Tokiwa Park

July 31, 2022

Tokiwa Park (常磐公園) in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido Prefecture, is a big public park located in the city's center. It's a short walk from Asahikawa JR Station.

Tokiwa Park details

Also called 常磐公園, Tokiwakoen, Joban Park, and Asahikawa Park, Tokiwa Park was initially built on Nakajima sometime in 1897. It was sandwiched between the Ishikari River and the Ushibetsu River. A pond was then dug in 1919 and was completed after four years.

Tokiwa Park - Hokkaido

Today, Tokiwa Park has a lot to offer that caters to the different wants of its visitors. For those who want to simply relax and unwind, walk around Chidorigaike Pond while enjoying the view. There is also a wooded part of the park where you can let go of your stress by communing with nature.

Tokiwa Park and Central Library Map

Asahikawa Kaimura Memorial - 旭川開村記念碑

The bridge goes to a small island behind Kamikawa Shrine

Chidorigaike Pond

Statue of Toshiyuki Iwamura - 岩村通俊之像

The viewing area of Chidorigaike Pond

An open-air gazebo inside the vast Tokiwa Park

The Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art as seen from the park grounds

What do you call these stone pillars?

If you prefer a cultural-based activity, you can visit the Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art found in the southwestern part of Tokiwa Park. They have a huge collection of artworks and they also hold exhibitions of various foreign and local artists. You can also visit the Central Library and the Hokkaido Learning Center Asahikawa Satellite Space on the western side of Tokiwa Park.

Kamikawa Shrine

Asahikawa Central Library

Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art

If you prefer a touch of religion in your cultural activity, then include Kamikawa Shrine in your itinerary. This shrine is located on an island in Chidorigaike Pond. This century-old shrine offers religious amulets and trinkets that you can bring home as souvenirs. The shrine also does goshuin (temple/shrine seal) in case you collect those. Speaking of which, I got my first goshuin in Hokkaido here in Kamikawa Shrine.

I visited and explored Tokiwa Park during my Asahikawa day trip last November 21, 2021 (Sunday). It was my 3rd weekend here in Hokkaido Prefecture and also my 20th day here as an ALT.

Tokiwa Park Entrance Fee

It's FREE to enter Tokiwa Park and explore its grounds but you need to pay an admission fee to enter the Asahikawa Museum of Art.

Tokiwa Park Operating Hours

Tokiwa Park is open 24/7 but the library, museum, and shrine all have different operating hours.

Why visit Tokiwa Park?

Tokiwa Park is a must-visit if you have spent a lot of time at the Heiwa dori Shopping Street. This park offers you a relaxing atmosphere and also a chance to be one with nature. You can actually spend a whole day here as it has a museum, a lake where you can go boating, and a vast space to relax, walk around, have a picnic, and play with your friends or family.