70% of each grain has been polished away, and daiginjo sake is polished to 50% or less. I had my first daiginjo here, and since then we've fallen in love with sake and added it to our collection at home.

Address: 7-chome, Nagayama 2-jo, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 079-8412
Hours when we visited: daily, 9am–5pm

Daisetsuzan National Park: Kurodake Ropeway

After the sake tasting, we drove to Daisetsuzan, Japan's largest national park. It's unspoilt, a paradise for outdoor adventures, and one of the best places in Japan for autumn colours and winter scenery.

There are many ways to explore Daisetsuzan. We took the easy way up, on the Kurodake Ropeway from Sounkyo. Then we followed a short walking trail to the chairlift, which took us up to Kurodake's 7th station. More experienced hikers can explore from Asahidake instead. We'd visited Daisetsuzan before in summer, and it was beautiful, so we didn't mind going back; in autumn it was truly a paradise. Afterwards, we set off on the long drive to Shiretoko.

2026 update: the Kurodake Ropeway costs about ¥3,000 return for adults and the chairlift about ¥1,200, with a combined ticket in summer; both close for maintenance from 9 to 30 November. Compare stays in Sounkyo Onsen if you want to start the ropeway early.

More Things to Do in Asahikawa (We Didn't Visit)

Asahiyama Zoo

Asahikawa's most famous sight is Asahiyama Zoo, opened in 1967 and one of Japan's most popular zoos. Its enclosures let you watch the animals from unusual angles, and families love it, especially the penguin pool and, in winter, the penguin walk. Hours change with the season, so check the zoo's website.

Asahikawa Ramen Village

Ramen lovers shouldn't miss Asahikawa Ramen Village, home to eight of Asahikawa's best-known ramen shops; you'll be spoilt for choice. The downside is that it's in the suburbs, so it's easiest by car. Address: 4-chome, Nagayama 11-jo, Asahikawa.

FAQ

Is the sake tasting at Otokoyama free?

It was when we visited: the Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum in Asahikawa offered free tastings, open daily from 9am to 5pm. It's a short drive from the city centre.

How much is the Kurodake Ropeway?

About ¥3,000 return for adults in 2026, plus about ¥1,200 return for the chairlift to Kurodake's 7th station. Both close for maintenance from 9 to 30 November.

When are the autumn leaves in Daisetsuzan?

Daisetsuzan has some of Japan's earliest autumn colours: the high slopes turn from late September, and the Sounkyo gorge and lower areas in early to mid-October.

Is Asahikawa worth staying in?

As a road-trip stop, yes: hotels by the station are convenient and good value, with Aeon Mall next door. It's about an hour to Sounkyo and Daisetsuzan the next morning.