insights from frontier Japan

At the Takasago Shuzo brewery in northern Hokkaido's Asahikawa City, production has begun in earnest for "komo daru" sake casks, traditionally used as good luck charms during activities like the New Year's Kagami Biraki sake cask opening ceremony.

Asahikawa Tourist & Convention Association held a mock social gathering on October 23 in ‘Kitasaito,’ a garden adjacent to the South Plaza of JR Asahikawa Station in the city in northern Hokkaido. Approximately 50 medical personnel who organize medical-related academic conferences in the city were invited, in a bid to promote the use of the venue for get-togethers and social gatherings when academic forums and international conferences are held in the city.

On October 10, JR Hokkaido conducted a round-trip tour between Asahikawa and Furano on the JR Furano Line with the special train "Sanshi-Suimei".

Two "monster" pumpkins have put customers at a restaurant in Hokkaido in the mood for Halloween. Patrons of "Yakiniku Ecchan," and passersby have been astonished by the massive pumpkins lined up outside the barbecue restaurant in Asahikawa as they weigh in at more than 300 kilograms each.

With Halloween coming up and the novel coronavirus pandemic still ongoing, a pumpkin figure in the shape of "Amabie," a legendary Japanese "yokai" goblin who is believed to ward off diseases, has appeared at Ueno Farm, a tourist garden in Hokkaido's Asahikawa, and become a popular photo spot among visitors.

Triplet goats were born at a ranch in Asahikawa City

Located in the Kamuicho, Asahikawa leisure facility Asahikawa Santa Present Park, "Nicholas Observation Tower" was registered as a "Night View Heritage of Japan" in the night view facility category by General Incorporated Association YAKEI Convention & Visitors Bureau (Tokyo).

Ganbare Asahikawa, Surprise Fireworks" was held at a ski resort in Asahikawa on the night of July 17 as a symbol of hope for the quick abatement of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Asahikawa City's tourist facility, the ice and snow themed Snow Museum, closed permanently on June 30 due to the sales drop brought about by the new coronavirus pandemic. The museum had become popular for both local and foreign tourists as it resembles the ice castle in Disney's feature film “Frozen”. In 2019, approximately 100,000 people visited the museum.