Kamikawa is a big municipality in the midst of Hokkaido, with the town of Asahikawa at its centre.
Whereas it’s simply missed 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 understood for its quick and environment friendly trains, so it’s the logical option to proceed to Asahikawa.
It’s a brief and fulfilling 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 will have in direction of the mountains, but in addition the scrumptious meals the Cooks conjure up in your plate! We had probably the most wonderful six course meal which is able to make your mouth water. 🤤
Images Museum of Koetsu Ichinei
After our scrumptious dinner we take a stroll by 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 writer 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 need to go straight away and go to this Nationwide Park in all of the seasons.
Sounkyo Customer Centre
After this inspiring go to, during which Ichinei-San has advised 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 in regards to the Nationwide Park which we’ll go to the subsequent day.
Lodge Taisetsu – Kaiseki dinner
Lodge Taisetsu is our house for the night time, on the doorstep of the Nationwide Park and never far-off from the Mt. Kurodake Ropeway.
The native deer welcome us and after transferring our belongings into our conventional and spacious rooms we head to the Onsen, which is situated on the high flooring and overlooks the mountains. Sitting within the steaming scorching spring water whereas it’s a bit chilly exterior and overlooking the character is a tremendous expertise, and so stress-free – it’s best to strive it!
No go to to a Onsen Lodge just like the Taisetsu is full with out a tremendous 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 gorgeous sounding mouth-harp. A few of my pals went now to the Onsen, which regularly is open until midnight – an ideal method to finish a stupendous day.
A Go to to Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park
Daisetsuzan (大雪山) stands as Hokkaido’s most in depth nationwide park, safeguarding an enormous expanse of practically untouched wilderness surpassing the dimensions of sure smaller Japanese prefectures.
This sanctuary is a haven for mountain climbing fanatics, 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 every year.
One of the simplest ways to discover this haven is on foot, which is what we did the subsequent morning. Earlier than you’re allowed into the Nationwide Park it’s a must to sit by a 5 minute training session in regards to the bears within the Nationwide Park and the way to behave when you ought to encounter one. It’s informative and made in a enjoyable approach, and after this we hit the path.
The great thing about Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park needs to be skilled – from mountain climbing previous steaming Fumaroles to tiny streams during which you see Oshorokoma trout swim, it’s one thing which it’s best to see for your self.
Add in the fantastic thing about the onsetting autumn colours, the attractive lakes which you move in your hike and the far-reaching views throughout the Nationwide Park and past, and I consider you’re already testing flights to Hokkaido – you possibly can scroll to the underside of the article for that, to see the perfect offers for that, in addition to Lodges and restaurant suggestions!
©Hendrik-Morkel
Asahikawa Design Heart
After our hike we had a improbable lunch at a neighborhood restaurant, earlier than using with the Bus again to Asahikawa and a go to to the Asahikawa Design Heart.
Asahikawa is a UN Design Capital, similar to Helsinki and a handful of different cities throughout the globe, and within the Asahikawa Design Heart you possibly can study extra in regards to the wooden and furnishings business of the island.
Going by the attention-grabbing exhibition we have 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 lots of enjoyable and it was troublesome to decide on what to make – ultimately I picked a stupendous piece of wooden which might change into a small tray for my accomplice.
In Asahikawa we stayed within the Artwork Lodge. There’s many improbable Lodges on this city of virtually 340.000 inhabitants, although the breakfast room on the high flooring of the Artwork Lodge, with attractive views over the town and in direction of the mountains, makes it a strong alternative.
As for Eating places, in a metropolis of this measurement yow 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 road, which provides very tasty Italian meals! There have been additionally improbable Vegan choices, and the deserts have been so scrumptious that we had seconds. 😋
Biking to Higashikawa
The following morning the solar was excessive up within the sky and beckoned us to affix it on a biking journey. We rode out to the Daisetsuzan Gensui Park, which is a stupendous Park not too far-off from the Asahidake Ropeway.
It’s a beautiful place with a stunning 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 purported to have therapeutic qualities. It’s undoubtedly very tasty and all of us crammed 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 simple 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 appeared majestic within the heat autumn day.
The following half was arguably probably the most fulfilling: On a cycle street with the Chubetsu river on our left and golden rice paddies on our proper. It was completely improbable and one thing to undoubtedly do whenever 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 obtainable to develop rice this far north in such brief summers.
We continued into this lovely city which is nicely know throughout the island because the “City of Images” – there are lots of gifted photographers dwelling right here, and within the city heart you possibly can see lots of of previous, 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 equipment, and the Tofu Comfortable Serve store subsequent to it’s extremely really helpful – the ice cream is scrumptious!
Meals pageant Asahikawa
After our experience we took the bus again to Asahikawa, the place we went and explored the Meals Pageant which was occurring.
It’s an over one kilometer lengthy assortment of lots of of meals stalls on the principle road, the place you possibly can eat native and worldwide treats. It’s an absolute feast – and it’s additionally inexpensive!
Whenever you’re in September in Asahikawa be sure to plan your go to round this Pageant, because it means that you can style a lot scrumptious meals that you’ve got a very good motive to go on an extended hike or bicycle experience the subsequent day!
On the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum
Whenever you go to Hokkaido you’ll hear hopefully at one level or one other in regards to 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 now not the case, and through our go to to the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum we realized rather a lot in regards to the Ainu and their tradition, which is said to nature & the land.
My favorite reminiscence is studying to play the standard mouth harp, which has a stupendous sound and is definitely fairly onerous to play, even when it seems to be simple.
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 thinking about indigenous cultures then a go to here’s a should!
Practicalities: How one can get to Kamikawa, The place to Keep and what to Eat
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Flying to Japan is super-easy and it’s also possible to fly on to Asahikawa, which has one of many most-reliable Airports in Japan. You could find the perfect connections from your property airport by way of Trip.com.
Professional-Tip: Add in a few days in Tokyo on the best way house – see our Tokyo Tips here!
You should utilize Booking.com to search out the proper Lodge in your keep in Asahikawa and e book it straight away. I can extremely advocate the Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa which has spacious rooms, a improbable Onsen and a really tasty breakfast buffet.
The AMANEK Asahikawa is the latest Lodge in Asahikawa and is correct off the Important Road and a 2 Minutes stroll to the railway station.
The Art Hotel 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 Booking.com to search out the fitting Lodge for you!
There are such a lot of super-tasty Eating places in Asahikawa that I solely listing 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 eager about them!
If you wish to splurge on Dinner and desire a conventional Japanese expertise then it’s a must to go to HATAGO. Have a Japanese good friend allow you to make a reservation because it’s very fashionable, after which be sure to strive the Sashimi which have been godly.
Lastly, Switch Flavor is a Café which provides probably the most tastiest treats, from Parfaits to cheese cake and extra. This place is completely attractive and supreme for {couples} who desire a romantic Café!
