Asahikawa is located in north-central Hokkaido. In addition to being accessible by JR limited express trains from Sapporo, Asahikawa Airport also offers domestic and even a few international flights, making it very convenient for overseas travelers. This is not only a transfer point on the way to Biei and Furano, but also a city well worth stopping in to explore in depth. Besides the well-known must-visit sightseeing spot “Asahiyama Zoo,” the shopping experience here should not be missed either. With JR Asahikawa Station as the hub, you can meet your needs for drugstore items and duty-free shopping in one stop, and by strolling along Heiwa-dori Kaimono Koen, you will see public art installations and long-established artisan shops everywhere, further highlighting Asahikawa’s unique charm as a city of craftsmanship. In this article, we will organize must-buy souvenirs and discount information in the station-front shopping area, Kaimono Koen, and the airport, and guide you to experience the enjoyment of shopping in Asahikawa in depth.

The shopping center AEON MALL Around Asahikawa Station, which you can reach directly from JR Asahikawa Station without having to step outside, is one of the must-schedule shopping spots for many travelers visiting Asahikawa.

Combining excellent accessibility with a wide variety of stores, it lets you satisfy any and all needs you may have at once, whether you are looking for Hokkaido souvenirs, browsing trendy fashion, or stopping for a good meal to recharge after walking around. Even if it is snowing or raining, you can shop comfortably indoors without being affected by the weather, making it a great place to visit when you have a gap in your itinerary, or before you arrive in or leave Asahikawa. Below, we introduce recommended must-visit stores in the mall and shopping discount information!

AEON MALL Around Asahikawa Station has four floors. The first floor features a fully stocked supermarket and department store called AEON STYLE SUPER MARKET, which offers everything from fresh meat and vegetables to prepared foods, and even drugstore items and daily goods. We recommend people prepare their own must-buy list before coming to Japan, do a first round of shopping here, and buy what you need in advance, saving the time of running around to other stores later.

Food and souvenirs are naturally key highlights as well. On the first floor, you can buy souvenirs from the popular Hokkaido brands Rokkatei and ISHIYA, which is famous for its signature product Shiroi Koibito. The restaurants and food court also offer a wide range of choices such as Sendai gyutan (beef tongue), Japanese-style tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet), and crepes, so you can enjoy a hearty meal without any problem.

For fashion, there are plenty of stores to browse, including the affordable Japanese trend shop WEGO, Kutsushitaya (which is known for its colorful and abundant sock designs), and the office-worker and budget-friendly women’s clothing brand ROPE' PICNIC. For travelers who easily get carried away by cute small items and distinctive stationery, we recommend the variety goods bookstore VILLAGE VANGUARD and the lifestyle goods store Loft. And don’t forget to try your luck by turning a few capsules at the gashapon specialty store #C-pla!

Whether you are traveling with children or simply want to shop and dine easily near the station on a travel day, this is the best choice! If you have limited time, setting aside about 1 to 2 hours is enough to quickly buy souvenirs and have a meal; if you want to browse slowly and stock up on daily necessities, spending half a day here is no problem!

When shopping at AEON MALL in front of Asahikawa Station, be sure to pick up coupons exclusively for foreign visitors! If you spend 5,500 yen or more (tax included) and show the QR Code at the counter, you can receive an instant 500-yen discount or exchange it for one free gift.

Please note in particular that the 500-yen coupon can be obtained only once per person, and that gifts are available in limited quantities and will be offered only while supplies last. Since campaign details may change at any time, we recommend checking the in-mall service counter in advance so you don’t miss this travel deal!

In addition to the coupons, some stores in AEON MALL also offer tax-free shopping. The tax-free eligible items and procedures may differ depending on the store, so we recommend asking each store directly while you’re shopping. The mall also has a tax refund counter: after shopping at stores eligible for tax refunds, foreign visitors can bring their receipts and passport to the tax refund counter and complete the procedure with the assistance of the staff.

After leaving AEON MALL, consider continuing on to Asahikawa’s main shopping street, known as Asahikawa Heiwa-dori Shopping Park (Heiwa-dori Kaimono Koen). Kaimono Koen is not only an area for strolling on foot and shopping, but also a walking route where you can truly feel Asahikawa’s craftsmanship and artisan culture.

Opened in 1972, this was Japan’s first permanent pedestrian-only road, connecting JR Asahikawa Station to 8-jo-dori over a distance of about 1 kilometer. The concept began in the 1960s, and it was realized only after many years of effort by citizens and the local Junior Chamber International Japan, subsequent road-closure trials on the national highway, and coordination among various parties. The original aim of Kaimono Koen was not only to stimulate the economy, but also to create a human-centered space for Asahikawa residents, so that everyone could enjoy nature and the pleasure of walking without the need to drive. In addition to serving as Asahikawa’s commercial center, it also hosts seasonal events such as summer festivals and ice-sculpture competitions, making it a must-visit spot when traveling in Asahikawa.

Along Heiwa-dori Kaimono Koen are more than 120 shops. In addition to enjoying shopping to your heart’s content, stopping by a cafe for a short break, or finding an izakaya to taste local food, you can also plan activities such as beauty and hair services, kimono and tea ceremony experiences, or visits to self-photo studios!

What is especially distinctive is that, as you stroll, you can also admire more than a dozen sculptures along the way, all created by sculptors with deep ties to Asahikawa, fully conveying the city’s artistic atmosphere. The Asahikawa area (including Asahikawa City, Higashikagura Town, and Higashikawa Town) has long been known for crafts such as woodworking and ceramics. In Kaimono Koen as well, you can feel up close the artisan spirit deeply rooted in Asahikawa, adding culture and warmth to your shopping experience.

Among these, we particularly recommend visiting the select shop GALLERY BAIHODO (梅鳳堂). As you wander among its diverse paintings and craftworks, you may unexpectedly come across a destined piece of tableware or a refined decoration that will leave a unique memory of your Hokkaido journey. Meanwhile, the canvas-bag specialty store MICHI-HITO (ミチヒト) not only offers its main canvas products and various outdoor items, but also provides craft experiences that take only about 20 minutes to 1 hour to complete. Consider stopping by to make your own small items such as a bear bell or a canvas pouch!

Feeeal Asahikawa is not a large shopping center widely known among tourists, but rather a locally oriented mall closely tied to everyday life. Whether as an indoor backup on rainy days or when you want to slow down, when you want to see where Asahikawa residents usually go shopping, or when traveling with children and you need to balance shopping with space to rest, Feeeal Asahikawa is highly suitable, and that is also its greatest difference from other malls!

Inside, in addition to well-known Japanese fashion brands such as UNITED ARROWS and TOMORROWLAND is the large bookstore Junkudo Shoten, a musical instrument shop, 100-yen shops, and more, providing comprehensive and practical everyday convenience.

And on the 7th floor is a civic exchange center managed by Asahikawa City Hall, which makes this place not only a shopping space but also an important base where Asahikawa residents gather and engage in activities in their daily lives. On the 6th floor is a free indoor playground called MORI MORI PARK, which is a play space created specifically for infants and toddlers and very popular among families. Feeeal Asahikawa showcases a unique charm that is closely aligned with residents’ needs and filled with local warmth.

Of course, shopping isn’t complete without good food! To experience Japan's famous "Yatai" (open-air food stall) culture in a modern way, head to Asahikawa Harete Yatai Village, located within Kaimono Koen, brings together more than ten restaurants of various styles, such as burgers, Korean cuisine, and Jingisukan (grilled mutton). Especially recommended is CRAFTBEER & SAKE BAR, a bar by Asahikawa’s local craft beer brand Taisetsu Ji Beer. The bar carefully selects and offers alcoholic beverages from other parts of Hokkaido as well as those produced in Asahikawa, fully showcasing local flavors.
Asahikawa Harete Yatai Village opened in July 2022, and it is about a 15-minute walk from JR Asahikawa Station. The overall atmosphere is relaxed and easygoing, and most shops have a U-shaped bar-counter seating arrangement, so even solo travelers can step in for a meal or a casual drink without any pressure. It is an excellent place to recharge during shopping, or to enjoy food in a relaxing way after finishing your itinerary in the evening!

If you want to make the most of the time before your flight takes off and do a little more shopping, there are also several souvenir specialty shops in the International Departures Lobby on the 2nd floor of Asahikawa Airport, letting travelers who are about to leave Japan settle their desire to shop! Near the international security checkpoint, you will find shopping areas like ANA FESTA, AZELEA, and “AIRPORT LILAS” (エアポート リラ). After passing through security, you can also browse the airport-operated duty-free shop ASAHIKAWA AIRPORT DUTY FREE. In addition, most stores are open from 8:00 in the morning to 8:00 in the evening, making it very convenient in both location and hours.
Recommended must-buy souvenirs include classic Hokkaido staples available at most shops, such as the famous chocolate sandwich cookie Shiroi Koibito, the potato snack Jaga Pokkuru, and the milk-flavored cookies Sapporo Nogakko. In addition, there is also the drip coffee 3LETTER CODE DRIP BAG COFFEE, printed with Asahikawa Airport’s code “AKJ,” as if you are sharing the memories of your Asahikawa trip with friends and family.
There is also a must-buy local Asahikawa souvenir, Hyotenka 41°. This cookie is named after Japan’s lowest temperature record (-41°C) that was once observed locally in Asahikawa. Its blue-and-white packaging conveys Asahikawa’s crisp atmosphere, and its melt-in-your-mouth texture feels as light and gentle as snowflakes. The outside is coated with white chocolate, covering a layer of fragrant, crunchy sliced almonds underneath, creating clearly defined layers of texture.

When shopping in Asahikawa, in addition to buying souvenirs and clothing, consider also setting aside time to sit down, rest properly, and enjoy sweets. This makes the pace of your itinerary more comfortable and can become a happy highlight of your journey. The sweets spots operated under the Tsuboya Sohonten umbrella are just right as a reward-like rest option during shopping or in the latter half of your itinerary!

Tsuboya Sohonten’s traditional Asahikawa souvenir KIBANA features sweet white chocolate sandwiched between two crisp almond wafers, offering an elegant flavor. Since its creation in 1982, it has a history of more than 40 years and is beloved by local people in Asahikawa.

In addition to buying gift boxes to take home and share as souvenirs, it is also recommended to include the brand’s large concept store Tsuboya Kibana no Mori in your Asahikawa itinerary. Although it is about a 10-minute drive from JR Asahikawa Station, the grounds feel like a large all-in-one park. You can tour the KIBANA factory to see the cookie-making process, and also browse a select shop featuring Asahikawa woodcraft items. When you get tired, you can head to the on-site cafe CAFE Bunran, enjoy freshly made cakes and tea, and, through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, admire the garden scenery, spending a luxurious yet relaxing break.

If your schedule is tighter and you cannot go to Tsuboya Kibana no Mori, you can instead plan a visit to another concept store near Asahikawa Station, Tokinomori. The interior space and product packaging are designed to cleverly express Tsuboya’s past, present, and future. In addition to recreations of classic Tsuboya sweets, you can also taste the stylish drink potea, created by a young team, and enjoy it leisurely here while experiencing Tsuboya’s charm.

Asahikawa is a convenient and charming city. Especially around JR Asahikawa Station, department stores, downtown shopping facilities, Kaimono Koen, and the Harete Yatai Village market are all connected, and you can walk between different spots. During the day, you can shop for clothing and souvenirs in malls and city blocks, feel the craftsmanship atmosphere and cultural depth of the city as you stroll along Kaimono Koen, and when you get tired, sit down to enjoy a meal or sweets, allowing your itinerary to naturally shift between shopping and food.

At the end of your trip, you can also pick up Asahikawa- and Hokkaido-themed souvenirs all at once at the airport, and easily bring your journey to a close. This clear and effortless flow allows travelers, even with limited time, to enjoy the fun of shopping, the appeal of food, and Asahikawa’s distinctive craft-culture atmosphere at the same time.

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