DAISETSUZAN & HIGASHIKAWA
Higashikawa & Daisetsuzan — The Home of Tankyu Distillery
A small Hokkaido town at the foot of the Daisetsuzan mountains, renowned for its pure spring water, stunning landscapes, and artisan spirit. Discover why we chose this extraordinary place to craft our whisky.
About Higashikawa & the Daisetsuzan Mountains
Higashikawa is a small town of roughly 8,400 residents in central Hokkaido, adjacent to Asahikawa — Hokkaido's second-largest city. Situated at the base of Daisetsuzan National Park, the largest national park in Japan, the town's eastern region features mountainous terrain and extensive forests that extend into the park's protected wilderness.
The town is unique in Japan: it has no municipal water supply. Instead, groundwater sourced from Daisetsuzan's snowmelt flows naturally throughout the town and into every household. This water, selected as one of the 100 Best Waters of Japan, nourishes the region's rice paddies, fuels a growing food culture, and is the reason Tankyu Distillery chose Higashikawa as its home.
The Ainu people, the indigenous inhabitants of Hokkaido, called the Daisetsuzan range Kamui Mintara — the Playground of the Gods. The area has attracted an increasing number of migrants in recent years, with population growing steadily thanks to its natural beauty, creative community, and quality of life. Today, Higashikawa offers hiking, hot springs, skiing, nature photography, and a vibrant craft culture.
With team members who have connections in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the UK, Tankyu Distillery aims to contribute to the region in ways only we can.
Here are some of the community initiatives we are currently pursuing. We plan to expand our contribution to Higashikawa through many more projects in the future.
- Providing furusato nozei (hometown tax) return gifts
- Donating whisky casks to Higashikawa Town
- Co-hosting a sake festival with local breweries and wineries (September 2025)
- Collaborating with a local confectioner on co-branded products
Mount Asahidake — Hokkaido's Highest Peak
Towering at 2,291 metres, Mount Asahidake is the highest peak in Hokkaido and one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains. Located within Higashikawa on the northern edge of Daisetsuzan National Park, its alpine meadows host a remarkable diversity of high-altitude plants, including some species found nowhere else in Japan.
The Asahidake Ropeway carries visitors to 1,600 metres in about ten minutes, accommodating up to 101 passengers per ride. From the upper station, a one-hour trekking course traverses terrain with a climate equivalent to Japan Alps elevations above 2,500 metres. On clear days, the summit offers panoramic views across the entire Daisetsuzan range.
In winter, Asahidake transforms into one of Japan's premier powder-snow destinations. The ski course operates from December to May — the longest season in Japan — with pristine backcountry terrain. An eight-kilometre cross-country course is also available, and nearby lodges provide complimentary equipment rental.
Seven hot-spring lodges cluster along the road to the ropeway base station, ranging from full-service resort hotels to intimate mountain lodges. All feature natural hot-spring baths and cuisine prepared with local Hokkaido ingredients.
The Town of Photography
In 1985, Higashikawa declared itself the Town of Photography — the first municipality in Japan to do so. Since then, the town has hosted the annual Higashikawa International Photo Festival every summer, bringing photographers and exhibitions from around the world. The festival includes the Higashikawa Awards, one of Japan's most prestigious photography prizes.
The tradition extends to the next generation through Photo Koshien, a national high-school photography championship held each summer in Higashikawa. Teams from across Japan compete in themed assignments, using the town and its landscapes as their canvas. An international edition also draws high-school teams from thirteen countries.
Photography is woven into daily life here. The dramatic contrasts of each season — from deep winter snowscapes to the emerald rice paddies of summer and the famous autumn foliage of Daisetsuzan — make Higashikawa a year-round destination for photographers at every level.
Four Seasons of Daisetsuzan
Spring (April – June)
Snowmelt feeds the rivers and wildflowers appear across the mountain slopes. Forests come alive as the long winter retreats. It is a season of renewal — and the start of a new distilling year at Tankyu. The Kurashi Tanoshiku Festival in Kitoushi Forest Park celebrates the season with fresh local produce and community markets.
Summer (July – August)
Higashikawa's summers are mild and lush, with daytime temperatures around 25°C. Rice paddies turn emerald green, and the Daisetsuzan peaks are accessible for hiking. Alpine flowers peak around late July, colouring the meadows at the ropeway summit. The town comes alive with events: the International Photo Festival, Photo Koshien, the Dontokoi Summer Festival with fireworks, and the Asahidake Mountain Festival (Nupuri Koro Kamui Nomi), an Ainu ceremony for mountain safety.
Autumn (September – November)
Daisetsuzan hosts Japan's earliest autumn foliage, typically beginning at the summit in mid-September and progressing downward through October. The mountains become a tapestry of red, orange, and gold. Tenninkyo Gorge is particularly striking in early October when the colours contrast against dark volcanic rock. The Autumn Kurashi Tanoshiku Festival celebrates the new rice harvest with farmer-direct markets and live music.
Winter (December – March)
Deep snow blankets the town and mountains, creating the powder conditions that attract skiers from around the world. The Asahidake ski course operates from December to May. In January, the Higashikawa Ice Festival at Hagoromo Park features ice-sculpture contests, snow statues, ice lanterns, and fireworks. The town's Christmas Market in early December offers handmade crafts and seasonal treats.
Food, Craft & Accommodation
Higashikawa's pure groundwater and cool climate produce outstanding rice, vegetables, and dairy — and a surprisingly rich dining scene for a small town. Chiba Syokudou serves refined seasonal Japanese dishes, its chef having trained for twenty years in Tokyo ryotei. Chiyuki Udon draws queues for handmade Sanuki-style noodles in a broth of Rishiri kombu and Setouchi iriko. For Hokkaido seafood, Rishiri Izakaya — featured in the Michelin Guide Hokkaido — sources fish directly from Wakkanai and Abashiri, never freezing a thing. Yoshinori Coffee roasts single-origin beans in a converted barn, while Harukuru Cake Shop and Miura Cafe offer pastries and sweets crafted with local ingredients.
Accommodation ranges from hot-spring resort hotels near Asahidake to renovated farmhouses and one-group-per-day guest cottages in town. Notable options include La Vista Daisetsuzan (known for its Hokkaido breakfast), Yukemori Yukikomasou (a member of Japan's Secret Hot Springs Association), and Kitoushi Forest Park with its family-friendly cabins set among the trees. Day visitors can also unwind at Kitoron, a bathing facility designed by architect Kengo Kuma on Mount Kitoushi, with natural hot-spring waters and panoramic mountain views.
The town's creative community includes woodworkers, ceramicists, and food artisans drawn by the natural environment and quality of life. Michizakura Sake Brewery — founded in 1877 and relocated from Gifu to Higashikawa in 2020 — crafts Japanese sake using the same pristine Daisetsuzan groundwater, offering the rare chance to enjoy both whisky and sake born from a single water source. Many studios and workshops welcome visitors, making Higashikawa a place to explore Hokkaido's growing craft culture alongside a distillery tour.
Getting to Higashikawa
Higashikawa is conveniently located approximately 10 minutes by car from Asahikawa Airport, which serves direct flights from Tokyo Haneda (about 1.5 hours), Osaka, and Nagoya. From Asahikawa Station, the town is about 30 minutes by the Ideyu shuttle bus, which runs three daily round-trips connecting the airport, town centre, and the Asahidake hot-spring area.
For visitors arriving from Sapporo, Higashikawa is approximately 2.5 hours by car via the Dou-Ou Expressway, or accessible via JR train to Asahikawa followed by the Ideyu shuttle bus. Rental cars are widely available at both Asahikawa Airport and Asahikawa Station and are recommended for exploring the wider area, including Tenninkyo Gorge.
Once in Higashikawa, the town is compact and easy to explore on foot or by bicycle — some guesthouses offer complimentary bicycle rental. Tankyu Distillery is located at 23 Kita, Nishi 2-go, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido 071-1402. Parking is available on site.
While You're Here
Visit Tankyu Distillery for a guided tour of our whisky and gin production. See our stills, walk through the barrel warehouse, and taste our craft spirits — all made with the same Daisetsuzan water that flows through this town.
Explore More
Discover other sides of Tankyu Distillery