Asahikawa station guide. Guide to change trains and buses to Asahiyama Zoo and Sounkyo.

Station information
Overview of platforms. All platforms are covered by huge roofs.
Asahikawa station from north side

Asahikawa is the second biggest city in Hokkaido. Asahikawa is well known as Asahiayama zoo which is one of most popular zoos in Japan. And also Asahikawa is the gateway to Biei, Furano, Sounkyo and Daisetsu mountain.

Many trains runs between Sapporo and Asahikawa. And also train which goes to Wakkanai and Abashiri stop at Asahikawa. You may change trains at Asahikawa.

In this post, I would like to explain about Asahikawa station and surrounding the station with many photos.

Overview

Limited Express Kamui at the track #5. It connects Sapporo and Asahikawa.

Asahikawa is located in the middle of Hokkaido. Trains depart and arrive at Asahikawa from the following destinations:

  • Hakodate line to/from Sapporo, Takikawa
  • Sekihoku line to/from Kitami, Abashiri
  • Soya line to/from Wakkanai, Nayoro
  • Furano line to/from Furano, Biei

And also you can access to Asahiyama Zoo, Sounkyo gorge and Daisetsu mountains by bus from Asahikawa station. I will tell you about the bus stops later.

The following movie shows you whole part of Asahikawa station. It covers almost same content as this post. It may be easier to understand how you change trains and buses in Asahikawa station:

Station structure, tracks and platforms

Overview of platforms. All platforms are covered by the huge roofs.

Before I start to explain about this station, I would like you to refer the station map in JR Hokkaido official site. It is in Japanese but you may find what Asahikawa station looks like.

JR Hokkaido official site, Asahikawa station map

Asahikawa is a viaduct station and that is three levels structure. All platforms are located on third floor. There is a walkways on second floor which is inside gate. This walkway connects all platforms. You can access to the ticket gates on the ground floor at both side of the station, east side and west side from this walkway. All platforms, walkway and ticker gates are connected by stairs, escalators and elevators.

Escalators from platform

Platforms

Track#Lines/TrainsDestination
1,2Local on Furano lineBiei, Furano
3,4The Limited Express Lilic
The Limited Express Kamui
Local, Rapid on Hakodate line
Sapporo, Iwamizawa, Takikawa,
Fukagawa
3,4The Limited Express Taisetsu
The Limited Express Okhotsk
Local and Rapid on Sekihoku line
Kitami, Abashiri
3,4The Limited Express Sorbetsu
The Limited Express Soya
Local and Rapid on Soya line
Nayoro, Wakkanai
5,6The Limited Express Okhotsk
Local and Rapid on Sekihoku line
Kitami, Abashiri
5,6The Limited Express Soya
Local and Rapid on Soya line
Nayoro, Wakkanai
7Some local trains and freight trainsAll destination

Track #7 is not used usually.

Limited Express Lilac and Limited Express Taisetsu at same platform to transfer these trains easier (C) RJD-JR-Asahikawa.Taisetsu-Lilac.JPG (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

The Limited Express Lilic and Kamui arrive and depart at the track #3 or #4. Asahikawa departure Limited Express trains, Taisetsu bound for Abashiri and Sarobetsu bound for Wakknai also arrive and depart at the track #3 or #4. You can transfer these trains at same platform.

Furano line local train at the track #1

Ticket gate/Exit

Lots of signage and you cannot miss your way.

Asahikawa station has two ticket gates at east and west. If you stay in or drop by Asahikawa, you can exit the station from these ticket gates. And there are two exit at west and east side.

Walkway on second floor connects all platforms and ticket gates.

Asahikawa station is not a mega terminal station. You can get east side of the station from west ticket gate and other ways too. If you exit at wrong gate, it is not a big deal. Both ticket gate connects to south and north side of the station. But south side of the station faces Chubetsu river. There is only taxi stops at south side of the station. Many of you access to north side of the station. Downtown of Asahikawa is located at north side. Most of hotels and bus stops are located at north side too

East ticket gate from walkway on 2nd floor
West ticket gate from walkway on 2nd floor
East ticket gate from walkway from outside ticket gate
West ticket gate from walkway from outside ticket gate

Bus stops at Asahikawa station

Bus stops at the east side of north exit

Many bus services are available at Asahikawa station. Asahikawa has Asahiyama Zoo which is very popular. And also Asahikawa is the gateway to Sounkyo gorge and Daisetsu mountains. You can find the bus stops for these destinations in front of Asahikawa station building.

You can go through east ticket gate and proceed to north side. You will find the bus stops. The bus bound for Asahiyama Zoo departs from bay #6.

You can find the information, such as timetable of the bus to Asahiyama Zoo in the station.

I found this information a the walkway inside the ticket gates on 2nd floor when I was there. There were some more information in the station.

The bus bound for Sounkyo and Daisetsu mountains depart from bay #7. Please see the link below to find the timetable of this bus.

Dohoku Bus, Sounkyo – Kamikawa line

I am glad if this post assists you to build your plan.

Comments

  1. NMas says:

    Mr Takeshi.. we will be going for the abashiri cruise on 6th feb at 3.30pm. Estimated to be completed at about 4.30pm.
    After that we will transfer to asahikawa, last jr train 5.25pm. let say we miss the last train. What is our other option for transfer from abashiri station to asahikawa station?

    • Hi NMas,

      There is no trains and buses after 17:25 departure. The only way to get out from Abashiri is domestic flight. But it goes to New Chitose (Sapporo). There is no ways to get Asahikawa. Otherwise you have to stay in Abashiri until next morning.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Budi nio says:

    Dear mr Takheshi
    Outlr itinerary is :

    10/2 asahikawa-abashiri
    11/2 abashiri- asahikawa
    12/2 asahikawa-toyako
    13/2 toyako-shin hakodate-nagano

    We use jr pass, can we reserve seat early at 10/2 in asahikawa for departure 11,12, and 13/2 ?

    Regards
    Budi nio

  3. Jang says:

    Is there a bus from Asahiyama zoo to Sounkyo gorge? I’m planning to see these attractions in 1day in Jan.

  4. myth817 says:

    Hi,

    I would like to check do you have the bus schedule from Asahikawa Station to Hokkaido Folk Arts & Crafts Village or The Snow Museum.

  5. Jane says:

    Hi
    I’m planning to go to this hotel at Sounkyo: http://www.hotespa.net/hotels/daisetsuzan/ in Dec 2017.
    I read somewhere that I can take bus no. 9 from Asahikawa station to this hotel, and it will take around1 hour. May I know where is the bus stop located and the bus timings as well? Thanks!

    Best regards,
    Jane

  6. Adina Dobre says:

    I am confused about how to get to Asahidake Onsen. Someone on tripadvisor said “take a bus from platform ten, that leaves at 9:30am.” What bus is this? I can’t see a 9:30 bus or the Asahidake Onsen stop. We are trying to get to the Asahidake ropeway and can’t figure out how to get there from Asahikawa. Can you please help us? We will be going in November.

  7. ylchua says:

    any coins locker for us to keep luggage? the charges? the locker size etc.
    We plan to visit zoo asahikawa before continue our journey to Abashiri.

  8. Irene Ong says:

    Planning a trip to sounkyo in November from Sapporo-Asahikawa- Kamikawa. Where do I take the train to Kamikawa once at Asahikawa station?

    • Hi Irene,

      It depends on the train. If you change limited express trains, such as Lilac to Taisetsu, mostly you will change trains at #3 and #4. But sometimes you will change trains at #5 and #6. But it’s not a big deal. You will find it when you arrive there easily.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. Brenda Ton says:

    Thank you so much for this post. It is the most useful post I’ve found to use the Dohoku!

  10. SStorma says:

    I’m planning a short trip to Sounkyo, and I find this very useful. Thank you.

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