|
Summer in Asahikawa
Summer is definitely festival season in Asahikawa with each week offering either a festival, fireworks, outdoor dining, dancing, or all of the above rolled into one. It is a great time of year to be in the city as beer gardens come alive in the street offering good food, music, and plenty of beer.
In between beer garden sessions visitors have an abundance of sightseeing and activity options.
Tokiwa park in the city is great for a walk in the morning or evening or for reading a book in the sun during the day, and is a short walk from most all of the city hotels. Kaguraoka park is a little further away but certainly worth it. Its size offers a long and relaxing walk and features Kamikawa Shrine where people can rest, pray, or pick up souvenirs. At the base of the park and adjacent to the river is a nice BBQ. area.
The surrounding areas like Biei, Furano, Sounkyo and Tomamu are easily accessible from Asahikawa and offer fantastic activities such as rafting, canoeing, canyoning, hot air ballooning and a host of other attractions.
Hiking is popular around Asahikawa during summer and trails on mountains such as Asahidake and Kurodake are a delight for hikers and photographers. Just bring plenty of energy with you and you are sure to have an enjoyable experience.
|
|
Asahikawa Summer - Events
 YOSAKOI Soran Matusri
The beginning of June (Sapporo City)
One of the most famous Hokkaido events. You can enjoy hip-arranged traditional dance with a nice variety of music.
 Official Site
|
 Taisetsu Sanroku Matsuri
Asahikawa Natsu Matsuri
Rekka Tanabata Matsuri
July 31 to August 2, 2008 （Asahikawa)
Northern Hokkaido's biggest night life district, Sanroku holds this popular festival annualy in summer. More than 70 local resutaurants and bars participate. Fireworks, parades, floats, and many other events are held during the festival.
Read More
|
 Hokkaido Ongaku Daikoshin
(the great musical parade)
The beginning of June (Asahikawa shi)
One of the biggest events in Asahikawa. More than 4000 people participate and 150,000 people spectate. From River-line park to Kaimono-koen is filled with music.
Official Site (JPN)
|
 Pippu Ichigo gari
(pick-your-own strawberries)
From the end of June to the beginning of July (Pippu-cho)
Pippu is known as a strawberry town. You can eat as many strawberries as you like.
Official Site (JPN)
|
Kaimono-koen Matsuri
(Street performer festival)
June（Asahikawa)
The pedestrian-only shopping street, Kaimono-koen is filled with people and street performers for 2 days.
READ MORE
|
 Ishikarigawa Festival-Mizu Matsuri
July 13, 2008 (Asahikawa)
The water festival is held on the banks of the Ishikari-gawa,the longest river in Hokkaido. Enjoy rainbow trout
fishing and other water related activities.
Official Site (JPN)
|
 Nagayama Tonden Matsuri
July 25~27, 2008 (Asahikawa)
The biggest taiko drum, more than 600kg and many floats are on show during the parade.
Official Site (JPN)
|
 Hokuryu-cho Himawari Matsuri
(Sunflower festival)
July 19 to August 14, 2008（Hokuryu-cho）
Enjoy more than 1.3million sunflowers. There is a sunflower maze, petting zoo, and much more.
Official Site (JPN)
|
 Sunset Summer Live Music
July 19, 2008 （Haboro-cho)
Free outdoor live music on the beach.
Official Site (JPN)
|
 Nakafurano Lavender Matsuri
July 20, 2008 （Naka furano-cho)
You can enjoy Lavender and many other flowers at the Lavender park and public parks. You can also see a fantastic fireworks display.
Official Site
|
 Taisetsuzan Sounkyou Kyokoku Hi Matsuri (Valley fire festival)
July 26, 2008 （Sounkyo)
The Ainu tradition, Iomante, the ritual to send wild animals back to nature will be performed.
Official Site
|
 Genghis Khan Oukoku Takikawa
Natsu matsuri
(Genghis Khan land summer festival)
July 26~27, 2008 （Takikawa-shi)
Compare different tastes of Genghis Khan (lamb b.b.q) in Takikawa where Genghis Khan started.
Official Site (JPN)
|
 Hokkai Heso Matsuri
(Belly button festival)
July 28~29, 2008 （Furano-shi)
A parade featuring bellies painted like faces. Lots of fun to be had for all.
Official Site
|
 Teuri Uni Matsuri
(sea urchin festival)
August 2~3, 2008 (Haboro-cho)
Celebrates Uni (sea urchin). The Uni festival takes place on the small island of Teuri, off the coast of Haboro.
Official Site (JPN)
|
 Banryu Matsuri
(Dragon festival)
August 3, 2008 （Toma-cho)
Summer festival in Toma dedicated to the town's famous dragon.
Official Site (JPN)
|
 RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL
August 15-16, 2008 （Ishikari-shi)
The 10th annual all-night rock festival. There are 7 stages full of non-stop action for 2 days.
Official Site
|
 Yotaka Andon Matsuri
(float festival)
August 22-23, 2008 （Numata-cho)
The one of 3 float festival in Hokkaido. Enjoy fighting floats.
Official Site (JPN)
|
Summer Festivals in Hokkaido
The summer in Hokkaido is very short so everybody wants to enjoy the summer as much as possible. There are many more festivals during the summer than the winter here.
Here are some tips to make you a Matsuri (festival) expert in Hokkaido.
 Matsuri
Matsuri means festival. Usually a festival involves showing a degree of appreciation for something, or celebrating something. Japanese people like to worship just about everything. There is even a festival to celebrate “hell” in Noboribetsu (a small city south of Asahikawa). It sounds a bit extraordinary, but it is nonetheless a festival, and essentially reflects people’s desire to find some excuse to party and have a great time.
|
