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Asahikawa
Asahikawa; 旭川
	— Core city —
旭川市 · Asahikawa
	Heiwa Street in Asahikawa
	; Flag
	; Flag
	Location of Asahikawa in Kamikawa, Hokkaidō
	Location of Kamikawa in Hokkaidō
	; Asahikawa
	Coordinates: 43°46′N 142°22′E / 43.767°N 142.367°E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaidō
Prefecture	Hokkaidō
Subprefecture	Kamikawa
	Government
- Mayor	Masahito Nishikawa
	Area
- Total	747.6 km2 (288.6 sq mi)
Population; (September 30 2008)	355,851
- Density	476/km2 (1,232.8/sq mi)
	City Symbols
- Tree	Japanese Rowan
- Flower	Azalea
- Bird	Bohemian Waxwing
Website	City of Asahikawa
Phone number	0166-26-1111
	Address 9-46, Rokujō-dōri, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaidō; 070-8525

Asahikawa (旭川市, Asahikawa-shi^?) is a city located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. The city is the capital of the subprefecture and the second-largest city in Hokkaidō, next to Sapporo. It has been a Core city since April 1, 2000. The city is currently well-known for the Asahiyama Zoo and Asahikawa Ramen.

As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 355,851 and a density of 476 persons per km². The total area is 747.6 km².

[edit] Name

The Ainu called the Asahi River Chiu Pet meaning "River of Waves", but it was misunderstood as Chup Pet meaning "Sun River", and so it came to be called Asahi River (Asahi = Morning Sun).

[edit] Overview

On August 1, 1922, Asahikawa was officially founded as Asahikawa City. As the center city in northern Hokkaidō, Asahikawa has been influential in industry and commerce. There are about 130 rivers and streams including the Ishikari River and Chūbetsu River, and over 740 bridges in the city.^[1] Asahibashi, a bridge over Ishikari River, has been familiar to people in the city as one of the symbols of Asahikawa since its completion in 1932, and it was also registered as one of the Hokkaidō Heritage sites on October 22, 2001.^[2]

Asahikawa Station

Asahikawa Airport

Asahikawa thrived as a military city before World War II, when the IJA 7th Division (第7師団) was posted there. Today, the second division of the northern army of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is headquartered in Asahikawa.

In winter, the Asahikawa Winter Festival is held annually at the bank of the Ishikari River, making use of Asahikawa's cold climate and snow. On January 25, 1902, a weather station recorded -41°C, the lowest temperature in Japanese history.^[3] Due to its climate and location surrounded by mountains, there are some ski resorts in the outskirts of the city.

Asahikawa is served by Asahikawa Airport which stretches over the outskirts of Asahikawa City and Higashikagura, Hokkaidō. It is a second class airport, and also a single-runway regional airport. The airport serves domestic destinations including Tokyo, but some airlines offer destinations in South Korea. Municipal buses also serve the city.

Asahikawa is known as one of Japan's gourmet towns, and contains many restaurants of nearly every description.

Asahibashi Bridge

[edit] History

1890 Kamikawa District set up under Ishikari Province with the villages of Asahikawa, Nagayama and Kamui
1900 Asahikawa Village becomes Asahikawa Town
1914 Asahikawa Town becomes Asahikawa-ku
1922 Asahikawa-ku becomes Asahikawa City
1955 Kamui Village and Etanbetsu Village merge with Asahikawa
1961 Nagayama Town merged
1963 Higashi-asahikawa Town merged
1967 Asahiyama Zoo opened
1968 Kagura Town merged
1971 Higashi-takasu Town merged
1972 Japan's first permanent pedestrian mall Heiwadōri Shopping Park opened
April 1, 2000 Asahikawa becomes a Core city