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Asahikawa Airport Regional Airport illustrationRegional Airport
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AKJmedium airport

Asahikawa Airport

Higashikagura, Japan
Explore Higashikagura city guide Navigate to this airport
7
Routes out
3
Destinations
RJEC
ICAO
721 ft
Elevation
AirlinesAirports profile

Northern Hokkaido's gateway to mountain and winter tourism.

Opened
1961
Location
Higashikagura, Japan
Asahikawa Airport (IATA: AKJ, ICAO: RJEC) is a regional airport serving Asahikawa, the second-largest city in Hokkaido, Japan, and is administratively located in Higashikagura, Kamikawa Subprefecture. It serves as an important hub for travelers accessing central and northern Hokkaido, including popular ski resorts such as Furano and Kamui Ski Links, as well as Asahiyama Zoo. The airport handles both domestic routes connecting to major Japanese cities such as Tokyo (Haneda and Narita), Osaka, and Nagoya, as well as seasonal international charter flights, particularly during the winter ski season. Passenger traffic reflects strong seasonal demand tied to winter sports tourism. The airport is operated under Japan's system of state-managed regional airports and plays a vital role in maintaining air connectivity for the inland region of Hokkaido, which is not served by the Shinkansen bullet train network.
Terminals
The airport has a single passenger terminal building handling both domestic and international arrivals and departures.
Getting to & from
The airport is connected to central Asahikawa by bus services, with journey times of approximately 35–40 minutes, and taxi services are also available.
Airlines here
Major carriers include All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL), which operate the primary domestic routes from the airport.
Notable facts
  • ›Located approximately 15 kilometers southeast of central Asahikawa city.
  • ›Serves as a key gateway to the Furano and Biei regions, popular tourist destinations in Hokkaido.
  • ›Winter ski season generates significant passenger traffic, including international charter flights.
  • ›Asahiyama Zoo, one of Japan's most visited zoos, is a major attraction accessible from the airport.
  • ›The airport runway length is approximately 2,500 meters, capable of handling mid-size jet aircraft.
Official website Wikipedia
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (3 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Routes

AKJ → TPEBR · 332
AKJ → TPEGE · 330
AKJ → HNDHD · 735 763
AKJ → HNDJL · 73H
AKJ → NGONH · 737
AKJ → TPENH · 332
AKJ → HNDNH · 737 763 735
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City & Place Guide

Rural Hokkaido charm where farmland meets mountain panoramas.

Higashikagura is a small agricultural town in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, sitting just east of Asahikawa. Surrounded by rice paddies and open fields, it offers a peaceful rural escape with sweeping views of the Daisetsuzan mountain range on clear days.

The town is best known as the gateway to Asahidake, Hokkaido's highest peak and part of Daisetsuzan National Park. Visitors pass through or base themselves here for hiking, skiing, and enjoying Hokkaido's wide-open natural landscapes without the crowds of larger resort towns.

Higashikagura has a quiet, lived-in character with farm stands, local onsens, and a genuine sense of Hokkaido rural life. It suits travelers who prefer understated authenticity over polished tourist infrastructure.

  • •Asahidake Ropeway — scenic cable car ascending Hokkaido's highest volcano with hiking and skiing access.
  • •Asahidake Onsen Village — cluster of hot spring inns nestled in mountain forest near the ropeway base.
  • •Sugatami Pond — mirror-still crater lake near Asahidake summit reflecting volcanic landscape.
  • •Higashikagura Fureal Farm — hands-on agricultural experience showcasing Hokkaido dairy and crop farming.
  • •Rice paddy countryside — scenic cycling or driving routes through flat farmland with mountain backdrops.
  • •Tenninkyo Gorge — dramatic riverside gorge with waterfalls and hiking trails near the park boundary.

Getting around: There is no train station within Higashikagura itself; most visitors arrive by bus or car from Asahikawa, which has both a JR rail hub and an airport. Dohoku Bus runs services toward Asahidake Onsen from Asahikawa Station seasonally. Taxis are available but expensive over longer distances, and a rental car is strongly recommended for exploring the national park area and rural roads comfortably.

Best time: Late June through September offers the best hiking conditions, while January through March draws skiers and snowshoers to Asahidake's world-class powder snow.

Local food: Try fresh Hokkaido rice from local paddies, dairy-rich soft-serve ice cream, and hearty lamb dishes at nearby Asahikawa jingisukan (Genghis Khan) restaurants.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via AKJ? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Japan from official government sources.

Japan visa & entry information →Embassy & consulate finder →
Asahikawa Airport
Encyclopaedia

Asahikawa Airport , is a single-runway regional airport in Hokkaidō, Japan, straddling the cities of Asahikawa and Higashikagura.

Read full article on Wikipedia

Entity data from open aviation datasets (OurAirports, OpenFlights) with AI-assisted editorial clearly marked. Always confirm time-sensitive details with the official airport website. Sources & verification