How to Get to Furano

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 wants to photograph purple fields.

I have made this trip from multiple starting points and across different seasons. Some routes are painless, others are a slog. Here is every option broken down honestly, plus how to get around once you actually arrive.

Getting to Furano from Sapporo

Most visitors start in Sapporo, and the bad news is that every route to Furano takes at least two hours. The good news? The scenery along the way is worth paying attention to, especially in summer and autumn.

By Train (Year-Round)

This is the standard route, and it is not as straightforward as you would hope. There is no direct train from Sapporo to Furano. You need to take a JR limited express to either Takikawa or Asahikawa, then transfer to the local JR Furano Line.

The Takikawa route is slightly faster. Catch the Limited Express Lilac or Kamui from Sapporo Station to Takikawa (about 1 hour, 3,480 yen), then switch to the local Nemuro Line train to Furano (about 50 minutes, 1,290 yen). Total journey: roughly 2 hours if the connection works out, 5,000-6,000 yen one-way.

The Asahikawa route takes a bit longer but the connection is more reliable. Limited express to Asahikawa (1 hour 25 minutes, 4,690 yen), then the JR Furano Line south (73 minutes, 1,290 yen). Total: about 2.5 hours.

Either way, the Furano Line portion is a single-car local train rattling through farmland and small towns. In summer the windows frame endless green fields. In winter, everything is blanketed in white. It is actually really pleasant. Just do not expect reserved seats or a food cart. Bring snacks and something to drink.

Tip: Check the JR Hokkaido timetable before you go. The Furano Line runs infrequently — sometimes only one train every 1-2 hours. Miss your connection at Takikawa and you could be stranded for a while. The station is tiny with almost nothing around it. Asahikawa at least has cafes and shops if you get stuck waiting.

By Car (Year-Round, But Be Careful in Winter)

Driving from Sapporo takes about 2.5 hours via the Doto Expressway, then Route 38 through Yubari and the mountains. In summer, this is a gorgeous drive through some of Hokkaido’s best scenery. Rolling farmland, mountain passes, barely any traffic once you leave the Sapporo suburbs.

In winter, skip this unless you are experienced with snow driving. The mountain passes between Yubari and Furano get serious snowfall. Studded tires are mandatory by law. Black ice is common on the shadowed curves. I have white-knuckled it through there in January and would not recommend it to first-timers in Hokkaido.

If you want to drive but are nervous about the Sapporo-Furano stretch in winter, a better option is to take the train to Asahikawa and rent a car there. The Asahikawa-to-Furano road is flatter, straighter, and better plowed. Much less stressful.

By Bus (Seasonal)

The Lavender Bus runs direct from Sapporo to Furano during summer (roughly late June through August). It is the easiest option during lavender season since there are no transfers — just get on in Sapporo and get off in Furano. Check the Furano Tourism Association site for current schedules because they change yearly.

In winter, several ski bus services run from Sapporo to the Furano ski resort. These are mainly for skiers and drop you at the resort area, not at Furano Station. Useful if skiing is your only purpose, but not ideal for exploring the town.

Getting to Furano from New Chitose Airport

If you are flying into Hokkaido and heading straight to Furano, brace yourself. It is not a quick hop. New Chitose is in the southern part of Hokkaido, and Furano is right in the center. No matter how you slice it, you are looking at 2.5-3+ hours of travel.

By Train

You will need to go Airport to Sapporo (fastest train, 37 minutes, 1,150 yen) then follow the Sapporo route above. Total transit time: 3+ hours with good connections, more like 3.5-4 hours if you hit a gap in the Furano Line schedule. It is a long afternoon of trains, but doable. Buy a bento at Sapporo Station to make the second leg more enjoyable.

Direct Ski Bus (Winter Only)

This is the move if you are visiting in ski season. Companies like access-n.jp run direct buses from New Chitose Airport to the Furano ski area. About 3 hours, no transfers, your luggage goes underneath. The bus drops you right at the resort. Book in advance because they fill up, especially during the December-February peak period.

By Car

Roughly 2.5 hours via the expressway. All the major rental companies — Toyota, Nippon, Times, Orix, Budget — have desks at New Chitose Airport. If you are planning to explore beyond Furano — and you should, since the lavender fields and Biei are spread across a huge area — renting a car from the airport makes the most sense. Just book early in summer. Rental cars in Hokkaido sell out fast during July and August.

Getting to Furano from Asahikawa

This is the easiest route by far. Asahikawa has its own airport with direct flights from Tokyo Haneda, and the train to Furano is dead simple.

Hop on the JR Furano Line at Asahikawa Station. Direct train, no transfers, 73 minutes, 1,290 yen. Done. Trains run roughly every 1-2 hours. The ride follows the valley south through Kamikawa and Nakafurano — beautiful in every season.

Driving from Asahikawa is about 1 hour south on Route 237. Even in winter this road is better maintained than the Sapporo mountain route. Wide, relatively straight, well-plowed.

If you can fly into Asahikawa Airport instead of Chitose, do it. You will save 2-3 hours of transit time. The airport is small and easy to navigate, and rental car pickup is fast. ANA and JAL both fly the Haneda-Asahikawa route.

The Hokkaido Rail Pass: Worth It?

The Hokkaido Rail Pass covers all JR trains in Hokkaido, including the limited express trains and the Furano Line local trains. A 5-day pass costs about 24,000 yen. There are also 3-day (19,000 yen) and 7-day (27,000 yen) options.

Is it worth it? Only if you are doing a multi-city Hokkaido trip. If you are just going Sapporo to Furano and back, the round-trip cost is about 10,000-12,000 yen. The pass does not make sense for that alone.

But add in Asahikawa, Otaru, Hakodate, or Noboribetsu and the pass pays for itself quickly. If you are planning a full Hokkaido circuit over 5+ days, grab the pass without thinking twice. It also lets you hop on trains spontaneously without worrying about ticket costs, which is freeing.

Getting Around Furano

Here is the thing nobody tells you before you arrive: Furano is spread out. The station, the ski resort, Farm Tomita, the flower farms in Nakafurano, the Kita no Kuni Kara filming locations in Rokugo — they are all in different directions, some 20-30 minutes apart by car. Walking between them is not realistic.

Renting a Car (Best Option)

I will say it plainly: a rental car is the best way to experience Furano. The area is rural Hokkaido. Attractions are scattered across rolling hills and farmland. Public transit exists but it is limited and slow.

There are rental agencies in Furano town. Expect to pay 5,000-8,000 yen per day for a compact car. In summer, the driving is easy — quiet roads, minimal traffic, incredible scenery in every direction. Parking is free almost everywhere in Furano, which is a nice change from city driving.

A car is essentially required if you want to visit the Rokugo area (the filming locations from Kita no Kuni Kara), get to Biei and the Blue Pond, or explore the smaller flower farms beyond the main tourist stops. Without a car, you are limited to whatever the buses cover, and they do not cover much.

Lavender Bus (Summer Only)

The seasonal Lavender Bus connects Furano Station to Farm Tomita and other flower spots during the peak lavender season (late June through August, roughly). It is aimed at tourists without cars and hits the major flower farm stops.

It works fine if flowers are your only goal. But it runs on a fixed schedule with set times at each stop, so you cannot linger if a field catches your eye. And if the bus is packed — which it is in mid-July — the experience is not relaxing.

Kururu Bus

Furano’s local sightseeing bus. It loops around the main tourist spots with a few departures per day. Covers places like the Cheese Factory, Furano Winery, and Ningle Terrace. Similar limitations to the Lavender Bus: fine for the highlights, frustrating if you want to deviate at all from the set route.

JR Lavender Field Station

A seasonal JR station that operates from June through September, located right next to Farm Tomita. If you are coming from Asahikawa or anywhere on the Furano Line, you can get dropped off steps from the most famous lavender fields in Hokkaido. No bus transfer, no taxi — just step off the train and walk in.

This is honestly the smartest way to visit Farm Tomita without a car. Just check that the station is operating — it is only open during flower season and the exact dates shift yearly.

Cycling

In summer, cycling is fantastic. The roads are quiet, the scenery is ridiculous, and the distances between attractions are manageable if you are reasonably fit. Farm Tomita to Nakafurano is about 20 minutes by bike. Furano Station to the Cheese Factory is a similar ride.

Bike rentals are available near Furano Station from around 1,500 yen per day. Electric-assist bikes cost 2,500-3,000 yen but are worth it — there are hills. A lot of hills. The Furano valley looks flat from the train window, but it is not. Trust me on the e-bike.

Skip the bike idea in winter. Obviously.

Taxis

Available from Furano Station, but pricey for the distances involved. A ride from the station to the ski resort area runs about 2,000-2,500 yen one way. To Farm Tomita, expect around 3,000 yen. If you are a solo traveler without a car, taxis work for one or two trips, but they add up fast if you are trying to see multiple spots in a day.

Winter Transport

In ski season, most accommodation in the Kitanomine zone runs free shuttle buses to the Furano ski resort. The Ningle Terrace area near the Prince Hotel has its own shuttle service too. If you are staying in the resort zone and only plan to ski, you can get by without a car.

Outside of ski shuttles, winter transit options are thin. Local buses run reduced schedules. The sightseeing buses do not operate. If you are visiting Furano in winter and do not plan to ski, you really need a car. Or be prepared to rely on taxis, which get expensive fast in a spread-out area like this.

My Recommended Approach

Summer visitors: Fly into Asahikawa if possible. Rent a car at the airport. Drive to Furano in an hour. Spend 2-3 days exploring the flower farms, Biei, and the countryside at your own pace. This is the ideal setup and I would not do it any other way.

Winter visitors: Take the direct ski bus from New Chitose Airport if you are coming for skiing. It is the path of least resistance. If you are not skiing, rent a car from Asahikawa and give yourself the freedom to explore the snow-covered countryside and nearby onsen towns.

Budget travelers: Train from Sapporo via Takikawa, then use the seasonal buses, JR Lavender Field Station, and cycling to hit the main spots. It is limiting, but it works if you plan your schedule carefully around the bus timetables.

Rail pass holders: Take advantage of the JR Furano Line. Combine Furano with Asahikawa and Biei on the same pass. The Lavender Field seasonal station is a great bonus for pass holders visiting in summer.

Whatever you choose, do not try to do Furano as a day trip from Sapporo. The transit time eats half your day. Stay at least one night. Two is better. The town is at its best in the early morning and late afternoon when the tour buses have left. Check our complete Furano travel guide for help planning the rest of your trip.