Visit Furano

19/02/2025

Josetsu Army -- Mommy, What's a Snow Dump?

When you live in the Hokkaido Powder Belt, you get a LOT of snow. Shoveling around your house and car is a regular winter activity. Since it rarely gets above freezing during the winter, the snow doesn't melt. It just keeps piling up and, boy, do the mounds get high! It makes it hard to drive on the smaller streets. The snow has to go somewhere.

Enter the Snow Clearing Boys (Josetsu) and the snow dumps. Every city and village has their own crew of heavy equipment operators and dump-truck drivers to regularly remove the snow piles from the city streets. Once they start in December, they work Mon-Fri until some time in March going thru every street and neighborhood. Each neighborhood gets cleared out 3-4 times a winter. Furano has three large snow dumps just outside town where the trucks take the snow. Then bulldozers just keep piling it up. The piles don't melt until mid-June.

See you in Furano.

16/02/2025

Backcountry Access Gates

The Furano Ski Resort has six backcountry access gates for those wanting to get out and about, and do a little exploring. For those passing through the gates, the Resort asks that a registration form be filled out in advance. This provides the Resort and rescue personnel important information in the event a rescue is required.

The policy is simple, non-burdensome, and a great compromise. Fill it out once for your entire group, and for your entire stay. Submit it. That's it. You're done. No checking in/out every day. No need to inform when you leave. Nothing.

There have been 20 out-of-bounds rescues so far this year. Unfortunately, not all those rescued had submitted their registration form. When that happens, the Resort begins to think of abolishing the backcountry access. Do YOU want to be the reason the gates were closed for everyone?

So, do your part. Fill out the registration form and submit it before you head out the gates. It's not that hard. Forms are available at the Kitanomine Gondola ticket counter and at the Ropeway ticket counter.

See you in Furano.

10/02/2025

Mid-Winter Beer Party

It's that time of year again...time for the Mid-Winter Beer Party!!

This annual shindig is put on by the Furano Restaurant Association, and is a highlight for many regular Furano visitors.

In addition to all-you-can-drink beer, you can purchase delicious local food, watch a live Taiko drum performance, and win FABULOUS PRIZES from the raffle.

Date: Wednesday, Feb 12
Time: 6:30 -- 8:00 PM
Place: Furano Marche 2

Tickets available from the Kitanomine Information Counter or Furano Tourism.

02/02/2025

Furano Culture Nights

The culture and fun continues in Furano in February.

Feb 7-9, will be a super rare opportunity for fans of Japanese drumming, or Taiko. THE premiere drumming group, KODO, will be performing in Furano. This is the most famous drumming group in Japan by far, performing around the world, and it's an amazing chance to see them live in Furano.

Go to www.furanoreserve.com to get your tickets. The price includes transport and a special backstage tour.

富良野ナイトステージ2025「和-伝統芸能と文化の饗宴」と題して、訪日外国人観光客に富良野演劇工房が行う演劇・芸能の体験をしていただきます。書道や和楽器演奏、少林寺拳法演武などの公演やバックステージツアーも....

31/01/2025

60th Annual Ski Festival

The 60th Furano Ski Festival, now renamed as the Bonchi Powder Festival will take place this Saturday evening, Feb 1, and Sunday Feb 2 until 2:30 PM.

Food, bonfire, drums, dance numbers, fireworks, milk drinking contest, 4th annual Jinbajin World Championships, games, free cotton candy, and More!

Buying a 2,000 yen festival ticket packet gains you entry into the raffle for luxury prizes and accommodation vouchers.

Time: Sat (5:00 to 8:30 PM), Sun ( 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM)
Location: Kitanomine Gondola north parking lot

Click on the link below for a full listing of events.
https://www.furanotourism.com/en/spot/news_D.php?id=2035

See you there!

29/01/2025

Backcountry Rescue -- Got GPS Communicator?

Do you like the backcountry? Doing some side-country? Headed off-piste?

Make sure you have a way to summon help if you get in over your head. Most backcountry folks have their avalanche beacons, but far fewer have GPS communicators to call for help while providing their exact location to the rescuers.

These small units are essential if your are off the beaten track. For a low subscription fee, you can call for help from nearly anywhere on the planet. You can also use it to tell friends and family that you are OK, or use it to request help from them (instead of the police).

If you haven't heard of these, do some research and check them out. If you know what they are but don't have one yet, buy one. You are financially responsible for all backcountry rescue expenses, so with one of these, the rescuers will be able to get to you much, much quicker, since they'll know exactly where you are. These companies also offer very affordable rescue insurance when you sign up.

Garmin InReach or the SPOT Tracker are the two main brands.

Stay safe out there.

27/01/2025

Bonchi Powder Festival

The 50th Annual Furano Snow Festival is this coming weekend Feb 1-2.

Now renamed as the "bonchi powder Festival", it has tons of food booths, a bonfire, fireworks, Furano milk drinking contest, and the Jinba-Jin World Championships, and MORE.

Check back for the full schedule of events. Ticket packets available from Furano Tourism. You can buy stuff a la carte, but the ticket packet gets you entered into the raffle for fabulous prizes.

See you in Furano.

27/01/2025

Lift Lines -- What Can YOU Do?

The loss of Lift B, aka the Furano Zone Quad chair, has certainly impacted the season, making the lift lines a bit longer all around.

However, I'd say it's not the primary cause of the long lines. Besides a good number of guests visiting Furano, the other main cause is consistent under-utilization of the existing chairs.

Unfortunately, Furano Ski Resort refuses to do anything to make sure that each chair is full, or that at least 4 people are in each Gondola cabin. There is a lot of unused, wasted capacity. If those lifts were being 100% utilized, the problem would at least certainly be significantly smaller.

Let's not be passive! I suggest that WE, the customers, take matters into our own hands and make sure the chairs WE ride are full, and the Gondolas WE ride have at least 4 people, then we are doing our part to reduce the problem.

So if you're a group of 2-3 people, scout out those near you in line and make arrangements for them to ride with you. If you're skiing as a single, scout out nearby groups of 2-3 riders and ask to join. The people behind you will be grateful, and you might meet some interesting people. At the very least, you won't be contributing to the problem, and doing a small part to fix it. The Japanese will see your efforts, and perhaps start to do it as well.

Don't be shy! Let's join together and create a new culture in Furano where the lifts are 100% used! After all, who really wants to wait in lines?

25/01/2025

Japanese Drum & Music Experience

Here's something cool and interesting. The local Japanese drumming group has teamed up with the local traditional instruments group to provide interested visitors with their own private old-Japanese-music jam session!

For 20,000 yen, you and 4 friends get a crack at the Japanese drums, along with the shamisen and koto, for 75 fun-filled minutes. Additional participants can be added for 4,000 yen each (up to a total of 10 people). Super cultural and super fun!

Email them at [email protected] about availability.

19/01/2025

Ski Resort - Furano Zone Quad Closure

The Furano Ski Resort has announced that the Quad lift (Lift B) from the base of the Furano Zone has been closed until further notice due to mechanical failure. The proper replacement parts cannot be obtained at this time to repair the lift. Apparently, it will take several weeks to manufacture the necessary parts and then have them installed.

This closure will increase the number of passengers at the Ropeway.

19/01/2025

Japanese“和” A Feast of Traditional Performing Arts and Culture

Furano Nighttime Stage 2025

A special performance by the taiko performing arts troupe "KODO" featuring talks and taiko drum experiences.
A special performance featuring Furano's local performing arts.
Enjoy these cultural performances in the heart of winter in FURANO!

More details and reservations here:
https://www.furanoreserve.com/

Cost: 5,000yen per person
Tour Contents
2/7 "KODO Taiko & Calligraphy Experience"
2/8 "KODO Taiko & Japanese Musical Instrument Experience"
2/9"KODO Taiko & Shorinji Kempo Experience"

What's Included?
Bus transportation
Admission fee
Restaurant Discount Coupons
Special Backstage Tour
A free English translation of a book by So Kuramoto, a screenwriter famous for his dramas set in Furano.

13/01/2025

Kitanomine Information Desk

Due to the remodeling of the lobby in the Kitanomine Gondola Terminal, our Information Desk has changed locations. We are now located in the far right corner of the lobby (when facing the ticket counter).

Same great service and friendly staff. Stop by with any questions you might have about the resort, busses, restaurants, or anything else about your visit to Furano.

12/01/2025

Treasure Hunt & Rock-Paper-Scissors Contest

Fun event today for the kids at the Furano Ski Resort.

First was a treasure hunt where hordes of the little ones had to find bags of goodies hidden in the snow. Following that was a Rock-Paper-Scissors contest against the Furano Fox, who is amazingly good at this game.

This event will happen a few more times this season, always on a Sunday, so be sure to check when you come. Limited to kids 12 & under.

See you in Furano.

11/01/2025

How to Ride the Lavender Bus

Unless you have a car, the renowned Lavender Bus is essential to your visit to Furano. Operating between the New Furano Prince Hotel and JR Asahikawa Station, it's both a local and long distance bus for visitors.

Locally, it runs from JR Furano Station and downtown areas up to the New Prince Hotel. Going the other way, it stops near the lavender fields in the summer. Long distance wise, it is an alternative to the train to get to Asahikawa, and crucially, stops at Asahikawa Airport on the way, the only public transport to service the airport.

The Lavender Bus runs daily, and no reservations are required. Tickets are available at the Bus Center (adjacent to Furano Station), at Asahikawa Station, and at the airport. If boarding without a ticket, take a numbered ticket stub from the dispenser on the right side of the door upon boarding the bus. This stub has a number printed on it corresponding to the stop you boarded at. When disembarking, note the number on the ticket, and then look at the monitor above the driver. Find your number and your fare will be displayed just below.

To pay, deposit the coins into the payment slot on top of the payment machine along with your stub. Pay exact the exact fare, or slightly over, however no change is given. The payment machine also has a change machine on the side that changes 1,000 yen bills to an assortment of change.

Click on the link to see the timetable.

https://www.furanobus.jp/lavender/index.html

10/01/2025

Tea Ceremony Experience

We just concluded Day 1 of our annual Tea Ceremony Event, performed by students from the two Furano high schools. The Tea Ceremony is renowned as one of Japan's cultural heritage repositories, however most visitors to Japan never have the chance to participate in an actual ceremony.

This ceremony is performed specifically for winter visitors to Furano, and provides an unforgettable experience. After the ceremony, the students taught the visitors how to make tea, and then there was a conversation question and answer period where both groups learned fun & interesting things about each other.

The final event will be on January 22, beginning at 5:00 PM. Space is limited to 15 persons. For info and tickets, contact Furano Tourism.

02/01/2025

Take a Walk on the Wild Side -- Use the Sidewalk!!

During the winter here in Furano, especially on snowy days, many visitors choose to walk in the roadway instead of on the sidewalk. Because cars have passed, visitors like to walk in the tire tracks, which are lower than the surrounding snow. Unfortunately, this is quite dangerous.

This is a big concern at night when visibility is lower, especially when it's snowing. As the winter progresses, there are huge piles of snow alongside the streets, making the streets narrower and narrower. Drivers have less and less road to work with, and it becomes difficult and dangerous to suddenly encounter a group of people walking in the road where they are not expected. The drivers have little choice about where to go, and sometimes pedestrians fall down in the street in front of cars while they are trying to get out of the way! A good indicator of the wisdom of walking in the road is that the locals don't do it, cuz frankly, it's kinda nuts!!

Pedestrians should use the sidewalks when available, even if the snow is deeper. At a minimum, regular waterproof hiking boots are usually tall enough for a winter visit to Furano. For those with colder feet, insulated winter boots are very comfortable. The more people walk on the sidewalks, the more compact the snow will be, helping everyone.

For roads without sidewalks, pedestrians should walk on the RIGHT side of the road, AGAINST the flow of traffic. That way they can monitor the cars as they approach and be ready to jump out of the way if necessary. Our model in the picture below is doing everything wrong. Don't be like him!

Stay safe and see you in Furano.

31/12/2024

New Year's Eve Fireworks

The Prince Resort has a large fireworks display on New Year's Eve, along with other fun activities to bring in the new year.

The fireworks begin at midnight. See some floating fire lanterns at 10:00 PM, snowcat rides from 10:30-11:00, and watch the color torch ski parade at 11:35.

Location: New Prince Hotel, next to Ropeway base.