📢 Notice of Resumed Operations Asahidake Ropeway will resume service from Thursday, December 11✨ Groomed courses are available in the MtAsahi winter area⛷ Skiing and sliding equipment may be brought into the gondolas and station buildings. 🕘 Hours: 9:00–15:40 (last ascent 15:20) 💴 Fare: Adults ¥2,800 / Children ¥1,750 (round trip) For the latest information, check the Asahidake Ropeway official website

🚧 Notice: Partial Closure of the Asahidake Nature Trail Strong winds on the night of September 20 knocked down trees along sections of the Asahidake Nature Trail. For safety reasons, some sections are currently closed to passage. If you plan to visit, we recommend checking the exact closed sections in advance. 🔍 Please refer to the map below for the detailed affected areas. The latest conditions are being updated regularly on the Asahidake Visitor Center official website. For a safe and secure walk, please be sure to check it.

[🗻This winter, head to Higashikawa-cho! JAL Furusato Support Discount starts✈️] Higashikawa-cho in Hokkaido lies about a 10-minute drive from Asahikawa Airport🚗✨ Nestled against Daisetsuzan National Park and Mt. Asahidake, it is a town overflowing with natural beauty. 💧This unusual town has no central waterworks and uses snowmelt water directly in daily life. 🍚The Higashikawa rice grown with this mineral-rich water is a popular branded rice across Japan! ❄️In winter you can enjoy sublime dry powder—the perfect ski paradise🎿 Cafe hopping is also recommended☕️✨ ▼Right now, visit Higashikawa-cho at a great price with the JAL Furusato Support Discount! 👜A subsidy of 7,000 yen per night of accommodation (up to 3 nights) 🎁Plus, the first 100 guests will receive 150 g (one go) of Higashikawa rice! *This subsidy applies only to reservations made through the JAL Furusato Support Discount eligible page. ・ Travel period: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 – Saturday, January 31, 2026 ・ Booking period: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 – Friday, January 30, 2026 🔽Check the QR code for details!

The long-closed “phantom roadway” Chobochinai Route will reopen for a limited time again this year. The Chobochinai Route, long closed to traffic, will open a little earlier than usual this year! 📅 Friday, August 22, 2025, from 11:00 AM ■ What the phantom roadway is This road is an extremely limited route that is usually passable for only about one month, from mid-September to mid-October. It is called the “phantom roadway” because it can be used only when the water level falls to its lowest. Early October in particular coincides with peak autumn foliage, drawing many visitors from both inside and outside the route. 📌 Open section Dodo Route 1116 (Chobochinai Gate to Higashikawa-kita 7-sen Gate) 📅 Opening date and time From 11:00 AM on Friday, August 22, 2025 ※ The schedule may change or be canceled due to weather or road conditions. ※ The start of the winter closure period is undecided at this time. 🚧 Cautions There are no maintained sidewalks, and some sections are narrow. Please take extra care with vehicle passing, sharp curves, and road surface conditions. Enjoy the nature of Higashikawa while driving safely. PS. The photos were taken in past years.

In the nature trail of Asahidake Onsen town, traces of a brown bear (💩) were found. These signs can be seen in this area every year, but this is the first confirmation this summer. Many people enjoy walking this trail, but it sees fewer visitors than Sugatami Elua and, in particular, the spot where signs were found is some distance from the road. 📣 When walking the trail, please note the following: ・Avoid going alone. ・Carry a bear bell and bear spray. ・Refrain from traveling during dim hours such as early morning or dusk. If you find any traces, please report them to the Asahidake Visitor Center. - Asahidake Visitor Center - TEL: 0166-97-2153 (9:00–17:00) We appreciate your cooperation to ensure a safe walk.

📍Susoaidaira (Susoaidaira) | Hokkaido – Daisetsuzan Range A breathtaking scene of short-lived summer flowers you can see only in summer. From the trailhead at Sugatami Pond, the path leads you as if into a heavenly flower garden. Above 1,600 meters in elevation, at the foot of Asahidake where snow still lingers, alpine plants like chinguruma carpet the slopes in a miraculous display. It felt like a quiet, gentle moment that lifted my spirits. 🌿 👉These photos were taken yesterday. The beauty truly took my breath away.

Notice!! Bear sighting near Mt. Asahidake Around 4:30 p.m. on June 17, a bear was sighted near the Gamaiwa parking area, about 6 km before the hot-spring town on the Dodo Asahikawa–Asahidake Onsen Line heading to Asahidake Onsen. Please exercise extreme caution if you are passing through the area. If you sight a bear, report it immediately to the contact below. Higashikawa-cho Agricultural Promotion Division, Forestry and Agriculture Promotion Office TEL 0166-82-2111 (ext. 152)

To residents and visitors of Higashikawa-cho and surrounding areas On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, a brown bear was sighted along Prefectural Route 1160 (Asahidake Onsen Line). Please exercise extreme caution if you are traveling through or using the nearby area. Date and time: Wednesday, May 28 Location: On the road and near the bridge in front of Daisetsu Asahidake Gensui Park, heading from Prefectural Route 1160 (Asahidake Onsen Line) toward Higashikawa-cho. Number of bears: One (encountered twice) Situation: The bear ran from the T-junction of Prefectural Route 1160 (Asahidake Onsen Line) toward the Asahidake Gensui area. After fleeing into the forested area, it appeared on the road again before running off. We will continue to update with the latest information, so please remain alert. If you spot a bear, please report it immediately to the contact below. Higashikawa Town Agricultural Promotion Division, Forestry and Agriculture Promotion Office TEL 0166-82-2111 (ext. 152) https://reurl.cc/W0ZGYO...

🌸 At Higashikawa-cho’s famous cherry spot, Kitoushi Forest, cherry blossoms are a little late this year. They usually peak during Golden Week, but as of May 2 they are still in bud. It looks like it will take a little longer before full bloom. 🌱 In the meantime, the forest offers spring wildflowers like katakuri and ezohengosaku. Pale purples and blues of these delicate blooms herald the arrival of spring. 🐤 Kitoushi Forest is also a haven for wild birds, making it a perfect spot for birdwatching! ❄ And Higashikawa’s symbol, Mt. Asahidake, is once again a world of silver. The contrast of the snowy peak against the blue sky is stunning, offering spectacular views. 🌿 Come and enjoy the nature-filled town of Higashikawa during Golden Week! 🚗

🚴‍♀️✨ Starting today! Bike rentals are now available! Based at Roadside Station Higashikawa Michikusa-kan, you can now rent bicycles! Choose from serious road bikes to electric-assist bicycles and reserve according to your needs 😊 📍Location: 1-1-15 Higashimachi, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido 🕘Hours: 9:00–17:00 📞Inquiries: 0166-68-4777 🔗 For details, visit the Higashikawa Tourism Association website!! Feel the breeze and go discover the charms of Higashikawa 🌿

Hello everyone! Notice‼ To all users of the Asahidake cross-country ski course from Thursday, April 24 to Friday, April 25 Due to sewer pipe work at the Higashikawa Town Asahidake Youth Campground during the period below, construction vehicles will pass through the cross-country ski course and work will take place in some sections. Date and time: Thursday, April 24 to Friday, April 25, 9:00–15:00 As a result of the work, areas around the site may be temporarily unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience to users and ask that you follow on-site directions and guidance to ensure safety. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Contact Asahidake Visitor Center Address 071-1472: Asahidake Onsen, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido TEL: 0166-97-2153 OPEN 9:00–17:00

Hello to everyone watching Cool Japan Video, nice to meet you! We are the Higashikawa Tourism Association. We will share attractive tourism information about Higashikawa-cho in Hokkaido, home to Daisetsuzan National Park, Japan’s largest national park, on Cool Japan Video, so please look forward to it! Higashikawa-cho sits in central Hokkaido and overflows with natural blessings. It enjoys excellent access, about a 10-minute drive from Asahikawa Airport to the town center. Uniquely for Japan, Higashikawa-cho does not have a public water supply system. Beautiful natural water formed by Daisetsuzan’s snowmelt seeping deep into the ground serves as the town’s domestic water and is used in many places, including restaurants. Agriculture benefits from these abundant water resources, producing delicious rice and vegetables with exceptional flavor. One of Higashikawa-cho’s charms is its proud hot springs. Higashikawa-cho has two hot spring areas, Asahidake Onsen and Tenninkyo Onsen, both located within Daisetsuzan National Park. Around Asahidake Onsen there is no typical hot-spring town; the landscape is carefully managed with height limits and spacing regulations. Day-trip bathing is available, so please stop by during mountain climbs or hikes. You can luxuriate in the hot spring while soaking in the natural scenery. Tenninkyo Onsen is also popular for its reputed benefits for diabetes and arteriosclerosis. Two hot-spring facilities operate there, and as of June 2023 both lodging and day-trip bathing are available. Nearby you can enjoy Hagoromo Falls, selected as one of Japan’s top 100 waterfalls. Beyond hot springs, Higashikawa-cho offers many attractive spots where you can feel nature’s breath. - Asahidake Visitor Center Opened in 2019, Asahidake Visitor Center provides information on the nature of Daisetsuzan National Park and guided tours. You can view a diorama of the spectacular viewpoints for mountain climbing. Seasonal exhibits, AR displays, and VR goggles allow a virtual experience of the Daisetsuzan mountains. - Daisetsu Asahidake Gensui Park This park is the source of Higashikawa-cho’s natural water, rich in calcium and minerals. You can freely collect spring water that Daisetsuzan’s snowmelt naturally filtered over centuries. - Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway The roughly 10-minute aerial ride from the Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway Sanroku Station at 1,100 meters to Sugatami Station at 1,600 meters offers grand panoramic views and seasonal scenery. From the ropeway, beginners can enjoy a trekking course of about one hour. The hike to Asahidake’s summit takes about two hours from here, and the peak rewards you with a 360-degree panorama including the Tokachi Mountain Range, MtAshibetsu, and Mt. Shokanbetsu. - Canmore Ski Village (Kitoushi Forest Park) This ski area is inside Kitoushi Forest Park, a 15-minute drive from Asahikawa Airport. With six courses, it caters to beginners through advanced skiers and is popular with many international visitors. Kitoushi Forest Park also has a campsite and cottages, so overnight stays are possible. - Lake Chubetsu At the foot of Daisetsuzan National Park, Lake Chubetsu offers canoeing experiences. You can enjoy seasonal vistas from fresh greenery to autumn colors and snow-capped scenes. Local guides support participants, so even first-timers can join with confidence. Higashikawa-cho’s population is about 8,400 people (as of June 2023). Thanks to strong child-rearing support and convenient access from the airport, the town has seen an increase in residents in recent years. Its rich natural environment makes it an ideal place for a stress-free life. The Higashikawa Town Immigration Experience lets people live here for three months up to one year. The town operates a municipal Japanese language school, and around 600 foreign residents live here, with strong support for international students. Higashikawa-cho is a place full of nature’s gifts. Aiming to be a photograph-friendly town with beautiful seasonal nature, it has declared itself the Photo Town, the photography culture capital. Higashikawa-cho offers abundant natural environments, hot springs, delicious food, and the warmth of local people. We will continue to bring you plenty of charming information about Higashikawa-cho in Hokkaido, so thank you for your support.