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 free to walk around.
In This Article
I’ll be honest — I wasn’t expecting much the first time I visited. “Craft village in the woods” sounded like it could go either way. But Ningle Terrace genuinely surprised me. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
What Is Ningle Terrace?
Ningle Terrace is a collection of about 15 small log cabin workshops scattered through a birch and spruce forest in Furano. Each cabin is a separate shop run by a different craftsperson. The whole thing is connected by raised wooden boardwalks that wind through the trees.
The name comes from a story by Furano-based writer Sou Kuramoto (the same person behind the famous Kita no Kuni Kara TV drama). In his tale, “Ningles” are tiny forest-dwelling people about 15 centimeters tall who live under the trees. The terrace is meant to feel like you’ve stumbled into their world, and honestly, it kind of does.
The Shops and Crafts
Each cabin specializes in something different. You’ll find leatherwork, handmade candles, silver jewelry, glass art, wooden crafts, pressed flower accessories, and more. These aren’t mass-produced souvenirs — everything is made on-site or by the shop owner.
Prices vary by shop. A small candle might run you 800-1,500 yen, while a piece of silver jewelry could be 3,000-8,000 yen. Leather goods and wood crafts fall somewhere in between. Nothing felt overpriced for handmade work, though your wallet might disagree if you visit every single cabin.
Some shops let you watch the artisans at work, and a few offer hands-on workshops where you can make your own piece. If that interests you, check at individual cabins when you arrive — availability changes seasonally.
Chuchu no Ie Coffee House
Right on the boardwalk, you’ll find Chuchu no Ie, a small coffee house that fits the forest atmosphere perfectly. It’s a good spot to warm up in winter or just sit and take in the surroundings. The drinks are nothing groundbreaking, but sitting in a log cabin in the woods with a hot coffee hits different.
Forest Clock Cafe (Mori no Tokei)
A short walk from Ningle Terrace, the Forest Clock Cafe — Mori no Tokei in Japanese — is worth the detour. This cafe appeared in Kuramoto’s TV drama “Yasashii Jikan” (Gentle Time), and it’s become a quiet pilgrimage spot for fans.
The signature experience here is grinding your own coffee beans by hand at your table. They bring you a small hand grinder, you do the work, and then they brew it for you. A cup runs about 850 yen. The cafe sits in a clearing surrounded by trees, and in winter with snow piling up on the roof, it looks like something out of a film — which, technically, it is.
If you’re interested in Kuramoto’s other famous work, check out the Kita no Kuni Kara filming locations scattered around the Furano area.
When to Visit
Ningle Terrace is open year-round, and each season brings something completely different.
Summer (June-September): The forest is lush and green, the boardwalk is easy to navigate, and all shops are open. The downside? It gets crowded. Summer is peak tourist season in Furano, and tour buses do stop here. Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid the worst of it.
Autumn (October-November): Fewer crowds and the forest starts turning. Some shops may have shorter hours.
Winter (December-March): This is my favorite time to visit. The boardwalk and cabins covered in snow with warm light glowing from the windows is genuinely magical. Ningle Terrace runs an evening illumination during winter months — the lights come on around dusk and the whole place transforms. Some shops close for the season, but enough stay open to make it worthwhile.
Spring (April-May): The snow melts, things start to green up, and it’s pleasantly quiet.
Practical Information
Cost: Free to walk the boardwalk and browse. You only pay if you buy something from a shop or cafe.
Hours: Generally 12:00-20:45, though individual shop hours vary. The boardwalk itself is accessible outside these times.
Getting there: Ningle Terrace is on the grounds of the New Furano Prince Hotel, about a 10-minute drive from central Furano. If you’re staying at the hotel, just walk down the hill. Otherwise, you’ll need a car or taxi. There’s free parking at the hotel.
How long to spend: Budget 45 minutes to an hour. If you stop for coffee at Chuchu no Ie and walk to Forest Clock Cafe, make it 90 minutes to two hours.
Is Ningle Terrace Worth Visiting?
Yes, but manage your expectations. If you’re looking for a major attraction with rides and shows, this isn’t it. Ningle Terrace is a quiet, atmospheric walk through the forest with some genuinely good craft shops. It works best as part of a larger day exploring Furano — pair it with the lavender fields in summer or skiing in winter.
The fact that it’s free to enter makes it an easy addition to any Furano itinerary. Even if you don’t buy a single thing, the boardwalk through the forest is a peaceful break from the more crowded tourist spots. For more ideas on planning your trip, take a look at the full Furano travel guide and tips on where to stay in Furano.