FURANO

Furano, a town with a population of 24,500, is situated in the centre of Hokkaido. The name Furano derives from the word furanui or “fragrant flame” in the language of the Ainu. The town is located along the Sorachi River within the Furano- Ashibetsu Nature Park and is surrounded by snow capped mountains and a smoking volcano, Mount Tokachidake. The town experiences a stunning transformation in scenery in each of the four distinct seasons - with snow, like stardust, falling softly throughout winter, an array of Japanese skunk cabbages, or mizubasho sprouting during spring, the aroma of blossoming lavender in summer, and the vibrant leaves in autumn.

Most rare to Furano are its many lavender fields. Many people come to the town to visit its lavender fields in summer, when the lavender is in full bloom. This season occurs between July and August, with the prime period being in late July and early August. A walk through a fragrant lavender field is an experience not to be missed.

One unique feature of Furano is the “navel festival,” in which around 5,000 participants draw humourous faces on their stomachs and dance around in the main street. This derives from the geographical location of Furano, which occupies the near centre of Hokkaido, hence its nickname “the navel town.”

Furano is a wonderful place to visit, given that the locals are some of the warmest and most welcoming people you will meet. Importantly, much of the town's agricultural bounty is turned into some excellent food at the restaurants and hotels in the town.

The beautiful landscape is conducive to outdoor activities, and one of the joys of Furano is that there is something amazing to experience outdoors in every season. Some companies organise rafting trips and hot air ballooning during the warmer months, and skiing is the chief attraction in the winter. For tourists, Furano is valuable as it offers the option of experiencing authentic Japanese culture, as well as providing world-class resort ski facilities, which were enjoyed by the international snowboarding community at the 2007 World Cup. The powder snow in Furano is of excellent quality, and the community receives a staggering 8m of snow each year.

FURANO SKI RESORT    www.furano-kankou.com

Furano has long, smooth ski runs with spectacular views and many relaxing family style courses that provide a great run for all ages. The snow is the driest snow you will find in the Hokkaido area, and the weather, with sunny, blue-skies, is perfect for being outdoors. One great aspect of the Furano ski area is that it is not far away from the town centre. Downtown Furano is about a half hour walk from the hotels situated at the Kitanomine ski area, and only 10 minutes on the bus. The town offers what most ski resort towns don't have, which is an array of shops offering beautiful souvenirs and restaurants serving delicious local produce. Make sure to spend time in the town centre to get the full experience of the life of a local! There are many perfect opportunities to interact with the locals, who enjoy welcoming and getting to know the tourists that come to their town to ski. The tourism association is very active in organising a variety of activities to keep the travelers busy during winter, most of which are lots of fun and free to attend. There are many different activities to try out in Furano, from ice fishing to banana boats. Not to be missed is the experience of driving your own snow mobile through the forest and open areas of snow. Fun day trips for powder-hungry skiers visiting the Hokkaido Furano area include Kamui, Asahidake and Tokachidake. Shuttle buses and the transferable multi-day lift passes for use at Kamui and Tomamu facilitate a great backcountry skiing adventure at these top locations......

FURANO ROPEWAY (CABLE CAR)

The Furano Ropeway transports skiers during winter and during summer allows visitors to float above the forest and admire the rich foliage of the area. At the speed of 10m per second, it is also one of the fastest cable cars in Japan. At the end of the ropeway you can embark on a hike along one of the many trails, all of which are well maintained.

FURANO    www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/furano_e/    www.skifurano.com/

This ski resort has been host to the World Cup Skiing Competition a number of times already, as well as hosting the World Cup Snowboarding Competition. The ski area is divided into two zones, the “Furano” zone and the “Kitanomine” zone. The mountain boasts a greatly varied 23 courses in total, the longest of which is 4km. Night skiing is available up until 8:30pm. Particularly notable is the ropeway, which is not only the fastest in Japan, but also has a very large capacity, holding as many as 101 passengers. The cable car is able to transport skiers 900m from the base area in only a couple of minutes.

KAMUI SKI LINKS    http://visitfurano.com/English/asahikawa/a-kamuiskiarea.html

Kamui is situated inland and misses the brunt of the high winds and bad weather, making for some of the lightest, driest powder in the world. The good weather means gondola and lift services operate almost every day, and the fact that Kamui has no hotels at its base means that crowding is rare. Kamui has six lifts and a great variation in terrain, and no night skiing means that grooming is conducted before nightfall - so the next day's snow accumulation is optimum. With the most open ski policy in Japan, skiers and snowboarders have great freedom to explore the trees and unpatrolled areas. Cafe 751 serves Mexican food and has a log fireplace to keep customers cozy.

ASAHIDAKE

As the highest peak in the spectacular Daisetsuzan Range, and an active volcano from which plumes of smoke can be seen regularly, Asahidake is an awe-inspiring, mystical site. An excellent high precipitation/low humidity climate make for reliable, superior quality snow, and the inland location also means there are particularly heavy and regular falls of snow - about 20m per season! Asahidake is particularly attractive for its minimalist approach: this is basically lift-accessed backcountry and the terrain is barely groomed and without ski patrols. As a result, skiers have 500 meters of well spaced birch and spruce forest at their disposal!

TOKACHIDAKE

Mount Tokachidake is a live volcano, and with its spiraling smoke plumes is a prominent feature in the dramatic landscape of the Taisetsuzan Mountain Range. This mountainous terrain is a beautiful destination year round for locals and foreigners alike , and Tokachidake offers fantastic backcountry skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing opportunities.

FURANO PLACES OF INTEREST

Furano is a popular destination for local travellers, and there are plenty of attractions in and around the town. The Furano Bus Company runs the shut tle bus service “Kururu-go” to several places of interest in the summer season, including Farm Tomita, the Furano Winery and the Cheese Factory, depar ting from nearby JR Furano station. Passengers do not have to book, and pay upon disembarking the bus.

FARM TOMITA

Farm Tomita is one of the main flower farms in Hokkaido. Originally a lavender farm, Tomita now produces a variety of flowers. Tomita is best known for its “rainbow field” spectacle; a marvelous sight achieved through planting different coloured rows of flowers up against each other. The farm also has cafes and shops.

FURANO CHEESE FACTORY

Hokkaido is a major dairy farming region in Japan and here you can taste some of the best dairy products on offer. The Furano Cheese Factory produces high quality cheese and other dairy products from the milk produced on local dairy farms. Join one of their “Hands On Workshops” and make your own cheese, butter and ice cream!

FURANO JAM GARDEN

For the bes t jam to put on your crumpets, visit the Furano Jam Garden to try one of their 38 homemade jams, which range from everyone's favourite strawberry and grape jam, to one of a kind flavours like carrot, beetroot or watermelon. The apple jam is a must try!

FURANO WINERY

Several wines are made at the Furano Winery, and tours are available which allow visitors to sample the different versions. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn about and taste the wines of the Furano region.

GLASS FOREST IN FURANO

At the Glass Forest, you can make your own “diamond dust” glassware. Diamond dust is the ice crystal that falls from the sky when the moisture in the air increases. The glassware replicates this twinkling ice crystal, and will remind you of your great time in Furano!

NINGLE TERRACE

Ningle Terrace is a s trip of shops housed in quaint log buildings, located below the New Furano Prince Hotel. Most of the shops have handcrafted arts and crafts available only in Furano. The pine trees and the log buildings make it a wonderful spot to stop at, and at night the terrace is lit up with fairy lights, giving it a very special atmosphere.

BIEI PANORAMA ROAD

The town of Biei, 30 minutes drive from Furano, is filled with fascinating scenery. The 17.3km “Panorama Road” will take you through Biei’s beautiful landscape, with various observation points and flower parks along the way.

FURANO SUMMER ACTIVITIES

HIKING

Hiking is an ideal activity due to Furano's location amidst the Mount Daisetsu National Park. An easy way to enjoy this is to hike with a knowledgeable guide, who can steer you through the mountains all the way to the top.

CANYONING

The Tonashibestu region is suitable for canyoning. Once you get the right gear - including life jackets and helmets, a guide can take you on an adventure through streams inaccessible by raft, climbing over rocks, splashing through rapids or just drifting downstream!

RAFTING

Rafting is very popular in Furano, as the Sorachi River has rapids that provide a thrilling experience. The rafting season runs from late April right through to the end of October, and a particularly good time to go is when the snow starts melting at the start of spring. This time of year means rushing rapids however, so if you are looking for something a little more low-key try rafting during the summer, when the water is calmer.

FISHING

Fishing is a great way to soak up the unique environment of the Furano area. The guides will get a barbeque going at the fishing location, so you can eat your catch right there and then.

FURANO ONSEN

There are various onsen destinations in and around Furano, and many hotels offer onsen facilities. Onsen water is pure and has many health benefits. The minerals it contains are ideal for healing muscle aches arising from long days in the snow.
The Furano Prince Hotel boasts a large indoor onsen, which is connected to a stream of subterranean water that runs 1,010m below sea level. After soaking in the onsen visitors can relax in the spacious modern lounge at the Prince Hotel, or treat themselves to a massage. For a relaxing soak with a view of Furano’s famous lavender fields , visit Highland Furano. This onsen is located in a lavender field area known as lavender no mori, and provides a remarkable onsen experience in any season. In the winter this onsen offers views of majestic snow capped mountains and forests, and blooming lavender fields in summer. Highland Furano of fers outdoor and indoor baths as well as sauna facilities.
There are also many wor thwhil e onsen daytrips. Visitors can start the day by visiting the Biei-Shirogane hot spring village, 90 minute drive from Furano. After hiking along one of the various trails, one of which leads to the beautiful Shirahigenotaki waterfall, visitors can unwind in one of the onsen in the area.
The Tokachidake hot spring village is only 30 minutes drive from Furano. The Ryounkaku onsen is the highest onsen in the region, situated 1,280m above sea level. This onsen boasts magnificent views of Mount Tokachidake. Gazing at the dramatic snow-capped mountains from the warmth of the onsen is a once in a lifetime experience.
The Tokachidake village is particularly spectacular in autumn as well. The trees in the area turn into breathtaking shades of red and yellow. This is an ideal time to retreat to this area for an extended period, to really experience the transformation of the region. Furano visitors are also within reach of Barden Kami Furano which is famous for its outdoor onsen with spectacular views. It is here that you can savour the best Furano beef - steak that will melt in your mouth!
On your way back to Furano, stop by the Le Terre Banka-noyu in Nakafurano, which houses 15 different spas!