Day 832: February 11, 2024
Sunday – Asahikawa City
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| Team Nicerio's heading to Asahikawa for the Asahikawa Winter Festival 2024, but we won't be bringing Ruru along with us. |
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| We made a quick stop at the Seicomart Motokawacho Branch to buy some snacks for our bus ride to Asahikawa |
Today was an exciting and eventful day as my family and I visited the Asahikawa Winter Festival in Asahikawa City (旭川市). We had planned to catch the first Engan Bus trip from Rumoi City, but seeing our children still fast asleep, we decided not to disturb their rest and opted for the 9:49 AM bus instead.
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| Check out how deep the snow is |
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| Walking to the Motokawacho bus stop |
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| Motokawacho Bus Stop |
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| Waiting for the bus to Asahikawa City |
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| We're riding the Engan Bus |
Because it snowed a lot yesterday, we weren't surprised by how deep the snow was going to the Motokawacho bus stop. We walked like penguins going to the bus stop, and thankfully, we got there just in time before the 9:49 AM bus arrived.
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| It's Kai's first time riding the bus to Asahikawa |
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| Asahikawa Station |
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| It's a few days before Valentine's Day. |
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| Before going to the festival venue, I first had my haircut at Quick Cut BB |
Upon reaching Asahikawa City around 11:50 AM, our first stop was at AEON Asahikawa Ekimae, where I treated myself to a quick haircut at Quick Cut BB. It felt refreshing and gave me a new look for the day.
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| There were ice sculptures displayed in the shopping street. |
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| Some displays are perfect for couples |
Following that, we made our way to the Asahikawa Heiwa Shopping Street to marvel at the magnificent ice sculptures. This area, known as the "Romantic Area," is beautifully lit up at night and attracts lovers and families alike for leisurely strolls. It was truly a sight to behold.
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| Asahikawa Central Library |
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| Inside Asahikawa Central Library |
We then embarked on a long walk to the other main festival area, located on the banks of the Ishikari River near Asahibashi. This section, which I deemed the "Activity Area," encompassed various festival activities such as concerts, dance performances, snowman making, and even snowmobile rides. Before reaching this area, we took a short break at the Asahikawa Central Library to warm ourselves and freshen up.
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| We bought our lunch at one of the yatai at Tokiwadori |
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| We found a table near the festival venue where we ate our lunch |
Continuing along Tokiwadori, we headed towards the Asahibashi venue of the winter festival. On our way, we came across numerous food stalls and couldn't resist trying karaage, yakisoba, and okonomiyaki. Finally, finding a gazebo near the festival grounds, we savored our food while delighting in the musical performances.
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| Asahikawa Winter Festival 2024 |
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| Team Nicerio attends Asahikawa Winter Festival for the first time |
Once we had finished eating, we immersed ourselves in the festival atmosphere, enjoying the music and captivating presentations. The immense snow sculpture left me in awe with its unique design, distinctly different from last year's creation. Though some of the smaller sculptures had been damaged by weather and curious tourists, it didn't detract from the overall experience.
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| The famed Asahikawa Rotunda. This was featured in the Japanese TV drama "First Love." |
We stayed at the festival grounds until 3 PM, then headed back to AEON Asahikawa Ekimae to catch our 5 PM bus home. Additionally, our youngest, Kai, was getting hungry and becoming increasingly difficult. We stopped once again at the Asahikawa Central Library, where Kai could be breastfed.
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| Double Chocolate Frappuccino |
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| We headed back to AEON Mall Eki Mae to grab some coffee at Starbucks. |
Resuming our journey towards the mall, we passed through Asahikawa Heiwa Shopping Street for one final time. Arriving an hour early, we used the spare time to enjoy a coffee break at Starbucks, where I indulged in the special Double Chocolate Frappuccino.
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| We also explored Asahikawa Station |
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| Hina Dolls are displayed in one corner of the station |
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| Ishikawa Takuboku inside the Asahikawa Tourism and Local Products Information Center |
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| Kai meets Asappy, Asahikawa's mascot |
With 20 minutes remaining before our departure, we paid a visit to the Asahikawa Tourism and Local Products Information Center inside Asahikawa Station. Our goal was to find new travel brochures for our upcoming road trips and explore the unique products available there.
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| Waiting for the bus back to Rumoi |
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| There was a whiteout on our way home, but we knew the bus driver was experienced with this kind of weather, so we didn't stress it out. |
The bus back to Rumoi arrived promptly and whisked us away through the snowy roads. I am grateful today that I didn't have to drive, as there were moments of near-zero visibility. Finally, we arrived home at approximately 7:30 PM.
Overall, it was both my second time experiencing the Asahikawa Winter Festival and the first time for my family. It was a mixture of fun, adventure, and exhaustion, as we covered a lot of ground and endured the biting cold. Despite this, we are already eagerly looking forward to next year's festival and planning to extend our stay in Asahikawa City.
Read more:
Japan Diaries 4: Week 119
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 119
Asahikawa Heiwa Shopping Street
Asahikawa Winter Festival 2023
Asahikawa Winter Festival 2024
10 Things to Do in Asahikawa City
10 More Things to Do in Asahikawa City
Hokkaido 179
Japan Diaries 4: Summary
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