Kita no Kuni Kara Filming Locations in Furano

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 town into a pilgrimage site.

And the filming locations? They are still standing. Most of them, anyway.

I have put together every location worth visiting, with actual prices, hours, and honest notes on what is worth your time — especially if you are short on it.

Why This Drama Still Matters

If you are not Japanese, you might be wondering why people are still visiting sets from a show that ended over two decades ago. Fair question.

Kita no Kuni Kara follows Goro Kuroita (played by the legendary Kunie Tanaka) as he drags his two kids, Jun and Hotaru, from Tokyo back to his hometown in rural Hokkaido after his marriage falls apart. No running water, no electricity, just a broken-down cabin and a lot of Hokkaido winter. The show ran for 21 years. People watched these kids literally grow up. When the final special aired in 2002, it pulled massive ratings.

Writer Sou Kuramoto (倉本聰) didn’t just create a drama — he built an entire philosophy around simple living, connection to land, and the tension between rural and urban Japan. That resonated. Hard. The official Furano tourism board lists 23 filming locations across the area, and fans still show up in tears at some of these spots.

Even if you’ve never seen the show, the locations are genuinely interesting. The architecture alone — houses built from stones, recycled junk, and fallen trees — tells a story.

The Big Three: Rokugo Area Locations

The main filming locations cluster in the Rokugo (麓郷) area, about 40 minutes southeast of JR Furano Station by car. These are the ones on every fan’s list, and they are the most developed for visitors.

A combo ticket covering all three main sites costs 1,200 yen. Individual entry is 500 yen each. Buy the combo. You are going to want to see all of them, and you save 300 yen.

Goro’s Stone House (五郎の石の家)

This is the one. The stone house Goro built using volcanic rocks from Mt. Furano, with its distinctive red roof and windmill. It appeared in the later specials and became the iconic image of the whole series.

The inside is preserved exactly as it appeared on screen — low table (chabudai), simple furnishings, the kind of spartan living that made the drama so compelling. You can also see the First Wooden House nearby, which is the original crude cabin from the early episodes. Look closely and you can see daylight through the gaps in the planks. That is not a set design choice. That is the actual condition Goro and the kids were supposed to be living in.

Fair warning: There is a 10-minute uphill walk from the parking lot to the house, and it is steep — 30-plus degrees in spots. Wear decent shoes. In summer heat, bring water.

• Hours: Apr 15 – Sep 30: 9:30-18:00 (last entry 17:30) / Oct 1 – Nov 25: 9:30-16:00 (last entry 15:30)
• Fee: 500 yen (400 yen for groups) or 1,200 yen combo ticket
• Parking: Free
• Closed: Mid-November through mid-April
• Map: Google Maps

Rokugo no Mori / Furogo Forest (麓郷の森)

Opened in 1984, this forested area contains Goro’s Log Cabin — the second house he built in the drama. In the show’s storyline, this house burned down, but the version here is the intact original set piece.

Beyond the cabin, there is a small photo studio where you can take pictures with drama memorabilia, a souvenir shop, and a restaurant serving soup curry. The soup curry is decent, not spectacular, but it is your best lunch option in the Rokugo area without driving back toward town.

The forest setting is genuinely beautiful. Tall trees, dappled light, quiet. Even non-fans tend to enjoy this stop just for the atmosphere.

• Address: 1-1 Higashifurogo, Furano City
• Fee: Included in combo ticket, or 500 yen individual
• Map: Google Maps

The Picked-Up House / Recycled House (拾って来た家)

This one is weird and wonderful. Featured in the 2002 “Yuigon” special, it is a collection of four buildings constructed entirely from discarded materials. Jun and Yuki’s house is built around an abandoned bus. Another structure uses a ski gondola as its base.

Kuramoto was making a point about waste in modern Japanese society, and honestly, it lands harder now than it probably did in 2002. The craftsmanship is impressive — these are not just junk piles. They are functional, livable structures built with real ingenuity.

Of the three main sites, this one tends to get the shortest visits. Don’t rush it. The details reward a slow look.

• Fee: Included in combo ticket, or 500 yen individual
• Map: Google Maps

Suggested Visit Order and Timing

The three Rokugo sites are spread out but close enough — about 15 minutes walking or 5 minutes driving between each. If you follow the drama’s chronology, go:

1. Goro’s Stone House (45-60 min, including the uphill walk)
2. Rokugo no Mori / Log Cabin (30-45 min, longer if you eat lunch)
3. Picked-Up House (20-30 min)

Total time: 2 to 3 hours for all three, plus driving between them. Add another 30 minutes if you eat at the Rokugo no Mori restaurant.

If you are short on time and can only pick one, go to the Stone House. It is the most photogenic, the most emotionally resonant for fans, and the uphill walk through the forest is worth it on its own.

Other Filming Locations Around Furano

Beyond the Rokugo trio, several other drama locations are scattered across Furano. These are less developed for tourism but worth a stop if you are a fan or just exploring the area.

Nunobe Station (布部駅)

This tiny unmanned station on the JR Nemuro Main Line is where it all began — literally. The very first scene of the very first episode shows the family arriving in Furano here. It opened in 1927 and hasn’t changed much.

There is a stone monument with an inscription by Kuramoto: “This is the beginning of the northern country” (ここに北の国の始まりがある). It is a quick stop, maybe 10 minutes, but the weight of it hits different if you have watched the show.

Nakano-sawa Elementary School Branch (中の沢分校)

The school Jun and Hotaru attended in the drama. It is now used as a community meeting hall, so you can only view the exterior. Small, wooden, surrounded by fields. Exactly what you would picture a rural Hokkaido school looking like.

Furano Shrine (富良野神社)

A proper shrine with over 100 years of history, used in the “’98 Jidai” and “2002 Yuigon” specials for wedding and reunion scenes. Even without the drama connection, it is a pleasant shrine visit.

• Address: 17-6 Wakamatsu-cho, Furano City
• Map: Google Maps

Nakabata Woodworks (中畑木材)

The lumber company from the drama. The building is nearly unchanged from its on-screen appearance. Exterior viewing only — it is still a working business. There is a sign with words from Kuramoto, which is worth reading if your Japanese is up to it.

For Kuramoto Fans: More Spots in Furano

Sou Kuramoto didn’t just make Kita no Kuni Kara in Furano. He settled here and created several other works. If you are a fan of his broader output:

Coffee Mori no Tokei (森の時計): This cafe appeared in Kuramoto’s drama “Yasashii Jikan” (Gentle Time). It sits below Ningle Terrace at New Furano Prince Hotel and serves hand-ground coffee in a gorgeous forest setting. You grind your own beans at the counter. Even if you don’t know the show, it is one of the best cafe experiences in Furano.

Cafe and Gallery Akanara: Originally the “Kitadokei” film set, this place has been operating for over 30 years in the Shimogoryo area. Part cafe, part art gallery, fully atmospheric.

Furano Drama Studio: Near the New Furano Prince Hotel area, this shop sells replica Goro knit caps and winter coats. If you want to dress like a Hokkaido homesteader from 1981, this is your spot. The knit cap is actually a solid souvenir — warm, well-made, and conversation-starting.

Souvenirs Worth Grabbing

The souvenir shops at Rokugo no Mori carry the expected postcards and keychains, but a few items stand out:

• “Ramen for kids in the middle of eating” (420 yen) — Based on one of the drama’s most famous lines. It is instant ramen with novelty packaging, but fans love it.
• Kuramoto’s “Letter of Testament” — A printed copy of writings by the screenwriter. More meaningful if you have seen the drama.
• Goro’s knit cap replicas — Available at the Furano Drama Studio near New Furano Prince Hotel.

Getting to the Filming Locations

From Furano Station

The Rokugo area is about 40 minutes by car southeast of JR Furano Station. You need a car. I am not sugarcoating this one.

Technically, you can take the Furano Bus Rokugo Line to Rokugo Bus Stop, but then you are looking at a 40-minute walk to the actual sites, and the sites themselves are spread apart. In summer heat or with any kind of luggage, that is miserable. Check our guide to getting around Furano for rental car options.

From Sapporo

Sapporo to Furano is about 2.5 hours by car via the Doto Expressway and Route 38. By train, take the JR Lilac/Kamui limited express to Takikawa, then transfer to the JR Nemuro Main Line to Furano — roughly 2.5 to 3 hours total, plus you will still need a rental car once you arrive.

From Asahikawa

Asahikawa to Furano is about 1.5 hours by car or train (JR Furano Line). This is the easier approach if you are combining with an Asahikawa-Furano lavender trip.

When to Visit

This is critical: the main Rokugo locations close from mid-November through mid-April. If you are visiting Furano for winter skiing, you cannot see the filming locations. Full stop.

Best time to visit is June through September, when hours are longest (until 18:00) and the surrounding landscape is green and photogenic. The area is gorgeous during lavender season in July, though that is also peak tourist season for Furano generally.

October through mid-November works too — shorter hours, but fall colors in the Rokugo forest are stunning, and crowds thin out considerably.

Photography Tips

A few things I wish someone had told me:

• The Stone House photographs best in morning light — the red roof and stone walls catch the early sun beautifully
• Bring a wide-angle lens for the Picked-Up House interiors; the spaces are tight and crammed with details
• The Rokugo no Mori forest is dark under the canopy, so bump your ISO or bring a fast lens
• The monument at Nunobe Station is small and easy to miss in photos — get close
• If you are shooting in summer, early morning or late afternoon avoids the harsh overhead light and the tour bus crowds

Planning Your Furano Trip

The filming locations fit well into a broader Furano itinerary. Half a day covers the Rokugo sites comfortably. Combine it with lavender fields in summer, or the wider Furano area attractions any time the sites are open.

For more detail on planning, check out Furano Tourism’s official site or contact the Furano-Biei Tourism Centre at 0167-23-3388 (1-30 Hinode-machi, Furano).