Asahiyama Zoo is located in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido. It is the northernmost zoo in Japan and has now become the most visited zoo in Japan. Who says that when you go to the zoo in winter, most animals will close their doors and hibernate in groups? It is definitely fun to visit the Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido on a snowy day: adorable penguins take a group walk in the snow, clumsy raccoons crawl around overhead and make faces, curious seals run up and down the glass columns and play around, and monkeys snuggle up to each other for warmth. The biggest feature here is that the animals are kept in a relatively free state to the greatest extent possible, and visitors can observe the animals up close through clever displays.
**Asahiyama Zoo closed from April 8 to April 25, 2025, and November 4 to November 10, 2025. If Asahiyama Zoo is closed, the itinerary will be changed to: Biei Blue Pond (30 minutes) - Shirahige Falls (15 minutes) - Herbgarden (20 minutes) - Furano Grape and Fruit Research Institute (30 minutes) - Fairy Terrace (30 minutes). The tour guide will adjust the time of the attractions according to the weather conditions of the day and will appropriately extend or shorten the time of the attractions.
When Asahiyama Zoo is closed, visit the following attractions:
. Furano Grape and Fruit Research Institute Furano Wine - "Furano Wine" made from local specialty grapes (about 30 minutes) Half a century ago, in the 1960s, there were no grape vines on the land of Furano except for wild grapes growing naturally in the mountains. Due to the "similar climate and terroir to Europe", enthusiasm for winemaking in Furano is high, and the Furano City Grape and Fruit Research Institute came into being, dedicated to the cultivation of grapes for winemaking. More than 50 years have passed since its inception. During this time, many passionate people participated in experimental research and production development, resulting in the Furano wine that is so popular today. Although some wineries use imported grapes, Furano Wine has always adhered to its original intention of "promoting regional agricultural revitalization through the wine business" and continues to use local Furano grapes to make wine.