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City in Hokkaido, Japan
Photo: titanium22, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Furano (富良野), which is in the geographical center of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, is an amalgamation of several quaint farming towns around a small municipal center. Furano is famous for its remarkably light and dry powder snow, beautiful fields of lavender, vineyards, and its unique Hokkaido Belly Button Festival.
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富良野チーズ工房 Furano Chizu Kobo
This factory and small museum was built in the 1980s. You can see the cheese getting produced downstairs, while upstairs you can buy from the shop. A specialty item is the cuttlefish ink cheese, Camembert-style with white mold and black cream colored by cuttlefish ink. If you have time, a hands-on project — making cheese or ice cream — could be fun.
Watch the bottling of wines, sample the locally made wines, and buy bottles to take home.
上富良野町開拓記念館 Kamifurano-cho kaitaku kinenkan
This small museum is dedicated to the history of Kami-Furano, the northern part of the greater Furano area. There are photos of (locally) famous people and of volcanic eruptions that impacted the region in the last century. The garden outside has lavendar and other flowers, and also some shaded picnic tables.
ファーム富田
Fields of lavender and other flowers. Pioneer of flower gardens in Furano area.
中富良野町町営ラベンダー園 (Nakafurano chōei labendā-en)
Located in the slopes of Mount Hokusei, a small mountain. The chair lift to the mountaintop passes over the flower garden.
かんのファーム
Fields of many species flowers.
北海へそ祭り hōkkai-heso matsuri
Furano is great for skiing and snowboarding, because of its deep and dry powder snow. If you go in peak season you can expect up to at least a meter of snow to fall in a week. There are 2 areas for skiing in Furano: Furano Zone and Kitanomine Zone. One lift ticket is good for both areas. Also, a ski run goes from the Furano Zone to the Kitanomine Zone, and a lift connects the two. Both areas have several lifts, Kitanomine has a gondola, and Furano has a rope way. There are rest areas and restaurants at both ski areas.
Furano is close to many great hiking trails, including: Furano-dake, Ashibetsu-dake, and Tokachi-dake. The tourist office next to the station has the contact details of an outdoor activity center. In winter, snow-shoe hiking is especially good. You can be picked up from your hotel, driven to a remote location, and make fresh tracks up quiet and surreal snow-covered mountains. Hike over the top of bamboo forests, completely covered with snow.
ソウルテラス
A Korean restaurant operated by a Korean couple. Nearly everything is handmade. Authentic Korean dishes and Japanese fusions. Portions are a little small, so order a side dish.
まさ屋
An okonamiyaki shop that is very with locals and travelers. The owner is very entertaining and speaks excellent English.
富良野地麦酒館 Furano Jibīru-kan
This restaurant, formerly known as Yamano Dokuson, has microbrews on tap, fresh bread, smoked meats, local cheeses, and other food.
フラノデリス
Sells milk pudding and cakes.
正直村
Serves a range of ramen and Japanese curries. Great food, English speaking waitress and menu. Also offers lodging.
ちろる chiroru
Korean-style "cook it yourself on the table-top" restaurant. Little English is spoken, though the staff are friendly. Local wine by the glass or bottle.
It serves a little of everything, including pizza and pasta as well as Japanese style curries — including their special, a black curry. Cheap and tasty.
富鮨
A large range of fantastic sushi even including the surprisingly delicious raw horse. Has an English menu.
This hotel restaurant is rather expensive, but conveniently located for skiers.
くまげら
Friendly staff offers many local specialties and nabe (hotpot) meals cooked at the table. Bar in basement. Multilingual menu: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean. A good place to pass the time between trains. Look for their black woodpecker logo.
ふらのワイン
These wines can be bought from the winery, or in restaurants and gift shops around town. There are white, rose and red wines available, as well as the local speciality — lavender wine. The white wine can also be bought with lavender, which has a subtle undertaste.
富良野地麦酒館
This brewery has a pilsner, a dark ale, a light ale, and seasonal specials. If the brewery is closed but you'd like some of its beer anyway, try some restaurants around town.
An American-style pool bar in downtown Furano. The owner is an ex-pat American who has been living in Furano for a long time. A great place to enjoy cocktails and pub food while mingling with locals and foreigners. Free billiards. Smoke free.
A cigar bar.
Ice bar.
富良野ユースホステル
This upmarket hotel has a bakery and large gift shop.
While the management is friendly, they don't speak much English. Rooms are small but clean. There are vending machines with beer, as well as a gift shop, ski and snowboard lockers, a restaurant, wireless internet at the JUN Restaurant, public baths, a game room, a tea room, and coin laundry.
This Minshuku is a further away from the ski slopes, but it's nice, has free parking and no curfew. The house leans a little and the tatami rooms are not brand new, but the landlady is lovely and you can have meals included if you wish. They have a Japanese-style (single-sex shared) bath for relaxing after a hard day on the slopes. There is a bus stop outside.
Self-contained apartments ranging from studio to 3BR, each with a full kitchen, private laundry, bath/shower, English TV, and internet access. Ideal for families and international visitors on long stays.
山部自然公園太陽の里
This is a very large campground in the foothills of the mountains. There is a very small store here that sometimes has fresh vegetables and little else, so stock up in town. There are spots for tents and RVs.
ニングルテラス Ninguru Terasu
This collection of small shops, built in small log huts, sells various items. One lady makes snowflakes out of silver, with a unique mold for each flake. Another shop sells rural landscape pictures. There's also a small glass maker.
By train
Furano is the terminus of the JR Furano Line from Asahikawa. There are 12 direct local trains daily, leaving between 05:44 and 22:34 (as of Aug 2025).
By bus
By taxi
If you are arriving at New Chitose Airport after 20:00, an expensive taxi ride might be necessary. It may cost ¥25,000–35,000 depending on season if booked in advance, and more if not.
By car
Furano is accessible by Highways 237 and 38. There is no direct expressway. The closest expressway exit is Takikawa, about 45 minutes away.
By bus
Furano Bus provides most local bus services. The office is located directly across the street from the entrance to JR Furano Station.
By taxi
Due to the lack of effective public transportation, taxi services in Furano are very good.
By car
Furano has a high traffic accident rate and one of the highest fatality rates for accidents in Japan.
By bicycle
Rental cycles may be found near the train station. With the station at your back, several souvenir shops on the left side have bicycles for rent.
On foot
It's quite possible to explore the small downtown area on foot. The Kitanomine ski village is also very accessible by foot, although winter conditions can be severe.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Higashikagura · Regional · AKJ
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