Furano

Furano is known as "Heso no Machi" (the Belly Button Town) due to its central location. Furano's inland location that ensures amazingly light snow, great weather conditions, beautiful scenery and perfect farming conditions as well as some wonderfully unique festivals. There is a very large temperature variation, so a light jacket is recommended even in the summer. Summer midday temperatures may exceed 30 degrees C, and midwinters will drop below -30. Furano has very heavy snowfall in the winter. The weather patterns ensure long warm days in summer and cool days throughout spring and autumn, not to mention 8 to 9 metres of light snow fall each ski season. Long blue-sky days allow great views from the ski hill of the smoke that spirals up from the volcano across town the valley. Anyone from families to beginner and high intermediate skiers easily fall in love with the ski area, its long groomed runs and the fantastic views.

Furano’s location results in very little wind on most days. This has enabled the area to become popular for hot air ballooning with flight days being an incredible 80% during February and March and most mornings and afternoons throughout the non winter months due to the great conditions. It was Furano’s location which provided the inspiration for a local to come up with the idea of a Bellybutton Festival which is held July 28 & 29 each year. The first Bellybutton Festival was not a huge success, as it attracted a mere 11 dancers some 40 years ago, but has grown into a massive festival for the town. Now, the locals have truly embraced the image and you are likely to come across locals with their shirts off and a face painted with their breasts as eyes and the bellybutton as the mouth during the summer.

The town’s location allows the local wineries and vineyards to grow delicious grapes and produce mouthwatering wines. Furano Winery produces delicious wines with full body reds and ice wines being their specialties. The cold night temperatures and long sunny days provide the perfect environment for local agriculture. Each year, Furano hosts a hilarious wine festival where the locals and tourists get together to drink, eat, dance and sing. This festival is a great way to see the creativity and effort the locals put into making sure Furano is an enjoyable place to live as well as to visit.

PLACES WE SHOULD VISIT….

Furano Winery // Furano Winery gives travelers the chance to visit a real working winery which bottles a wide variety of delicious wines grown right here in this region. The winery is located by a lavender farm and in amongst rows of grape vines over looking Furano with a view all the way to Mt. Tokachidake and Mt. Furanodake. Guests are able to sample the wines after watching the bottling process. There are a number of wines available for sale here along with wine and Furano related products.

Furano Grape Juice Factory // The idea of producing fine grape juice was adopted from the process of manufacturing wine. The pure juice is made from fresh grapes which grow in the grape fields behind the factory. There are videos and panel displays which explain the process. You can also watch at the bottling and inspecting of the juice through windows. Try a sample of their juice. You will love the 100% pure taste of fine grape juice. Admission is Free!

Furano Cheese Factory // Furano Cheese Factory is a large factory which produces a number of delicious cheeses along with cheese and dairy related products. There are about 8 different varieties of ice cream including some distinct must try flavours such pumpkin, cheese and asparagus. No one can drink Furano milk without commenting on the flavour and richness. You can witness the production of the cheeses from behind some large windows looking into the factory and then even partake in a butter making lesson. The factory has a large area for relaxing, eating and playing around outside on the grass under the trees and around the old tractor. Travellers of all ages enjoy the cheese factory, its food and drinks, and the lessons and fun to be had here.

Ningle Terrace // Also known as “Ninguru Terrace” is a beautiful collection of boutique cottages, housing specialty arts and crafts along with their creators. The creators sit there in the shops displaying and making more of their products as you wander around. Located just below the New Furano Prince Hotel, Ningle Terrace has been created using natural materials with timber buildings and a beautiful plank walkway around the waterfalls and trees. The forest gives off a beautiful scent with pine trees and the waterfall creating a wonderful atmosphere for wandering around or stopping in the café. The café serves a range of products including hot and cold drinks, baked milk, cakes and cheese platter and some delicious ice creams. With winter comes a stunning blanket of soft white snow which lines the walkways and leaves huge snow hats on the cottages and snow mushrooms on the trees. Ninguru Terrace is a different experience again at night with the walkways and buildings lined with fairy lights. Ninguru Terrace is the perfect place for wandering around and enjoying the sightseeing and beauty, or for getting some perfect souvenirs with a touch of nature and Furano.

Anpan Man Shop // Anpan Man is a famous Japanese cartoon character who has been loved and cherished by generations of Japanese. He is a character, which to put it simply, fights bad guys and helps the good guys. It is not as simple as that though. He is based on a bread roll stuffed with red beans and helps people who are in trouble by feeding them, wait for it, his head. The show features a whole cast of funny (and delicious) characters from Curry Pun Man and Dirty Jam Man to Bread Loaf Man and Bowl of Rice and Fried Stuff Man. The shop has an art gallery above it and the products which are on sale and the memorabilia placed around the shop make it an interesting and fun filled sightseeing spot.

Furano Jam Factory // Located right near the Anpan Man shop in Rokugo, Auntie’s Jam Shop has over 40 varieties of delicious homemade jam. The handmade jams are made from just about every fruit and vegetable you could imagine or have heard of. The jams are all available for tasting with little pieces of bread provided. There are chutneys and a number of sauces also available. At the Jam Factory guests are able to partake in a jam making lesson. Instructors’ help guests make their own jam and teach them the steps to creating their own flavours. You can then take this home as the perfect souvenir.

Furano Ropeway (Cable Car) // It is open throughout the year. During the winter you can experience some of the best skiing and snow in all of Japan here. The ski season generally runs from about November 20th to May 8th. During the summer and autumn months you can use the Ropeway to float above the beautiful colours of the forest and the mountain. From the top you can access a number of well kept hiking trails. The summer sightseeing ride costs around 1,800 YEN for a return ride.

Goto Sumio Museum // Goto Sumio is one of Japan’s most famous and influential artists with his works being inspired from all over the world. Goto Sumio spent his childhood growing up in his hometown of Chiba. He is the son of the chief priest of a Buddhist Temple and began painting from a young age. From his early days, he often traveled to Hokkaido to sketch or paint the amazing landscape of this area. This Museum hosts many of Goto Sumio’s finest works with some of the larger pieces comprising 10 panels and extending to 9m in length and 2m in height. All his works, both small and large, give the viewer an incredible look into the subject of the painting. Goto Sumio often depicts sceneries of ancient cities like Nara or Kyoto in cycles of the four seasons. Another group of his paintings represent landscapes and people’s lives in China. The nature of Hokkaido is also one of his favourite subjects. Those works are painted with a touch of affection and religious solemnity.

Rokugo-no-mori Forest // This place became well known by the very popular TV drama " Kita-no-kuni Kara" which was written by Kuramoto So. Through the drama, the viewers were always impressed by the great nature of Furano. The Rokugo-no-mori Forest was named after the drama. There are still some things left over from the filming of the drama such as the log cabin. This is a great spot for enjoying an unspoiled nature. You can also check out the log cabin "Goro-no-ie" or the forest photo gallery "Morino Shashinkan".

Goro’s Stone House // The famous long running drama, ‘From The Northern Country’ used this stone house as the main set for the show. The rocks and all the materials used in the construction were taken directly from the surrounding mountains. The stone house is a completely self sufficient country house with a windmill, and small farm with some animals. By looking through this area you can soon see why the show maintained such huge popularity for 18 years.

Ryounkaku Onsen // Located at the highest driveable point in Hokkaido, Tokachi Mountain at KamiFurano. The outdoor pool offers a spectacular view of the mountains and the Tokachi-Dake volcano. Accommodation is also available.

Hakuginso Onsen (Mt. Tokachidake, Kamifurano) // Hakuginso Onsen offers a great variety of indoor and outdoor natural hot spring baths as well as a rare mixed male-female bathing area (swim wear required).

Asahi-ga-oka Koen // This is where you will enjoy one of the superb views of Japan. This park is located on a hill so that you can look at the mountain ridges or look down upon the cities. In the spring time, 3,000 cherry trees will blossom and the park will be covered by its marvelous pink color.

Torinuma Koen Park // This is a primeval forest park. There is a mysterious pond which is located in a very quiet place where birds rest their wings. In May, the Japanese skunk cabbages will be in full bloom. People who love the outdoors will gather together here to enjoy the view.

Choei Lavender Farm & Naka-Furano Flower Park // Located directly across the valley from the smoking volcano, Mt. Tokachidake, this beautiful lavender and flower farm is certainly worth the visit. You can ride the ski lift up the hill over the lavender fields and look at the amazing views from this vantage point.

Highland Furano’s Lavender fields // The main lavender season is from July to August. Highland Furano is located just outside Furano. You can take a look at the largest lavender fields close to the city from its outdoor hot spring. There is a nice hot spring located above the lavender fields where you can have a sauna and a hot bath.

Furano Ski Resort // This international class ski resort has hosted the World Cup Skiing Competition 10times and the World Cup Snowboarding Competition. The resort offers slopes for all levels of skiers. Snowboarders are also welcomed. The ropeway can hold up to 101 passengers and it the fastest of its kind in Japan. It also operates in the off-season.

Jun and Yui's Recycled House // A popular location used as the set for the TV drama "Kitano Kuni Kara" where you can see unique ideas shown in the Recycled Houses.16.5km from JR station

Farm Tomita // One of Hokkaido’s premier flower farms. Originally a simple lavender farm, today the farm has expanded to include a number of large fields of various flower types, including Poppies, French Marigolds, and many more. The most famous image of the farm is that of the ‘rainbow field’ created by planting rows of different flowers along the gentle rolling hills. The image is unforgettable and each year visitors come to photograph the fields made famous by their use in a nation wide Japan Rail calendar. Along with the fields, the farm has cafes, ice cream venders selling delicious lavender ice cream, gift shops, a dried flower shop and a potpourri shop. Farm Tomita is free to enter and you can wander around at your own pace. The weather for photography is often best very early in the morning when you will find the keenest of flower enthusiasts enjoying the beauty of the farm. Farm Tomita has a green house, which offers guests blossoming flowers throughout the year. This, along with the gift shops and potpourri house, make Farm Tomita an all year round attraction.

Kanno Farm // A vivid flower field can be seen when it leaves a bibausi station to Route 237. A poppy and a Lavender put it on autumn from early summer, and a flower blooms. It is in the course of the sightseeing bus as well recently, and always crowded with many visiters.