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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 quite a bit to supply to the outside fanatic who’d prefer 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 outline:
Sapporo
Our journey to Kamikawa begins in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido which is well 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 pleasant 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 the direction of Daisetsuzan. This Restaurant not solely delights with the magnificent views you may have in the 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. 🤤
Pictures Museum of Koetsu Ichinei
After our scrumptious dinner we take a stroll via 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 pictures 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 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 advised us about his love for the mountains, we made a go to to the Sounkyo Customer Centre down the highway, the place we realized extra concerning the Nationwide Park which we’ll go to the following day.
Resort Taisetsu – Kaiseki dinner
Resort 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 ground and overlooks the mountains. Sitting within the steaming sizzling spring water whereas it’s a bit chilly exterior and overlooking the character is an incredible expertise, and so stress-free – it’s best to attempt it!
No go to to a Onsen Resort 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 gorgeous sounding mouth-harp. A few of my buddies went now to the Onsen, which frequently is open until midnight – an ideal technique to finish an attractive day.
A Go to to Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park
Daisetsuzan (大雪山) stands as Hokkaido’s most intensive nationwide park, safeguarding an enormous expanse of practically untouched wilderness surpassing the scale of sure smaller Japanese prefectures.
This sanctuary is a haven for 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 annually.
One of the best ways to discover this haven is on foot, which is what we did the following morning. Earlier than you’re allowed into the Nationwide Park it’s important to sit via a 5 minute training session concerning the bears within the Nationwide Park and learn how to behave in the event 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 climbing previous steaming Fumaroles to tiny streams by 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 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 Motels and restaurant suggestions!
©Hendrik-Morkel
Asahikawa Design Heart
After our hike we had a unbelievable 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’ll be able to be taught extra concerning the wooden and furnishings trade of the island.
Going via 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 a whole lot of enjoyable and it was troublesome to decide on what to make – ultimately I picked an attractive piece of wooden which might grow to be a small tray for my associate.
In Asahikawa we stayed within the Artwork Resort. There’s many unbelievable Motels on this city of virtually 340.000 inhabitants, although the breakfast room on the high ground of the Artwork Resort, with attractive views over the town and in the direction of the mountains, makes it a stable alternative.
As for Eating places, in a metropolis of this measurement 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 road, which affords 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 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 an attractive Park not too distant 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 parking zone the place locals come to choose up the water from faucets, as it’s presupposed to have therapeutic qualities. It’s positively 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 straightforward and enjoyable, with nice views.
On the dam we loved the views again in the direction of the mountains, particularly Asahidake which was the closest and seemed majestic within the heat autumn day.
The following half was arguably probably the most pleasant: On a cycle highway with the Chubetsu river on our left and golden rice paddies on our proper. It was completely unbelievable and one thing to positively 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 out there to develop rice this far north in such quick summers.
We continued into this stunning city which is nicely know throughout the island because the “City of Pictures” – there are various gifted photographers residing right here, and within the city heart you’ll be able to see a whole lot of outdated, stunning movie cameras.
Exterior we loved additionally an interesting exhibition a few film, there’s a Montbell Retailer on the principle highway if you wish to purchase some high-quality outside equipment, and the Tofu Smooth Serve store subsequent to it’s extremely beneficial – the ice cream is scrumptious!
Meals competition Asahikawa
After our journey 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 road, the place you’ll be able to eat native and worldwide treats. It’s an absolute feast – and it’s additionally reasonably priced!
While you’re in September in Asahikawa be sure to plan your go to round this Competition, because it permits you to style a lot scrumptious meals that you’ve got a superb cause to go on a protracted hike or bicycle journey the following day!
On the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum
While 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 observe 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 quite a bit concerning 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 an attractive sound and is definitely fairly laborious to play, even when it appears to be like straightforward.
Having the ability to ask the mother and her son about their tradition and be taught from then was an inspiring expertise, and in the event you’re thinking about indigenous cultures then a go to here’s a should!
Practicalities: Methods 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 permits you to use Google Maps, Translate and every little thing else for as little as 3$/ GB. I like to recommend their 5 GB Package deal in the event you keep lower than two weeks, after which merely top-up your account as wanted. Use the Code HENDRI0415 to get 3$!
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 could find the most effective connections from your house airport by way of Trip.com.
Professional-Tip: Add in a few days in Tokyo on the way in which house – see our Tokyo Tips here!
You need to use Booking.com to search out the right Resort in your keep in Asahikawa and e-book it instantly. I can extremely suggest the Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa which has spacious rooms, a unbelievable Onsen and a really tasty breakfast buffet.
The AMANEK Asahikawa is the most recent Resort 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 snug rooms and the breakfast buffet on the highest ground may be very good certainly.
There are lots of extra Motels on the town, so if none of those suit your wants flick through Booking.com to search out the proper Resort for you!
There are such a lot of super-tasty Eating places in Asahikawa that I solely record 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 interested by them!
If you wish to splurge on Dinner and desire a conventional Japanese expertise then it’s important to go to HATAGO. Have a Japanese good friend assist you make a reservation because it’s highly regarded, after which be sure to attempt the Sashimi which had been godly.
Lastly, Switch Flavor is a Café which affords probably the most tastiest treats, from Parfaits to cheese cake and extra. This place is completely attractive and ideally suited for {couples} who desire a romantic Café!
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