One of Hokkaido's 179 towns
Higashikawa東川町
The photography town under Asahidake
Kamikawa region · Lavender, patchwork hills and the roof of Hokkaido.
Higashikawa, 'Town of Photography', sits at the foot of Asahidake — no water mains (everyone drinks Daisetsuzan snowmelt), great furniture workshops, serious cafés.
Higashikawa sits at the foot of Asahidake, Hokkaido's highest peak, twenty minutes from the airport and half an hour from Asahikawa. The town has no water mains; every household draws Daisetsuzan snowmelt from the ground, and it declared itself a 'Town of Photography' decades ago, hosting a national high-school photo contest each summer. Furniture workshops and small cafés fill the streets, and two onsen villages in the mountains behind, Asahidake and Tenninkyo, are the classic starting points for the national park.
Higashikawa at a glance
- Region
- Kamikawa (上川)
- From New Chitose Airport
- Unrouted model: ~173 km · 2.7 h summer / 3.1 h winter
- From Sapporo
- Unrouted model: ~172 km · 2.6 h summer / 3.1 h winter
- Best season in Kamikawa
- Choose dates around the flowers, autumn foliage or winter scenery you want to see. Check local conditions and seasonal transport before booking.
Model figures do not follow roads or account for passes or closures; they are not driving-time estimates. They assume straight-line distance × 1.35 and 65 km/h in summer / 55 km/h in winter. Check the actual route, breaks and road conditions. Model assumptions and limitations
What to see in Higashikawa
Asahidake Onsen and the ropeway
旭岳温泉とロープウェイ
A cluster of lodges at the trailhead for Hokkaido's highest mountain. The ropeway rises to the Sugatami plateau, with steaming vents, ponds and a loop walk anyone can manage in summer.
Tenninkyo Onsen and Hagoromo Falls
天人峡温泉と羽衣の滝
A narrow gorge onsen below Asahidake, with a short trail to Hagoromo Falls, one of Hokkaido's tallest, dropping in stages down a cliff.
Lake Chubetsu
忠別湖
The dam lake on the road up to Asahidake, with a lakeside park and a wide view of the mountain across the water. Popular for cycling and picnics.
Michi-no-Eki Higashikawa Michikusa-kan
道の駅ひがしかわ道草館
The roadside station (Michi-no-Eki) in the town centre, a good place for local rice, vegetables and crafts and for orientation before heading into the mountains.
Getting to Higashikawa
Asahikawa Airport is about 15 minutes by car and Asahikawa city about 30 minutes. There is no railway; buses run from Asahikawa station through town to Asahidake Onsen. Asahidake and Tenninkyo are about 40 minutes further by mountain road, and Sapporo is around 2.5 hours by car.
Kamikawa region: Asahikawa Airport and Asahikawa Station are useful entry points. Plan the onward journey separately: reaching a railway station is not the same as reaching a flower farm, the Blue Pond or a mountain ropeway. Check seasonal bus services and the last return departure.
When to visit Higashikawa
July and August for alpine flowers on the Sugatami plateau and the summer photo festival. Mid to late September for Japan's earliest autumn colors on Asahidake. Winter brings dry powder and a ropeway that keeps running for skiers, but mountain roads demand care.
What to eat in Higashikawa
Rice grown with Daisetsuzan groundwater is the pride of the town, sold under its own name. The same water supports bakeries, coffee roasters and small restaurants in the town centre, and vegetables and eggs come from surrounding farms.
Higashikawa in context: the Kamikawa region
Click a town to open its page
Higashikawa is in the Kamikawa region. This page introduces the town; the region guide below covers the wider area and neighbouring communities.
Kamikawa is a large inland region of Hokkaido that includes Asahikawa, Furano, Biei and gateways to Daisetsuzan National Park. It is also the name of Kamikawa town, where Sounkyo Onsen is located. The linked region guide helps you choose between the region's sightseeing areas; use the town guide below if Sounkyo is your destination.
Towns near Higashikawa
Read next
Daisetsuzan in Autumn
Plan autumn foliage in Daisetsuzan with two ropeways, a waterfall gorge and onsen bases. Compare access, seasonal timing and mountain conditions.
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Hokkaido in Autumn
Plan Hokkaido in autumn, month by month: Daisetsuzan foliage, harvest food, changing weather and local transport. Choose regions and travel dates.
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Asahidake Ropeway Without a Car: A Day Trip from Asahikawa
Plan an Asahidake ropeway day trip by bus from Asahikawa, with return connections, the Sugatami walk, mountain safety and a bad-weather fallback.
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Where to Stay in Asahikawa
Compare Asahikawa Station, Sounkyo Onsen, Asahidake Onsen and the Biei–Furano valley. Choose a hotel base around your next day and transport plans.
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More towns in Kamikawa
Other regions: Ishikari · Sorachi · Shiribeshi · Iburi · Hidaka · Oshima · Hiyama · Rumoi · Soya · Okhotsk · Tokachi · Kushiro · Nemuro