In winter, Asahiyama Zoo (旭山動物園) in Asahikawa, Hokkaido has shorter opening hours and a different set of seasonal highlights. The gates close at 15:30, and the famous Penguin Walk only begins once enough snow has fallen, so the day you choose matters more than it does in summer.
The dates and the Penguin Walk schedule change from year to year, so the details below are for the 2026–2027 season.
The 2026–2027 dates for the Penguin Walk have not been announced yet. If seeing it is the reason for your trip, wait for the official schedule before you lock in your dates.
Winter Opening Dates and Hours (2026–2027)
The zoo keeps different hours in summer and winter, with a short closure in between. For 2026–2027, the winter season runs from November 11, 2026 to April 7, 2027, open 10:30 to 15:30 (last entry 15:00).
That 15:30 winter closing is an hour earlier than the 16:30 summer closing, so an afternoon visit leaves you less time inside. The zoo also closes for the New Year, from December 30 to January 1.
Date | Status |
|---|---|
November 3, 2026 | Last day of summer season (9:30–16:30) |
November 4–10, 2026 | Closed (summer-to-winter switchover) |
November 11, 2026 – April 7, 2027 | Winter season (10:30–15:30, last entry 15:00) |
December 30, 2026 – January 1, 2027 | New Year closure |
The Penguin Walk
The zoo's signature winter attraction is the Penguin Walk (ペンギンの散歩). The penguins line up and waddle about 500 meters round trip, from the Penguin House to near the Event Hall. They are mainly king penguins, and watching is included with admission.
It runs only after enough snow has settled, usually from late December to mid-March.
Both the start and end dates depend on snowfall, and the event may end earlier than usual because of bird flu or other disruptions. The 2026–2027 dates had not been announced when this article was published.
For reference, in 2025–2026 it began on December 18 and ran twice a day (11:00 and 14:30). In March, the schedule was reduced to once a day (11:00) as the penguins entered their molting period. The walk can also be canceled or changed at short notice.
The zoo decides that morning whether the Penguin Walk and feeding times will be held that day. Check the zoo's official website for the day's schedule before you set out.
Official site: Asahiyama Zoo (English)
Feeding Times and the February Night Opening
The zoo also holds "mogu-mogu time" (もぐもぐタイム) in winter, when keepers feed the animals and explain their behavior. The featured animals and start times vary from day to day.
Separately, from February 5 to 7, 2027, the zoo plans a special opening with hours extended to 20:30 (last entry 20:00). This special opening is usually held to coincide with the Asahikawa Winter Festival, but its official name and details for 2027 have not yet been announced.
Admission and Tickets
For the 2026–2027 winter, a regular individual ticket is ¥1,000 for adults, and free for junior high students and younger. High school students pay the adult rate.
Asahikawa residents can use a special rate (¥700 for adults), but must show proof of a city address at the ticket window.
If you visit often, there is also an Asahiyama Zoo passport (¥1,400) that is good for unlimited entry over a year.
Admission is set to rise from the summer opening on April 29, 2027 (to ¥1,400 for adults). Through the 2026–2027 winter, the current fee applies.
Tickets are sold on the day at the main gate windows and machines. To buy ahead, you can use KKday (web tickets) or Seven-Eleven and Lawson convenience stores (individual regular ¥1,000 tickets only). Admission tickets are generally non-refundable.
If you are visiting from abroad, or want to travel from Sapporo with transport included, there are also day tours that include Asahiyama Zoo.
Getting There from Asahikawa and Sapporo
From JR Asahikawa Station, the usual way is the local bus. From platform 6 at Asahikawa Station Bus Touch (旭川駅前バスタッチ), take the Asahiyama Zoo Line, number 41 or 47. The ride is about 40 minutes and costs ¥670 one way, with buses roughly every 30 minutes.
For a day trip from Sapporo, take the JR train from Sapporo to Asahikawa (about 1 hour 30 minutes), then the local bus for about 40 minutes.
You can also take the Kōsoku Asahikawa-gō (高速あさひかわ号) highway bus from the Sapporo Station area; the trip takes about 2 hours, followed by the same 40-minute local bus to the zoo.
By car, the zoo is about 30 minutes from Asahikawa Station and about 152 km, or 2 hours, from Sapporo. A taxi from Asahikawa Station costs around ¥3,500. Roads freeze in winter, so allow extra time if you drive.
Free parking is available for about 200 cars at the main gate and about 300 at the east gate.
What to Wear and Check Before You Go
Winter days in Asahikawa are often below freezing, and the paths through the zoo are packed with snow. Wear boots that grip on snow and a proper winter coat. If you plan to stand outside for the Penguin Walk or the feeding times, bring gloves and hand warmers as well.
Because the zoo closes early in winter, decide which animals you want to see, check their feeding times, and plan to arrive in the morning.
If you are building a winter trip around seeing animals in the snow, the macaques that bathe in a hot spring farther south are another popular stop: Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.