hello
im off to hokkaido next week and was wondering if anyone knows how easy it is to pick up gas cartridges(specifically butane/propane en147 from asahikawa)
cheers

There's a small sport shop about 10mins walk from Asahikawa eki that sell butane canisters. I forget the name, but if you ask at the Tourist Info Center next to the station, they can tell you and give you a map.

If you're climbing Asahidake, I know the souvenir shop inside the cable car terminal sells butane too.