This Is Where Paradise Begins

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

ASAHIKAWA
Asahiyama Zoo - is home to 700 animals of 124 different species, and is the first facility in Japan to have succeeded in the natural breeding in captivity of animals that live in cold regions, such as polar bears, Amur leopards, and Scops owls. You mustn’t miss the sight of the penguins walking around in the snow to alleviate their lack of evercise. They happily walk around briskly in a group in front of the toursts.
Ashikawa Ramen Valley - there are more than ten famous ramen restaurants, selling the ramen of the Hokkaido flavor.

SOUNKYO
Waterfall of Ginga Meteor - is flanked on both sides by 150m high perpendicular cliffs with columnar joints. Next up, be amazed by the 120 meter high Milky Way Waterfall and 90-meter high Shooting Star Waterfall. These two waterfalls are the most popular and beautiful among all the falls.

ABASHIRI
Abashiri Prison Museum - was constructed in the 1890s to hold more than one thousand dangerous criminals. The prison gained national fame through a popular yakuza movie series by director Ishii Teruo in the 1960s.
Abashiri Ice Breaker Cruise - one of the best and easiest ways to see the drift ice is from the AuroraSightseeing Boats, which depart from Abashiri Port. Because drift ice is not always visible from the coast, the boats travel out into the Sea of Okhotsk to where ice is more likely to be found. The boat rides take about an hour and run several times a day during the ryuhyo season.

TOKACHIGAWA
Kushiroshi Tanchozuru Natural Park - Tanchozuru or Japanese red-crowned cranes, are one of the most popular and beloved birds in Japan, appearing in numerous tales and used as the logo of Japan Airlines. At Kushiro Tanchozuru Natural Park, about 20 cranes are living in a quasi-natural environment.

ABASHIRI
Abashiri Prison Museum - was constructed in the 1890s to hold more than one thousand dangerous criminals. The prison gained national fame through a popular yakuza movie series by director Ishii Teruo in the 1960s.
Abashiri Ice Breaker Cruise - one of the best and easiest ways to see the drift ice is from the AuroraSightseeing Boats, which depart from Abashiri Port. Because drift ice is not always visible from the coast, the boats travel out into the Sea of Okhotsk to where ice is more likely to be found. The boat rides take about an hour and run several times a day during the ryuhyo season.

OTARU
Otaru Canal - Rows of old warehouse built of stone stand along the canai. There is a stone-paved promenade and the old- ashioned gas lamps are lit and provide a romantic atmosphere.
Sakaimachi Street - is an attractive, preserved merchant street in central Otaru, and famous with Kitaichi Glass and Music Box Museum