New Chitose to Asahiyama Zoo: Beat the Winter Last Entry

If you are going from New Chitose to Asahiyama Zoo in late autumn or winter, the hard part is not the drive; it is the window of opening hours. The zoo's 2026 calendar shows that from 11 November to 29 December it closes at 15:30 with last entry at 15:00, and it is closed altogether from 4 to 10 November. A flight that lands at New Chitose in the afternoon will not get you through the gate that day.

The zoo's own calendar

Per the Asahiyama Zoo calendar:

Check the site again before you book; the zoo can change its schedule.

Working backwards from 15:00

The zoo's access page gives about 189 km and 2 hours 30 minutes from New Chitose. Add roughly an hour for immigration, baggage and getting into the car (our own estimate; it depends on the queues):

• 2.5 hours of driving plus about 1 hour at the airport is about 3.5 hours, so you would have to leave the airport by around 11:30 to reach the gate by 15:00.
• That leaves only a short visit before the 15:30 closing, so you would see very little.
• For an unhurried visit, take a morning flight, or do not plan the zoo for the arrival day at all.

Two ways to plan it

Morning arrival, straight to the zoo. Drive to Asahikawa, stop for lunch on the way, and arrive around midday with two hours or more inside. Leave extra margin if it is snowing.

Afternoon or evening arrival, sleep in Asahikawa. Drive to your hotel in Asahikawa on arrival day and walk in at 10:30 opening the next morning with a full afternoon ahead. Winter days are short, so this is the safer plan. If Furano is next, see New Chitose to Furano by train, bus or private car.

New Chitose to Asahiyama Zoo: train, bus or private car

The zoo's access page lists:

• New Chitose to Sapporo Station about 40 minutes, Sapporo to Asahikawa Station about 1 hour 30 minutes, then a bus (stop 6 at Asahikawa Station, about 40 minutes) or a taxi.
• An express bus (Taisetsu Liner) from New Chitose to Asahikawa in about 3 hours.
• The bus from Asahikawa Airport runs only on summer weekends and holidays, one round trip a day; check winter service yourself.

The train has the most changes: airport, Sapporo, Asahikawa, with luggage carried on and off each time and waits at winter platforms and bus stops. A private car goes from the airport straight to the zoo or your Asahikawa hotel, with no luggage handling and no dependence on bus timetables. The zoo lists about 200 free spaces at the main gate and about 300 at the east gate, plus private car parks nearby; check the zoo's notices for winter conditions before you travel.

What to tell us when you book

Asahiyama Zoo and Asahikawa are not on our standard price list, so please ask for a quote (for a published fare in the same direction see New Chitose to Furano private transfer; other destinations are under all routes from New Chitose). Give your flight number, landing time, number of passengers and bags, and whether you are going straight to the zoo or staying in Asahikawa first; our team will confirm the arrangement and vehicle.

Match your landing time to the 15:00 last entry first, then decide between a same-day visit and an overnight stop. When you are ready, send your flight details through the booking page.