Kamikawa is a big municipality in the course of Hokkaido, with the town of Asahikawa at its centre.
Whereas it’s simply ignored for extra distant areas on Hokkaido, Kamikawa has rather a lot to supply to the out of doors fanatic who’d wish to discover mountains, rivers and get to know the native Ainu tradition.
It’s additionally house to the Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park, the most important Nationwide Park in Japan, which is house to many bears and it’s surrounding Hotsprings are inviting to hikers and skiers alike.
Right here is an summary:
Sapporo
Our journey to Kamikawa begins in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido which is definitely reached from overseas. Japan is thought for its quick and environment friendly trains, so it’s the logical option to proceed to Asahikawa.
It’s a brief and pleasurable journey, and from Asahikawa we proceed by way of Bus to the great Fratello Di Mikuni Restaurant, which sits atop a hill and has great views in direction of Daisetsuzan. This Restaurant not solely delights with the magnificent views you may have in direction of the mountains, but in addition the scrumptious meals the Cooks conjure up in your plate! We had probably the most superb six course meal which is able to make your mouth water. 🤤
Pictures Museum of Koetsu Ichinei
After our scrumptious dinner we take a stroll by means of the close by Daisetsu Mori-no Backyard, which was pleasant with its autumn vibes. I might have spend much more time right here, it was so fairly, although we went on to the inspiring images Museum of Koetsu Ichinei who can be the creator of the “Mountains in Hokkaido” e book.
Ichinei-San has spent his lifetime photographing within the Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park, and the gathering of his photographs will make you wish to go instantly and go to this Nationwide Park in all of the seasons.
Sounkyo Customer Centre
After this inspiring go to, by which Ichinei-San has instructed us about his love for the mountains, we made a go to to the Sounkyo Customer Centre down the street, the place we realized extra concerning the Nationwide Park which we are going to go to the following day.
Lodge Taisetsu – Kaiseki dinner
Lodge Taisetsu is our house for the evening, on the doorstep of the Nationwide Park and never distant from the Mt. Kurodake Ropeway.
The native deer welcome us and after shifting our belongings into our conventional and spacious rooms we head to the Onsen, which is positioned on the high flooring and overlooks the mountains. Sitting within the steaming sizzling spring water whereas it’s a bit chilly outdoors and overlooking the character is an incredible expertise, and so enjoyable – it is best to attempt it!
No go to to a Onsen Lodge just like the Taisetsu is full with out an incredible Kaiseki dinner – a ten course meal which incorporates scrumptious Sashimi, a second dish with a seasonal theme, Takiawase, Shiizakana, seasonal pickled greens and naturally a scrumptious dessert!
After this tasty expertise we loved an Ainu Tradition efficiency together with the attractive sounding mouth-harp. A few of my buddies went now to the Onsen, which regularly is open until midnight – an ideal approach to finish a fantastic day.
A Go to to Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park
Daisetsuzan (大雪山) stands as Hokkaido’s most in depth nationwide park, safeguarding an unlimited expanse of almost untouched wilderness surpassing the dimensions of sure smaller Japanese prefectures.
This sanctuary is a haven for climbing fans, nature lovers, in addition to an abode for deer and brown bears. It proudly holds the excellence of being the primary location in Japan to embrace the colourful hues of autumn leafs and the pristine great thing about snowfall annually.
The easiest way to discover this haven is on foot, which is what we did the following morning. Earlier than you’re allowed into the Nationwide Park you need to sit by means of a 5 minute training session concerning the bears within the Nationwide Park and how you can behave when you ought to encounter one. It’s informative and made in a enjoyable method, and after this we hit the path.
The great thing about Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park must be skilled – from climbing previous steaming Fumaroles to tiny streams by which you see Oshorokoma trout swim, it’s one thing which it is best to see for your self.
Add in the great thing about the onsetting autumn colours, the beautiful lakes which you cross in your hike and the far-reaching views throughout the Nationwide Park and past, and I imagine you’re already testing flights to Hokkaido – you’ll be able to scroll to the underside of the article for that, to see the most effective offers for that, in addition to Lodges and restaurant suggestions!
©Hendrik-Morkel
Asahikawa Design Heart
After our hike we had a unbelievable lunch at a neighborhood restaurant, earlier than driving with the Bus again to Asahikawa and a go to to the Asahikawa Design Heart.
Asahikawa is a UN Design Capital, identical to Helsinki and a handful of different cities throughout the globe, and within the Asahikawa Design Heart you’ll be able to study extra concerning the wooden and furnishings business of the island.
Going by means of the fascinating exhibition we had been led to the wood-working space of the Design Centre, the place we might select from a wide range of objects which we might now craft ourselves! This was quite a lot of enjoyable and it was tough to decide on what to make – in the long run I picked a fantastic piece of wooden which might change into a small tray for my companion.
In Asahikawa we stayed within the Artwork Lodge. There’s many unbelievable Lodges on this city of virtually 340.000 inhabitants, although the breakfast room on the high flooring of the Artwork Lodge, with beautiful views over the town and in direction of the mountains, makes it a stable alternative.
As for Eating places, in a metropolis of this dimension you will discover something that fits your tastes – from conventional Japanese delicacies over Ramen to extra Western delicacies. This night in Asahikawa we went to eat on the Oysteria Canyon Base on the principle avenue, which presents very tasty Italian meals! There have been additionally unbelievable Vegan choices, and the deserts had been so scrumptious that we had seconds. 😋
Biking to Higashikawa
The subsequent morning the solar was excessive up within the sky and beckoned us to hitch it on a biking journey. We rode out to the Daisetsuzan Gensui Park, which is a fantastic Park not too distant from the Asahidake Ropeway.
It’s a beautiful place with a beautiful stream which you’ll hike alongside as much as the supply. There’s additionally a car parking zone the place locals come to select up the water from faucets, as it’s speculated to have therapeutic qualities. It’s undoubtedly very tasty and all of us stuffed up our water bottles!
It was now time for a really good cycle journey to Higashikawa, alongside the shore of the Chubetsu Lake and throughout the dam. We rode on regular streets this primary half, however site visitors was little and the biking was straightforward and enjoyable, with nice views.
On the dam we loved the views again in direction of the mountains, particularly Asahidake which was the closest and regarded majestic within the heat autumn day.
The subsequent half was arguably probably the most pleasurable: On a cycle street with the Chubetsu river on our left and golden rice paddies on our proper. It was completely unbelievable and one thing to undoubtedly do once you go to!
To high issues off we even visited a neighborhood rice farmer, and heard how his rice has received a number of competitions in Japan!
Hokkaido’s rice may be very extremely regarded throughout Japan, even when rice cultivation has solely began right here within the final century when new applied sciences turned accessible to develop rice this far north in such quick summers.
We continued into this lovely city which is nicely know throughout the island because the “City of Pictures” – there are numerous proficient photographers residing right here, and within the city heart you’ll be able to see a whole lot of outdated, lovely movie cameras.
Exterior we loved additionally a captivating exhibition a couple of film, there’s a Montbell Retailer on the principle street if you wish to purchase some high-quality out of doors package, and the Tofu Gentle Serve store subsequent to it’s extremely advisable – the ice cream is scrumptious!
Meals competition Asahikawa
After our experience we took the bus again to Asahikawa, the place we went and explored the Meals Competition which was occurring.
It’s an over one kilometer lengthy assortment of a whole lot of meals stalls on the principle avenue, the place you’ll be able to eat native and worldwide treats. It’s an absolute feast – and it’s additionally inexpensive!
Once you’re in September in Asahikawa ensure that to plan your go to round this Competition, because it lets you style a lot scrumptious meals that you’ve got a superb motive to go on an extended hike or bicycle experience the following day!
On the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum
Once you go to Hokkaido you’ll hear hopefully at one level or one other concerning the indigenous individuals of the island – the Ainu.
Like many indigenous individuals they’ve suffered by the hands of others, from being forbidden to talk their language and follow their traditions. Fortunately these days that is not the case, and through our go to to the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum we realized rather a lot concerning the Ainu and their tradition, which is expounded to nature & the land.
My favorite reminiscence is studying to play the normal mouth harp, which has a fantastic sound and is definitely fairly arduous to play, even when it seems straightforward.
Having the ability to ask the mother and her son about their tradition and study from then was an inspiring expertise, and when you’re eager about indigenous cultures then a go to here’s a should!
Practicalities: The way to get to Kamikawa, The place to Keep and what to Eat
First off: Get an eSim from Airalo. It really works a deal with and lets you use Google Maps, Translate and every part else for as little as 3$/ GB. I like to recommend their 5 GB Package deal when you keep lower than two weeks, after which merely top-up your account as wanted. Use the Code HENDRI0415 to get 3$!
Flying to Japan is super-easy and you may as well fly on to Asahikawa, which has one of many most-reliable Airports in Japan. You will discover the most effective connections from your private home airport by way of Journey.com.
Professional-Tip: Add in a few days in Tokyo on the way in which house – see our Tokyo Suggestions right here!
You need to use Reserving.com to search out the right Lodge to your keep in Asahikawa and e book it instantly. I can extremely advocate the Lodge WBF Grande Asahikawa which has spacious rooms, a unbelievable Onsen and a really tasty breakfast buffet.
The AMANEK Asahikawa is the most recent Lodge in Asahikawa and is correct off the Primary Avenue and a 2 Minutes stroll to the railway station.
The Artwork Lodge Asahikawa is the place we stayed on this journey and it has comfy rooms and the breakfast buffet on the highest flooring may be very good certainly.
There are numerous extra Lodges on the town, so if none of those suit your wants flick thru Reserving.com to search out the correct Lodge for you!
There are such a lot of super-tasty Eating places in Asahikawa that I solely checklist my three favorites:
Ramen Santōka is the Finest Ramen Store on the town. I completely LOVE their Ramen – they’re so tasty that my mouth is watering proper now, simply desirous about them!
If you wish to splurge on Dinner and desire a conventional Japanese expertise then you need to go to HATAGO. Have a Japanese pal assist you make a reservation because it’s highly regarded, after which ensure that to attempt the Sashimi which had been godly.
Lastly, Change Taste is a Café which presents probably the most tastiest treats, from Parfaits to cheese cake and extra. This place is completely beautiful and ultimate for {couples} who desire a romantic Café!
