The Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa is a popular sightseeing destination, known for its innovative animal enclosures that allow visitors to observe wildlife up close in environments that mimic their natural habitats. The zoo is especially famous for its exhibits that show animals’ natural behavior and the seasonal Penguin Parade, which takes place during the winter months. Asahiyama Zoo can easily be reached from Sapporo by train, bus, or car.
Asahiyama Zoo’s Penguin Parade in the winter
The Main Attractions
The Penguin Parade is a highlight of the winter season at Asahiyama Zoo. During this event, penguins waddle along a designated path within the zoo grounds, allowing visitors to see them up close. The Penguin Walk takes place during the snowy part of winter, usually between December and March. Two daily walks are normally reduced to one morning walk in March, so check the zoo’s daily schedule before planning your visit. It’s a 5-minute walk from the zoo entrance.
The Seal House lets visitors watch spotted seals swim through the Marine Way, a transparent vertical cylindrical tank. A larger tank provides more underwater views of the seals. The exhibit is located near the penguin and polar-bear houses, about a 10-minute walk from the entrance.
Asahiyama Zoo’s Seal Observation Bubble
The Polar Bear Enclosure allows visitors to watch polar bears swimming in a large pool and moving around a separate land enclosure. The Seal’s Eye viewing capsule offers a close view from the perspective of a seal. The enclosure is a 12-minute walk from the entrance.
The Polar Bear Enclosure
The Orangutan Trapeze lets visitors watch orangutans cross between their enclosure and a 17-meter-high tower during the summer opening season. Visitors can watch from below as the orangutans navigate the aerial pathways. This exhibit is located near the zoo’s eastern section, about a 15-minute walk from the entrance.
The Wolf Forest houses timber wolves in an enclosure with trees, rocks and a stream, designed to evoke Hokkaido’s landscape when wolves lived on the island. Visitors can observe the wolves from several viewpoints, including the Hare’s Eye viewing dome. The Wolf Forest is beside the Ezo Deer Forest.
Zoo Shops and Cafes offer a variety of souvenirs, snacks, and meals. You can find plush toys, animal-themed merchandise, and local specialties. The main shop is near the entrance, and several cafes are scattered throughout the zoo.
Admission Fees and Hours
- Admission: 1,000 yen for adults, including high-school students, rising to 1,400 yen from April 29, 2027. Children of junior-high-school age and younger enter free.
- Hours: During the summer opening season, 9:30 am to 5:15 pm until October 15, then 9:30 am to 4:30 pm from October 16 to November 3; last admission is 4:00 pm. During the winter opening season, 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, with last admission at 3:00 pm. Check the zoo’s opening calendar for the season’s start and end dates before visiting.
Asahiyama Zoo animals welcome passengers at Asahikawa Station
How to Get There
Asahiyama Zoo can be reached from Sapporo by train, bus, and car. The fastest way to travel between these cities is by train, but taking a bus or driving offers scenic views of Hokkaido’s countryside.
Asahikawa Station
By Train
To travel from Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station, take the JR Limited Express Kamui or Lilac train. All seats are reserved; book a seat before boarding.
- Duration: About 1 hour and 25 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on the train.
- Cost: 5,440 yen one-way for an adult ordinary reserved seat, including the basic fare and limited express charge.
- Frequency: Multiple departures throughout the day; check JR Hokkaido’s timetable for your travel date.
From Asahikawa Station, transfer to the Asahiyama Zoo Bus operated by Asahikawa Denki Kido Bus. Routes 41 and 47 leave from stop 6 outside the station.
- Duration: Approximately 40 minutes.
- Cost: 670 yen one-way for an adult.
- Frequency: Generally about every 30 minutes during zoo opening hours, with additional departures at some times; check the seasonal timetable.
The Limited Express Kamui train
By Bus
The Kosoku Asahikawa-go highway bus connects Sapporo with Asahikawa Station, where you transfer to a local bus for the zoo. In Sapporo, board at Sapporo Ekimae stop 2 near the Hokkaido Government Office or at Chuo Bus Sapporo Terminal.
- Departure Times: Multiple departures daily; check the seasonal timetable.
- Duration: About 2 hours and 5 minutes to Asahikawa Station in summer or 2 hours and 25 minutes in winter, followed by the approximately 40-minute zoo bus ride and transfer time.
- Cost: 2,500 yen one-way for the highway bus plus 670 yen for the local zoo bus, per adult.
- Reservations: The highway bus is non-reservation, with seats available on a first-come basis.
Seasonal sightseeing bus tours from Sapporo also visit the zoo without a transfer. These are booked as tours rather than ordinary one-way highway-bus tickets; departure points, prices and time at the zoo vary by itinerary.
By Car
To travel from Sapporo to Asahiyama Zoo by car:
- Route: Take the Do-o Expressway northbound toward Asahikawa.
- Duration: About 2 hours in normal conditions; allow longer in winter or heavy traffic.
- Toll Fees: 3,560 yen one-way for a standard car from Sapporo Interchange to Asahikawa-kita Interchange, before discounts. The total varies with your entry interchange and vehicle class.
- Directions: Exit at Asahikawa-kita Interchange and follow Route 37 and local signs to the zoo, about 20 minutes away.
Driving allows flexibility to explore at your own pace and visit attractions along the way. For more information on local driving, check our article on Car Rental in Sapporo.
Asahiyama Zoo images can be found everywhere in Asahikawa
Whether you’re interested in unique wildlife encounters, educational exhibits, or enjoying a family-friendly outing, a day trip to Asahiyama Zoo from Sapporo offers an engaging experience that highlights the natural wonders of Hokkaido.
Article by Maria Fukuda. Photos by Daikegoro/pixta (1), hassaku/pixta (2), Angkana Unthaya (3,5,6,7), gandhi/pixta (4). All rights reserved. Last updated 24-Sep-2026.
