Every summer, the Furano valley turns purple. Millions of lavender plants bloom across farms and hillsides from late June through early August, and for those few weeks, this quiet farming area in central Hokkaido becomes one of the most visited destinations in Japan. I’ve been here during peak bloom and during the shoulder weeks. Both … Read more
I’m going to tell you about a festival where 4,000 people paint giant faces on their bare bellies and dance through the streets of Furano. And no, I’m not making this up. The Hokkai Heso Matsuri — literally the Hokkaido Belly Button Festival — is one of the weirdest, funniest, most genuinely joyful events in … Read more
Furano sits right in the middle of Hokkaido, which sounds convenient until you realize there is no bullet train, no direct airport, and no quick way to get there from anywhere. But that is actually part of its charm. The extra effort keeps the crowds manageable, even during peak lavender season when half of Asia … Read more
Furano isn’t just lavender fields. I mean, the lavender is incredible — but if that’s all you do here, you’re missing the point. This part of central Hokkaido has some of the best outdoor activities in Japan, summer and winter, and most of it costs a fraction of what you’d pay in Niseko or Hakuba. … Read more
If you’ve ever seen those photos of rainbow-striped flower fields rolling across hills with mountains in the background — the ones that look too colorful to be real — there’s a good chance they were taken at Shikisai no Oka. This flower farm in Biei, about 30 minutes north of Furano, is one of the … Read more
Tucked into the forest below the New Furano Prince Hotel, Ningle Terrace is one of those places that feels like it shouldn’t exist in real life. A dozen small wooden cabins sit along a winding boardwalk through the trees, each one housing a different artisan selling handmade crafts. It’s quiet, it’s beautiful, and it’s completely … Read more
Kita no Kuni Kara (北の国から) is not just a TV drama. It is basically the emotional backbone of an entire generation of Japanese viewers. Running from 1981 to 2002 across 24 episodes and 8 drama specials, Sou Kuramoto’s masterpiece about a father raising two kids in the Hokkaido wilderness turned Furano from a quiet farming … Read more
Why Furano Should Be on Your Hokkaido List Photo by 5336885 on Pixabay Furano sits right in the geographic center of Hokkaido, and honestly, it deserves way more attention than it gets from international travelers. Most people know it for lavender fields (fair enough, they’re stunning), but this town of about 22,000 people delivers year-round … Read more
