One-Day Itinerary: Asahiyama Zoo's Penguin Walk + Winter Biei
Asahiyama Zoo is already one of Hokkaido’s biggest draws for overseas visitors, and in winter it has something you can’t see any other time of year: the Penguin Walk. Pair a morning there with an afternoon in snow-covered Biei, and you’ve got a full, easy day that doesn’t require a hotel change.
Morning: Asahiyama Zoo’s Penguin Walk
From December 18 through mid-March, the zoo’s king penguins are walked along a roughly 500-meter path from the penguin house to near the event hall — twice a day (11:00 and 14:30) through most of the season, dropping to once a day (11:00 only) from March onward as snow cover permits. Arrive a little early to get a good spot along the path; this is one of the most photographed moments in Hokkaido winter tourism for a reason.
A few practical notes: the walk can be shortened, changed, or cancelled depending on the penguins’ condition and snow conditions on the day, and the zoo is closed December 30–January 1.
Getting to the Zoo
Asahiyama Zoo is a short taxi or bus ride from central Asahikawa. If you’re arriving via Asahikawa Airport, see our full transport comparison for getting into the city first.
Afternoon: Drive to Biei
After the zoo, Biei is a straightforward drive from Asahikawa — this is the same corridor covered in our Asahikawa Airport transport guide, just heading toward Biei instead of continuing on to Furano. In winter, the rolling hills that make Biei famous for its summer “patchwork” scenery are blanketed in snow instead — a completely different, quieter kind of beautiful, and far less crowded than in peak summer season.
Check current road conditions before you go, especially after fresh snowfall — see our weekly powder snow report for what conditions have been like recently.
Where This Fits With a Longer Trip
If you’re combining this with a ski trip to Furano, see Best Ski Resorts Near Furano, Biei & Asahikawa, Compared and Best Hotels Near Furano Ski Resort for Families for where to base yourself for the rest of your stay.