Asahikawa

Template:Japanese city

Asahikawa (旭川市; -shi) is a city located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. The city is the capital of the subprefecture and the second-largest city in Hokkaido, next to Sapporo. It has been a Core city since April 1, 2000. As of 2004, the city has an estimated population of 361,488 and the density of 483.53 persons per km². The total area is 747.6 km².

The city was founded on August 1, 1922. The Asahikawa Airport is located in Asahikawa.

The second division of the northern army of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is headquartered in Asahikawa.

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

History

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

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