Miyama Pass Art Park | Review by 楊雅雯

Asahikawa City Museum

The "Asahikawa City Museum" displays materials related to the history, culture, and nature of northern Hokkaido. A distinguishing feature is its rich collection of materials about the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido.

• Asahikawa and Sounkyo
• Museums

Asahikawa isn't just for shopping and eating ramen. I also highly recommend visiting the museum to learn about a different side of Hokkaido's history and culture.
Although the Asahikawa City Museum isn't very large, with only one floor above ground and one below, it has more to see than expected. On the first floor, you can see scenes of traditional Ainu life and the tools they used, giving you a more concrete understanding of Ainu culture. The basement focuses on Hokkaido's natural environment and settlement history, with many animal specimens and historical artifacts on display. It isn't tiring to walk through and is also a good place to take your time.
It happened to be drizzling the day we visited, which was a little disappointing at first, but then we realized that an indoor attraction like this is perfect for a rainy day. Without having to walk too much, you can learn about Ainu culture, Hokkaido's natural environment, and its settlement history all at once. If it happens to rain while you're in Asahikawa, this is a good backup plan.

Sounkyo Choyotei

Perched on a hill in Sounkyo Onsen and surrounded by dramatic canyon scenery, this inn sits amid towering columnar-jointed cliffs, with a star-filled sky at night. On the top floor, you’ll find the panoramic large public bath “Kurodake” and the open-air “Asahiyama,” where you can take in the canyon through expansive windows or soak outdoors with the ridgeline of Mt. Asahi and the rugged, columnar rock faces right in front of you.

• Asahikawa and Sounkyo
• Hotels

I was actually a little nervous before checking in because quite a few of the reviews online weren't very good, so I had already prepared myself for the worst. But once we actually stayed there, I felt it wasn't as bad as the reviews said, and overall, it was fairly acceptable to me.
We stayed in a double room with two twin beds and a large Japanese-style room, so it was quite spacious. The room had heating and air conditioning, as well as extra comforters, so it wouldn't be cold at all if you came in winter.
The unfortunate thing about the room was that the soundproofing was really just average, and we could hear some noise from outside. However, it wasn't enough to affect our sleep.
The restaurant, on the other hand, left a good impression on me! The dining area was very spacious, with tatami mats and wooden tables and chairs, and the seating was quite comfortable. There were plenty of food options and a good variety of ingredients. Most importantly, they offered several kinds of sake to sample for free, so you could enjoy a little drink with your meal. It really felt like staying at a Hokkaido inn.
When you come to Sounkyo, the most important thing is, of course, the hot springs!
Choyotei has both indoor and open-air hot springs. Soaking in the piping-hot water was incredibly relaxing. This is exactly what staying at a hot spring inn in Sounkyo is all about.
Accommodations really come down to personal preference. Online reviews can be useful, but you won't know whether a place suits you until you've stayed there yourself.

Shirogane Blue Pond

The Shirogane Blue Pond in Biei is famous as the top tourist attraction in the area, captivating visitors with its vivid blue. This man-made pond unexpectedly formed when water accumulated behind a dam that was constructed to prevent volcanic mudflows from Mt. Tokachi. The surreal blue of the pond, combined with the surrounding lush nature and dead larch trees, creates an enchanting atmosphere reminiscent of a fairy tale.

• Furano and Biei
• Nature Spots

Oh my gosh! The vivid blue before my eyes was so beautiful it left me speechless!! It felt like stepping right into a computer wallpaper, so dreamy it almost didn't seem real.
The clear blue water and reflections of the dead trees created mesmerizing layers of blue in the sunlight. It looked beautiful no matter how I photographed it.
No wonder it's packed with people every day—everyone comes to see the legendary “Blue Pond” with their own eyes.
Although it was absolutely overflowing with visitors that day, the moment I saw the view, I still thought—it was worth it!