When you think of B-class gourmet food in Hokkaido, many people probably think of ramen.

Hokkaido ramen is broadly categorized by area into three types:

Compared to Sapporo ramen being miso ramen and Hakodate ramen being salt ramen, Asahikawa ramen is often said to be soy sauce ramen, and in fact, many Asahikawa ramen restaurants serve soy sauce flavored ramen.

This time, we'll be putting the spotlight on Asahikawa ramen, a dish that's popular in Asahikawa, located almost in the center of Hokkaido.

Characteristics of Asahikawa Ramen

The ingredients in Asahikawa ramen are simple, such as roast pork, green onions, and bamboo shoots, but some restaurants use horumon (offal) or pork belly, which are native to Asahikawa.

The noodles are medium-thin and curly, and most ramen shops use noodles made in noodle factories in Asahikawa City.

The soup also has its own special features.

Asahikawa ramen is primarily made with a soy sauce-based soup, but its unique soup, called "W soup," is a combination of two different types of soup.

The W soup is a combination of a soy sauce-based soup and an animal-based soup made from pork bones and chicken bones, giving it a rich and deep flavor.

It is said that this originates from the fact that seafood stock such as kelp was originally used to reduce the odor of the pork bone-based soup.

This double soup is served at many Asahikawa ramen restaurants, and its distinctive flavor and uniqueness are popular with many foodies and ramen lovers.

Also, lard is added to the soup, and you can see the fat floating on top.

This is a clever idea used to keep the soup hotter in Asahikawa, where winters are bitterly cold, but the added flavor of the oil makes it even more appetizing.

The History of Asahikawa Ramen

There are various theories about the origins of Asahikawa ramen, which are said to date back to the 1950s, but it was established shortly after the war, when the style of two ramen shops, "Hachiya" and "Aoba," which were founded as ramen specialty shops and are still in business today, spread throughout Asahikawa.

In the 1990s, Asahikawa Ramen Village was established by the Asahikawa City Tourism Division of the Commerce and Industry Department to promote Asahikawa ramen nationwide.

It has become a popular tourist attraction, and in 2001, ramen from Hokkaido, including Asahikawa ramen, was designated as a Hokkaido Heritage.

Since then, the aforementioned Hachiya and Aoba have opened stores at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, and chain stores have been established that expand not only throughout Japan but also overseas, and Asahikawa ramen has become more well-known outside of Hokkaido.

Tourist information for Asahikawa City, Hokkaido

Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, where you can eat Asahikawa Ramen, has many tourist attractions. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido.

Asahiyama Zoo

Asahiyama Zoo is the northernmost zoo in Japan and opened in 1967.

Although the number of visitors decreased for a time, by changing the environment based on "behavioral exhibits" that bring out the natural behavior and abilities of the animals, the zoo became so popular that the number of visitors exceeded one million in 2004.

There are also rare animals that can only be seen at Asahikawa Zoo, such as the Arctic fox and snow leopard, so it's definitely worth seeing.

Asahikawa Zoo's popular "Polar Bear House" allows you to see the powerful dives and swimming of polar bears. There is also a "Seal's Eye" observation spot where you can see polar bears from a seal's point of view, which is an observation spot that you won't find at other zoos.

The average stay is about 2 to 3 hours, and it is a little far to access (44 minutes by bus from Asahikawa Station), but it is one of the most popular zoos in Japan, so it is definitely worth a visit.

Mount Daisetsu

Daisetsuzan is the name of a huge mountain range in central Hokkaido consisting of mountains such as Asahidake.

In the summer, you can enjoy mountain climbing, rafting, and cycling, and in the winter, you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding.

Additionally, there are numerous hot springs at bases for mountain climbing, and many hotels and inns.

Eating Asahikawa ramen, enjoying some activities, and finally spending some time relaxing in a hot spring would be a great experience.

Ueno Farm

Ueno Farm is a tourist garden located in Asahikawa City.

You can enjoy the trees and flowers that grow in Hokkaido's climate and environment all year round.

It is said that it originally started with planting flowers around the farm to make it more attractive.

You can also purchase seedlings, gifts, and garden goods on the premises.

The garden is open to the public from late April to mid-October, and is open from 10:00 to 17:00, with no regular holidays during the opening period.

This is the perfect tourist spot for those who want to relax and enjoy nature.

Location of Asahikawa City, Hokkaido

summary

This time we introduced Asahikawa Ramen, a B-class gourmet food from Asahikawa, Hokkaido.

Asahikawa ramen has become known nationwide and can easily be enjoyed in cup noodles, but the taste when enjoyed in a local restaurant is exceptional.

Enjoy a wonderful trip exploring Hokkaido, which is full of attractions and charms throughout the four seasons!

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