Where To Stay in Asahikawa

Where To Stay in Asahikawa: Best Hotels Pick

posted in: Hokkaido Japan | 0

Last updated on May 16th, 2026

We have written the below comprehensive guide on the city’s most popular hotel to help decide where to stay in Asahikawa.

Located in the center of Hokkaido, Asahikawa is the second largest city on the island. It is also one of the popular transit cities when travelers visit the attractions nearby such as Asahikawa Zoo, Mount Asahi (Asahidate), Furano, and Biei area. For the first-time visitor to Asahikawa, you might wonder where is the best place to stay in the city. We would recommend staying nearby Asahikawa Station, the city’s main railway station.

The neighborhood surrounding the station is the most lively area in the city with many hotels, restaurants, eateries, shops, and even an AEON shopping mall surrounding the station. Most importantly, there is plenty of accommodation to choose from and most of them are mid-range business hotels at a very reasonable price.

In this accommodation guide, we will share a list of best hotel to stay in the near with the train and bus station. Read on to decide where to stay in Asahikawa!

Quick Guide: Where to stay in Asahikawa

Visitors to Asahikawa have a good range of accommodations to choose from around the city. Here is the popular pick for where to stay in Asahikawa:

High-range hotels with less than 5 minutes walk from the station:

Mid-range hotels with less than 5 minutes walk from the station:

About 10 minutes walk from the station:

Pro Tips: Best hotels always run out fast, especially during peak season. You should book your accommodation to secure your room and the best price!

Hotel Route Inn Grand Asahikawa Ekimae

Hotel Route Inn Grand Asahikawa Ekimae

Hotel Route Inn Grand Asahikawa Ekimae offers comfortable rooms and good service for guests. Guests can unwind in the public bath on the 17th floor which boasts a city view which is a great plus. The location is superb and conveniently located across from the train station. There are lots of restaurants and eateries nearby. The property also has private parking onsite.

JR Inn Asahikawa

Where to stay in Asahikawa - JR Inn Asahikawa
Where to stay in Asahikawa – JR Inn Asahikawa

JR Inn Asahikawa offers simple accommodation directly connected to JR Asahikawa Station. Just a minute from the station will get you to the hotel. The room is small as per Japanese standards but nicely designed and clean. A public bath and laundry facilities are available on site which is another great plus. Free WiFi is provided throughout the property.

Premier Hotel CABIN

Premier Hotel CABIN Asahikawa

If you are looking for where to stay in Asahikawa, Premier Hotel CABIN Asahikawa will offer you exactly that. The rooms here are spacious and very nicely decorated and some other advantages of staying here include free Wi-Fi, a public hot spring bath, private parking, and more. The location is good near the train and bus station and within walking distance of Aeon Mall.

HOTEL AMANEK

HOTEL AMANEK Asahikawa

If you’re wondering where to stay in Asahikawa for first time, I’d highly recommend HOTEL AMANEK Asahikawa!

Newly opened, HOTEL AMANEK Asahikawa is a modern hotel located right in front of the Asahikawa station. It offers a convenient base for exploring the city and is close to shopping, dining, and sightseeing options. They provide spacious air-conditioned rooms with modern amenities and free internet access. Guests can enjoy the free public bath located on the 17th floor of the building. Paid parking is also available at a cheap rate.

Hotel Wing International Asahikawa Ekimae

Hotel Wing International Asahikawa Ekimae

The Hotel Wing International Asahikawa Ekimae is a great option for mid-budget hotels in Asahikawa that offers a nice and comfy room. It is a modern hotel in terms of appliances, decor, and furniture while being very comfortable and at a great price! Each room includes free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and more.

The location is also excellent with an easy walk to the supermarket, shops, and restaurants. Parking in the Aeon shopping center was handy, and cheap at ¥1,000 per night (pay at the hotel).

Y’s Hotel

Ys Hotel Asahikawa Ekimae

Y’s Hotel Asahikawa Ekimae is an awesome place to stay in Asahikawa if you are looking for a great value. It provides awesome service, comfortable rooms with everything you need to have a comfortable stay.

The location is excellent, right next to Asahikawa train station and bus terminal. The room is just as expected and meticulously clean. Some of the best facilities here include a coin laundry, a sauna, and a public bath. Excellent value for money and perfect to stay in the city.

Dormy Inn Asahikawa

Dormy Inn Asahikawa

Dormy Inn Asahikawa is worth recommending when looking for where to stay in Asahikawa. The location is slightly away but within a 10-minute walk from JR Asahikawa Train Station. It offers modern accommodation with a large public hot-spring bath for guests. The signature free noodle at night is a great plus!

There are many restaurants and shops nearby the property. Guests can park at the building behind the hotel at a reasonable fee.

Overview: Best Hotel to Stay in Asahikawa

All in all, I hope this guide has helped you to find the best hotel that fits your budget and requirement. The city is fairly compact so no matter where you decide to stay you should be able to get around fairly easily. 

During my trip to Asahikawa, we stayed in JR Inn Asahikawa for three nights in the city. The hotel is strategically located beside the JR Asahikawa station which is very convenient. From Asahikawa, we departed to many interesting attractions nearby such as Furano, Biei, and seasonal flower fields. Detail can be referred to our travel blog with itinerary and transport arrangements include.

Read on our travel stories to Asahikawa:

Wondering what and where to eat in Asahikawa? Here is some food idea in the city:

A Guide for Using VPN while Traveling

Traveling with VPN: A Guide + Budget Tips

posted in: Travel Guides | 0

Last updated on May 16th, 2026

If you’re not sure yet why you need to use a VPN while traveling, we’ve got all the information that you need to know. Read more about traveling with VPN in our comprehensive guide.

Traveling with a VPN is becoming common. When you’re planning for spending some time traveling around, there’s a high chance there’ll be some need to access the internet while traveling. It can be as simple as checking a few emails, posting on social media, booking flights and accommodation, or even watching TV when you are resting at a hotel abroad. It is important to be aware of your safety online. Fortunately, there’s a solution.

In this quick and simple VPN guide, I’ll share with you all the useful information on how to use a VPN while traveling. I’ll also run through all the essentials on getting the VPN and tips/advice on whether to grab the best VPN to use when traveling!

Traveling with VPN: Everything you need to Know

Ready to travel around with a VPN? The VPN could be your new best travel companion!

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a network that is made available to customers by a VPN provider. When using a VPN service, a connection is first made with a (secure) VPN server. This server then connects to the World Wide Web. Because of this intermediate step, your data are no longer directly shared online. This is a benefit because all data traffic from the VPN server is encrypted. So if an internet criminal should succeed in intercepting your data traffic, they will be unable to read the data, because these are encrypted.

Here is what you need to know when you start using a VPN while traveling:

  • Why Using VPN while Traveling
  • How To Choose the Best VPN for Travel
  • What is the Best VPN for Traveling
  • How To use VPN when Traveling
  • What is the Benefit for using VPN for Travel
  • Final Tips on using VPN while Traveling

Why Using VPN while Traveling?

The VPN gives you a ton of freedom and flexibility for travelling. But, you’re probably asking yourself: Why you need a VPN while traveling? Here’s a quick rundown of the reasons to use a VPN while traveling.

Online Privacy: Nowadays, everyone travels using a smartphone, tablet, or even laptop to check for attractions nearby, food to eat, and most importantly navigation when abroad. That means that we are connected with private or public free Wifi when we’re abroad. Technology makes traveling easier but at the same time open to some serious risks.

Internet Safety: Cybersecurity is one of the major concerns. Hackers may steal your password for criminal activities if you are using public internet networks abroad. VPN servers prevent hackers from stealing your personal information as it is encrypted.

Access to Social Media and websites: Some countries, particularly Asian countries such as China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand will not able to access certain websites and apps due to government censoring. For example, the Great Firewall has blocked major services in China, such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and many more. You can use a VPN to select your home country and you’ll then be able to access the website with ease while traveling in China.

Watch TV while traveling: Watching TV might not be a need when you are traveling. But if you are planning a long vacation abroad, sometimes access to TV shows from your home country might still be a good idea. VPN will allow you to access them regardless of geolocation.

We particularly recommend NordVPN and have used NordVPN when traveling. We found it completely reliable during my travels through China, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, and beyond!

How To Choose the Best VPN for Travel?

With so many different VPN providers and plans, it’s not all that easy to figure out which one’s best for your needs.

Below we outline the criteria you might need from your VPN when choosing the best VPN for travel.

  • Works in as many countries as possible – A wide server network with servers in major countries for accessing various international geo-blocked streaming services. This is very useful when traveling abroad.
  • Simultaneous connections – Look for a VPN service that lets you connect several devices at the same time. This is very useful if you have several devices or want to share your subscription with family or friends when traveling.
  • Speed – Without great speeds, using a VPN will only be a hassle. All the VPNs we listed offer fantastic speeds to users without any lags.
  • SecurityOne should always opt for a VPN that offers advanced security features to users.
  • Customer SupportVPN providers should have trustworthy customer service available 24/7 so all the users can get in touch with them at any time of the day even abroad!
  • User Friendly – The VPN shall easy to install and use.
  • Compatibility – The VPN shall compatible with almost every popular operating system, including easy-to-use apps for all devices such as Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Chrome.
  • Pricing – It’s a super-affordable VPN service and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

And more!

What is the Best VPN for Traveling?

Numerous VPN provider is offering the service, and most are reliable. For the most effortless experience, we recommend choosing a VPN provider that has platform compatibility, reliable speeds, a good choice of servers, and availability in as many countries as possible.

Here are some suggested companies you can check out to get started:

  • ExpressVPN – Most premium but slightly expensive.
  • NordVPN – Most secure and best in overall.
  • SurfShark – Cheaper and best for those who have a strict budget.

Editor Pick: We recommend NordVPN because they have always been extremely reliable, optimized streaming servers, and have fast speeds. This popular VPN should definitely take into considerations. Check for their latest features and promotion from NordVPN!

Express – Best Premium VPN:
ExpressVPN Pros:
+ Supports ALL devices
+ Fast servers (3000+)
+ Unblocks Netflix in the USA
+ Torrenting and P2P are allowed
+ No IP leaks or DNS leaks found
+ Simple and easy to use

ExpressVPN Cons:
– More expensive than its chief rivals

Get the ExpressVPN as low as $8.32/mo.

NordVPN – Best Overall VPN:
NordVPN Pros:
+ Fast servers (5,500+)
+ Torrenting/P2P allowed
+ Works with Netflix
+ Strict no logging policy
+ Easy to use VPN apps
+ No IP/DNS leaks found

NordVPN Cons:
– Discounts for longer subscriptions

Get the NordVPN as low as $3.69/mo.

Surfshark – Best Cheap VPN:
Surfshark Pros:
+ Strict no-logging policy
+ Unlimited device connection
+ Torrenting
+ Plays Netflix
+ Secure system
+ Good addons like Ad-Blocker

Surfshark Cons:
– Average speeds

Get the Surfshark VPN as low as $2.49/mo.

Pro Tips: Expect to pay anywhere from $3-10 USD per month of a reputable VPN service. Usually, you can sign up for an annual plan to save beween 50-75% off the regular price. That’s a great deal!

How To use VPN when Traveling?

It’s so simple for using a VPN. Just follow below a few simple steps.

  1. Sign up for one of the VPNs recommended above before traveling. (We recommended NordVPN)
  2. Download the VPN app for your device from the provider’s website.
  3. Connect to the internet and start up your VPN.
  4. Choose and select a server in a country you’d like to use.
  5. Hit the Connect button. Wait a few moments for the connection to establish, and that’s it!

Your IP address is hidden and data is encrypted once connected to VPN.

What is the Benefit for using VPN for Travel?

Cheaper Airfare

Using a VPN can also help you save money when booking hotels and flights. This is a small trick that prices especially flight tickets may fluctuate depending on where you’re booking from. For example, booking a Japan air ticket from Japan is cheaper than if you’re located in Japan. This can be done by tricking the airline website by using VPN.

Access websites blocked in other countries

You can access websites blocked in other countries by using VPN. For example, China has placed numerous restrictions on accessing the Internet and it even prevents using social media, email, streaming sites, etc. Many travelers will tend to use VPNs in China to access websites that are currently blocked in the country.

Secure Transaction

Lastly, you can also use a VPN to secure access to banking websites to perform online activities or transactions. For example, sometimes you may need to perform online bank transactions abroad. This is common that the banking website will block access if it detects this IP address is from another country. Using a VPN with an assigned local IP address will able to let you access the website.

Final Tips on using VPN while Traveling

Last but not least, here are a few quick things you ought to know about the VPN:

Should I use a VPN while abroad?

Yes, we highly recommend it! VPN servers prevent hackers from stealing your personal information and provide unrestricted access to a wide range of streaming content and services. You’ll be protected when connected abroad!

Which VPNs are most trusted to use for travel?

The recommended VPNs for travel are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and SurfShark. All are very reliable VPNs that are currently working well in most countries.

Can I get free VPN when traveling?

Yes, you can get a VPN for free but this is not adviseable. Most free VPNs will have many limitations such as data limit, injecting advertisements, and may sell your data to third parties to gain profit.

Overall: Best Travel VPN

All in all, we hope our simple guide to the best travel VPN helps you to make the right decision. It’s a cheap way to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself online when traveling. For travelers who plan to travel abroad, then make sure you grab yourself the best VPN on your way there.

We recommend getting ExpressVPN and NordVPN as both are the best VPN to use while traveling. Taking these simple steps will help you greatly reduce the risk of jeopardizing your traveling experience. Enjoy your trip risk-free!