Higashikawa Town

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Higashikawa Town, in the Kamikawa district of Hokkaido, made history in 1985 as Japan's first municipality to declare itself a 'Photo Town' — a distinctive cultural identity that blends art with the natural grandeur of the Daisetsuzan mountain range. As the gateway town to Asahidake Ropeway and the 2,291-metre summit of Asahidake, Higashikawa draws visitors seeking a seamless combination of mountain adventure, culinary tradition, and creative culture. The 'Higashikawa International Photography Festival', held every summer, is a prestigious global event that attracts photographers and enthusiasts from around the world. Uniquely, Higashikawa is Japan's only agriculture-based community without a centralized water supply — residents and farmers rely on pristine spring water from the Daisetsuzan mountain range, which produces the celebrated 'Higashikawa Rice', one of Hokkaido's most prized brands. The roadside station 'Michino-Eki Higashikawa Michikusakan' sells local rice, fresh produce, and photography-related goods.