オススメ度
外国語対応
About Furano
Furano, located practically in the center of Hokkaido, is a place with a very good image among Japanese people: beautiful scenery, healing, natural beauty, and simplicity.
Although Furano has no significant history or cultural elements, from spring through fall, it is a place where one can enjoy the beautiful scenery of flower fields and the clean air, which is soothing just by being there.
There are many restaurants serving fresh and delicious local vegetables, and admission and parking fees to most places are free, so it is also a place that is kind to your heart, stomach, and wallet.
Most Japanese people are usually excited and enchanted when they hear the word Furano. And in the minds of Japanese people over 45 years old, this song continuously loops.
This song is the main theme of “Kita no Kuni Kara,” a national hit drama set in Furano.
The show was a touching TV drama that depicted family love and the personal growth of the characters against the backdrop of the beautiful nature of Furano, and ran from 1981 to 2002. (*From 1983, one episode every two to three years)
The series made the name Furano well-known throughout Japan, and it quickly became a popular tourist destination.
After all is said and done, Furano is best known for its lavender flowers, which turn the land purple in the summer.
Lavenders can be viewed and appreciated from late June to early August, although the blooming period varies according to the type.
The peak season is in mid-July.
Lavender is a member of the Lamiaceae family, native to the Mediterranean Sea, and originally did not grow in Japan until 1937.
It is a bit unauthentic to claim such a “new comer” plant as a local specialty, but take it with a grain of salt.
Additionally, there are many high quality restaurants in this area, which is a treasure trove of high quality agricultural and livestock products.
And despite its remote location there are two Michelin-starred restaurants in the area.
Furano is relatively close to Biei and Asahikawa, so it would be wise to visit them together, but inconvenient without a car.
If you renting a car is not an option, you can only visit places close to JR stations and bus terminals (such as *”Farm Tomita”), pay loads of money by renting out a cab, or join a bus tour around Furano.
Recommendation
Enjoy sightseeing and the food!
Sightseeing
The best time to visit is from mid-April to mid-October when the flowers are in bloom (*otherwise there is snow on the ground), but the best season is from mid to late July when the lavender is at its peak.
However, this area is extremely crowded in July~August.
The roads are jammed, and you have to wait a long time to get into the parking lots and cafes.
It is especially bad in the afternoon on weekends and holidays.
During the high season in July and August, it is recommended to visit on weekdays and early in the morning (after sunrise) if possible.
Food
The area is a treasure trove of quality agricultural and livestock products; many restaurants and cafes offer a good view, atmosphere, and taste.
There are two Michelin-starred restaurants, and eating at “Teuchi-Soba Mansaku” is an unbelievably reasonable 1,000 to 2,000 yen! Let’s not forget about Furano’s famously delicious melons too.
Access to Furano
Furano is conveniently accessible from Sapporo or Asahikawa, but it’s better to take a bus if coming from Sapporo.
If you go by train (JR), the Nemuro Main Line has extremely few services, and connections are poor, taking extra time.
※ If you must use JR (you have the JR Pass and want to cut costs), check the JR Hokkaido timetable below.
Sometimes there is a “miracle train” that arrives at Furano in about 2 hours.
From Asahikawa
Asahikawa Airport
Bus
The Furano Bus Lavender runs about once an hour.
It takes about 60 min to reach JR Furano Station.
Asahikawa Station
Train
Take the JR Furano Line and get off at Furano Station.
The trip takes about 70 min and roughly 1~2 trains per hour.
The Furano-Biei Norokko train, which connects Asahikawa Station and Furano Station on the JR Furano Line, is available for a limited time only (from early June to late September).
The train has a large window and slows down at viewpoints such as flower fields, so passengers can enjoy the trip while viewing beautiful and magnificent nature.
There are three daily services between Furano and Biei, but only one to/from Asahikawa Station.
Bus
Furano Bus Lavender runs about once an hour.
It takes about 100 min to reach JR Furano Station.
From Sapporo
Train
From Sapporo Station , take the JR Hakodate Main Line to Takikawa Station, transfer to the JR Nemuro Main Line and alight at Furano Station.
Approx. travel time: 2 to 4 hours.
In most cases, you will need to change trains at Iwamizawa Station, the station before Takikawa Station.
There is an express train called “Furano Lavender Express” that runs only in summer once a day and goes directly from Sapporo to Furano in about 2 hours. It runs daily from late June to August 15, and only on weekends and holidays from late August to late September.
Bus
From Sapporo Station Bus Terminal, board the Kosoku Furano Bus and disembark at the Furano Ekimae Bus Stop.
Approx travel time: 2 hours and 40 min
There is one bus every hour.
Access within Furano area
Getting around by public transportation alone is quite stressful.
The frequency of public transportation is low, and most places are inaccessible, so renting a car is recommended.
If you can’t get a car, you will have to take a taxi from JR stations (Furano Station or Nakafurano Station) or join a bus tour around Furano.
Tour buses to/from Asahikawa and Furano
These tours visit major sightseeing spots in and around Furano and Biei.
The buses run between June and September (depending on the course) and cost between ¥4,500 and ¥5,000.
Below is the website (only in Japanese unfortunately)
Bicycle rental (Scooter rental)
Furano has several bicycle and scooter rental stores near the JR station.
Rates are generally: bicycles: from ¥500 yen/2 hours; scooters: ¥2,000/2 hours.
Moriya [もりや]
| Address | Hinode-machi 2-1, Furano-shi |
| Tel | 0167-22-2273 |
| 営業時間 | (May～September) AM 9:00～PM5:00 (October～April)AM10:00～PM4:00 no closures |
| 料金 | Ordinary bicycle: 500 yen for 1 hour (1,000 yen for 1 day) Electric bicycle: 1,500 yen per hour (3,000 yen for 1 day) |
| リンク | https://www.furanotourism.com/en/spot/spot_D.php?id=118&kid1=2&kid2=9&kid3=31 |
Naganuma Bussan (長沼物産)
| Address | Nakamachi2-3-27, Kamifurano-cho |
| Tel | 0167-45-2417 |
| 営業時間 | 8:00-19:00 not fixed |
| 料金 | Ordinary bicycle: 400 yen for 1 hour (1,500 yen for 1 day) Electric bicycle: 600 yen per hour (3,000 yen for 1 day) |
| リンク | https://www.daisetsu-kamikawa-ainu.jp/sightseeing/1778/ |
Sightseeing
The area along Route 237 (between Biei-cho and Shimukappu Village via Furano) is dotted with many flower gardens and is also known as Hanabito Kaido or “Flower People route” because of the wide variety of flowers in bloom.
The best season for lavender, Furano’s symbolic flower, is from mid to late July.
The following are the main flower fields along the Hanabito Kaido.
Farm Tomita
Farm Tomita is a sightseeing farm with a vast flower garden boasting as many as 80 varieties of flowers, mainly lavender. It is one of Hokkaido’s main attractions, visited by approximately 1 million tourists every year from all over Japan and abroad (*before Covid19) for its beautiful flowers and spectacular scenery. Various flowers bloom from […]
[ See details ]
| Address | Kisen Kita 15-go, Nakafurano-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | by Train - 7 min walk […] |
| Tel | 0167-39-3939 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Lavender East
The largest lavender field in Japan is operated by Farm Tomita, with approximately 90,000 lavender plants on a 140,000㎡ site. It is open to the public only in July. The view from the observation deck in the center of the grounds is splendid. The lavender fields spread out below you, and you can see the […]
[ See details ]
| Address | Address: 16 go Higashi 6 Senkita, Kamifurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 15 min car ride from JR Nakaf[…] |
| Tel | 0167-39-3939 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Flower Land Kamifurano
It’s the largest sightseeing farm in Furano with a site area of 150,000 ㎡; dozens of seasonal flowers bloom in profusion as if they were filling the top of a small hill. In addition to the flower garden, a tractor bus that leisurely takes visitors on a 10 min ride through the garden is very […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 27 Go Nishi 5 Senkita, Kamifurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | ① Taxi: 10 min ride from JR K[…] |
| Tel | 0167-45-9480 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Kanno Farm
The flower fields spread on a hill along Hanabito Kaido Road (Route 237), 2 km west of JR Bibaushi Station. More than 30 kinds of flowers, mainly lavender, are in full bloom from mid-June to mid-October Vivid flowers cover the entire hillside, and from the roadside you can look up to see the flower garden. […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 36 Go Nishi 12 Sen Kita, Kamifurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | by Train: 15 min from JR Bib[…] |
| Tel | 0167-45-9528 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Food
Furano’s fertile land and the extreme difference in temperature produce delicious, sweet-tasting vegetables
.
There are many restaurants where you can enjoy home-style cooking using freshly picked seasonal vegetables. They offer great views, are reasonably priced, and you simply can’t go wrong no matter where you eat.
Below are the restaurants with Michelin stars.
Mansaku
[ See details ]
| Address | 2-1 Nishimachi,Kamifurano-cho,Sorachi-gun,Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 8 min walk from JR Kamiurano […] |
| Tel | 0167-45-6523 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Furano Hotel Restaurant
[ See details ]
| Address | Gakuden Sanku, Furano-City, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 30 min by car from JR Furano […] |
| Tel | 011-598-2828 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
And below are the 2 ramen shops awarded Michelin’s Bib Gourmand.
(both under the same management)
Furano Tomikawa
[ See details ]
| Address | 5 Rokugo Shigaichi Furano-City Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | about17㎞ from JR Furano Stati[…] |
| Tel | 0167-29-2666 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Tomikawa seimensho
This ramen restaurant opened in 2009 as another brand of Furano Tomikawa, a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner. Although the noodles and soup taste different from those of Furano Tomikawa, this restaurant has also won the Michelin Bib Gourmand award. The wonderful made-in-house noodles, which are made at a noodle factory attached to the restaurant, bring […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 12-22 Hinodemachi, Furano, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 5 min walk from JR Furano Sta[…] |
| Tel | 0167-23-1965 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Melons
Furano is famous for its delicious, high-quality melons.
As mentioned earlier, the fertile land and the extreme temperature differences in Furano make the fruit sweeter.
In Furano, you can buy melons from farmers and eat them on the spot in summer, not to mention many places offer all-you-can-eat melons.
In Furano, you can buy melons from farmers and eat them on the spot in summer, not to mention many places offer all-you-can-eat melons.
These melons are so delicious that it is tempting to try all-you-can-eat, but there is a limit to how much you can eat.
So, it is doubtful whether all-you-can-eat is really a good deal.
Since they also sell cut melons, light eaters would be better off choosing that option.
Having said that, all-you-can-eat is a fun event.
The following are the main melon farmers.
Nakata Farm
This farm grows mainly “King Ruby,” a precious melon variety grown only in the local Yamabe-cho area. Visitors can enjoy the precious and delicious “King Ruby” both as all-you-can-eat and cut-to-sale. The all-you-can-eat melon is ¥1,500 for 20 minutes. Reservations must be made at least one week in advance by phone or email. Cut sales […]
[ See details ]
| Address | Higashi 15-sen, Yamabe Furano City, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | by Taxi: 15 min ride from JR […] |
| Tel | 0167-42-3502 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Hokusei Farm
A melon that has been in business for 30 years. In addition to the popular all-you-can-eat melons, they also sell melons directly, and offer corn and tomato harvesting experiences. All-you-can-eat melons are available for ¥2,750 yen for 30 minutes. Limited to early June to late August and reservations are necessary.
[ See details ]
| Address | Kamigoku, Furano City, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | ① Taxi: 15 min from JR Furano[…] |
| Tel | 0167-23-2559 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
