Asahiyama Zoo is the most visited zoo in Japan outside of Tokyo, which is surprising for a facility in Asahikawa — a city that most international tourists skip entirely. The reason it works is design. Rather than displaying animals behind glass or in pens, the enclosures are built so you observe them from angles that make you feel less like a spectator and more like you’ve accidentally ended up in their space. Walking through a clear tunnel while seals swim circles around you, or standing beneath a glass-floored walkway as a polar bear pads overhead, is a different experience from watching from the other side of a fence.
In This Article
The question most visitors ask is whether it’s worth the 85-minute train ride from Sapporo. The answer depends on who you’re travelling with and what time of year it is.
The Winter Penguin Walk
If you’re visiting between roughly December and March, the answer to “is it worth it” is an easy yes. The penguin walk — where a group of king penguins waddle through the zoo’s pathways past visitors standing on either side — is one of Hokkaido’s most distinctive experiences. The penguins are not performing; they’re exercising (the walk is part of their care routine), and they proceed at their own pace with no barriers between them and the audience. Occasionally one stops to inspect a visitor’s boot or wanders toward the crowd before a keeper gently redirects it.
The walk happens twice daily (approximately 11:00 and 14:30, check the zoo’s schedule). Arrive at least 20 minutes early to get a front-row spot along the path. The walk itself takes 15–30 minutes depending on how cooperative the penguins feel that day.
Best Enclosures
- Seal tunnel — A vertical glass cylinder where spotted seals swim up and down right next to you. When a seal pauses at your eye level and makes eye contact, it’s genuinely thrilling.
- Polar bear pool — An underwater viewing window where you watch polar bears dive and swim. When a bear launches off the rock and plunges into the water metres from the glass, kids lose their minds. Adults do too, honestly.
- Red panda bridge — An elevated walkway where red pandas walk above your head on a rope bridge. They’re absurdly cute and occasionally stop to nap directly overhead.
- Snow monkey area — A naturalistic enclosure with climbing structures. Less innovative than the others but the monkeys are active and entertaining.
- Wolf forest — Hokkaido wolves (actually Ezo wolves are extinct; these are a related subspecies) in a forested enclosure with multiple viewing points.
What’s Less Impressive
The zoo is relatively small. If you’ve been to major international zoos (San Diego, Singapore, London), the collection here won’t overwhelm you. The big cat section is underwhelming — small enclosures that haven’t been updated to the same standard as the marine and penguin areas. The bird section is skippable unless you have a specific interest.
The food options inside the zoo are basic and overpriced. Eat lunch in Asahikawa instead (see below).
Getting There from Sapporo
JR Limited Express to Asahikawa: 85 minutes, approximately ¥4,690 one-way. Covered by the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass.
From Asahikawa Station, take bus 41, 42, or 47 to the zoo (approximately 40 minutes, ¥500). In peak season (winter penguin walk period, summer holidays), direct zoo shuttle buses operate more frequently.
Or skip the logistics and book a guided day trip from Sapporo on Klook (from ~$39) that includes the zoo plus Biei/Blue Pond stops.
Total journey time: About 2 hours each way (train + bus). It’s a full day commitment.
Combine with Asahikawa Ramen
Don’t go all the way to Asahikawa without eating ramen. The city has its own distinct shoyu (soy sauce) style — different from Sapporo’s miso — using a double-soup technique with a surface oil layer designed to keep the broth hot in Asahikawa’s extreme cold.
Asahikawa Ramen Village near the station has eight shops under one roof. Eat on the way to or from the zoo. More detail in our ramen guide (which covers all three Hokkaido styles).
Practical Info
- Hours: Summer 9:30–17:15, Winter 10:30–15:30 (last entry 30 min before closing)
- Admission: ¥1,000 adults, free for children under 15 (unusually generous)
- Closed: Some days in November and April for seasonal transition. Check the website before going.
- Allow: 2–3 hours for the zoo itself, plus travel time
- Winter gear: You’re outdoors for most of the visit. Dress warmly. The paths between enclosures can be icy.
Is It Worth It?
With kids: Absolutely. The penguin walk, seal tunnel, and polar bear pool are genuinely exciting for children, and the free admission for under-15s is a bonus.
Without kids, in winter: Yes, mainly for the penguin walk. Combine with Asahikawa ramen for a full day out.
Without kids, in summer: Maybe. The enclosures are well-designed but the zoo is small. If you have a car and are heading to Furano/Biei anyway, Asahikawa is on the route and worth a stop. As a dedicated day trip from Sapporo by train, it’s a lot of travel for 2–3 hours of zoo.
For more day trip options from Sapporo, see our complete day trips guide covering 15 destinations.
