📝 1. Overview
Located in Asahikawa, Asahiyama Zoo is Japan’s northernmost zoo and one of its most innovative. Famous for its “behavioral exhibition” style, the zoo lets you watch animals up close in environments designed to showcase their natural movements—from penguins swimming overhead to seals gliding through a vertical tube of water. In winter, it transforms into a snow kingdom, complete with penguin parades. It’s not just a zoo—it’s an animal experience like no other.
🌟 2. Highlights
🐧 Penguin Walk (Winter only) – Watch penguins waddle through snow in a daily parade
🦭 Seal Aquarium Cylinder – See seals swim vertically in a 360° tube
🦍 Orangutan Skywalk – Apes move freely above your head on high wires
🐻 Hokkaido Brown Bears – Native wildlife in spacious, open-air enclosures
🐺 Wolf Forest – Observe wolves in a snowy, natural-like pack habitat
🦅 Eagle & Owl Aviary – Close views of raptors and their powerful presence
💡 3. Tips
📸 Best Photo Spots:
- Inside the seal tube for a shot of them floating overhead
- Penguin parade path with snow all around
- Orangutans on the skywalk during feeding time
🕰️ Best time to visit:
- Winter (Dec–Mar) for snow and penguin parade
- Morning for active animals and fewer crowds
- Weekdays = more relaxed atmosphere
❄️ Dress warmly—Asahikawa winters are cold!
🎫 Admission ~¥1,000 (very budget-friendly)
🧤 Bring gloves for holding your camera in the cold
🍽️ 4. Nearby Eats – Top 3 In or Around the Zoo
- Zoo Café (Inside Grounds)
🍛 Curry, noodles, and hot drinks with animal-themed décor
📍Inside Asahiyama Zoo
🕒 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🚶 Perfect warm-up spot - Farm Restaurant Chiyoda
🥩 Hamburg steaks and Furano milk-based dishes
📍Higashi Asahikawa-cho
🕒 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
🚗 5 min drive - Asahikawa Ramen Village (Bonus Stop)
🍜 Sample local ramen styles from multiple shops
📍4-119-48 Nagayama, Asahikawa
🕒 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
🚗 ~20 min drive
🍽️ 4B. Sub-Zone Picks – What to Explore Inside the Zoo
🐧 Cold Zone
- Penguin Aquarium – Glass tunnels for underwater views
- Polar Bear Dome – Watch from below as they dive
🦍 Behavioral Exhibit Zone
- Orangutan Dome – See them swing above
- Seal Cylinder – Up-close underwater encounters
🌲 Hokkaido Wildlife Zone
- Red foxes, deer, owls, and bears
- Educational displays on local ecosystems
🎓 Zoo Education Zone
- Info boards and keeper talks (some in English)
- Family-friendly learning area near the entrance
🚗 5. Access
📍 From JR Asahikawa Station
🚌 40 min ride via Asahikawa Denkikidō Bus (Zoo Line)
🚗 ~30 min drive
📍 From Asahikawa Airport
🚗 ~20 min drive
📍 From Furano or Biei
🚗 ~1.5 hours via Route 237
📍 Local Travel
🚶 Zoo is walkable inside but hilly—wear good shoes
🅿️ Paid parking available next to main entrance
🧭 Winter = snow boots recommended