Asahikawa
Asahikawa is a fantastic city and makes a great base for exploring the many resorts nearby such as
Kamui Links,
Asahidake, Pipu, Kuro-dake,
Kitataisetsu, Tokachi-dake and
Furano.
The city not only allows for great skiing or snowboarding, but also lets visitors experience Japanese culture that hasn’t been “resortified”.
Outside the hotel don’t expect many people to speak English beyond some basic greetings, and don’t expect to see other Westerners. Whilst some may view this as a travel inconvenience, it made us feel that we were in the “real” Japan.
The vibrant downtown area is accessible on foot and is really easy to navigate via a numbered grid system. It’s full of restaurants, bars, and department stores that will delight any shopping-loving female (who’s less than a size 12). There’s plenty to do in and around Asahikawa for those who don’t want to play on the snow (see
sightseeing in Asahikawa).
When we were there, it was really cold at night time with temperatures around minus 25. We felt it necessary to wear our thermals out, and even though we’ve seen it many times before in Japan, we were continually amazed and entertained by the local girls walking around in their short skirts with bare legs. The stilettos accompanying the outfits also amazed us, considering the slippery roads and footpaths on which our Sorrel (Caribous) boots were struggling to keep grip.