Traveling to Hokkaido is generally divided into two seasons: summer for flower viewing and winter for snow activities. So make sure to visit during the right season if you don’t want an average experience.
This time, I’ll discuss summer first, as my family and I want to see the lavender fields. The most famous area in Japan for this is Furano.
Itinerary
Due to my limited time, I planned a day trip to Furano from Sapporo, where I was staying. We left early in the morning and returned late at night.
You can design several alternatives and check if they are feasible and fit your budget (it can be quite expensive). If you have more days available, you can follow the suggested itinerary provided by the JR Hokkaido website. Essentially, you need to stick to the train schedules to make the most of your visit.
My itinerary involved taking the Lavender Express train from Sapporo to Furano, then using the Kururu Bus to visit various attractions, and finally returning by train from Lavender Station to Asahikawa before heading back to Sapporo. In one day, I visited the following places (detailed descriptions are below):
- Furano Cheese Factory
- Furano Marche
- Farm Tomita
- Nakafurano Flower Park
Renting a car is actually the most convenient option, but the cost for a full day with a driver is quite high. You cannot rent a car without a driver here, as Indonesian driving licenses (and international ones issued by Indonesia) are not accepted in Japan.
Research, Research, Research
Summer is the peak season in Furano because it is a primary destination in Hokkaido, especially during the lavender and sunflower blooming periods. Your main task is to research thoroughly if you plan to visit. While this article may (hopefully) assist you, there are still many other things to consider that I may have forgotten to mention here.
First, the website you should read repeatedly is Furano Tourism. Here, you can find routes and schedules for the Kururu Bus, Twinkle Bus, and other special buses that operate specifically during summer.
Also, check the train schedules on the JR Hokkaido website. There are special trains that only operate in summer or winter, which may not show up if you research on the Jorudan website. For example, the special Lavender Express train from Sapporo to Takikawa to Furano, which I took, shares tracks with the Asahikawa Zoo Train.
What do you need to research? You need to look into the train arrival times in Furano, what you want to do while there, and how to return. The schedule of the Norokko Train is a key constraint, as it only has a few departures each day, and you’ll also need to adjust your plans if you want to take a tour bus like the Twinkle Bus Biei.
Furano
The city of Furano, where the train stops, can be described as very small. The streets are quiet, and transportation options are limited. It only gets crowded with tourists during the summer season.
If you want to explore the area, there are several bus options available: Kururu Bus, Day Tour Bus Furano, and Twinkle Bus Biei.
I used the Kururu Bus (¥1200 for one day, ¥1500 for two days), which operates like a hop-on hop-off bus. After using it, I wouldn’t recommend the Kururu Bus for just one day; it doesn’t seem worth it if you’re traveling with four people. This is because there are only four loop trips in one day, which results in a lot of wasted time.
The Kururu Bus can take you to Furano Marche (which is also accessible on foot from Furano Station), Furano Winery, and as far as Tomita Farm. In the opposite direction, it goes to the Furano Cheese Factory. Refer to the brown route on the map above for the stops of the Furano Kururu Bus.
Another option is the Day Trip Bus Furano Biei (¥2500), which is a tour bus, so you’ll stay on the same bus for the entire trip. It starts at 10:30 AM from JR Furano and visits: Goto Sumio Museum, Flower Land Kamifurano, Roller Coaster Road, and ends at JR Biei Station (12:50 PM). There’s also a return trip (another ¥2500) that departs at 2:50 PM and arrives at JR Furano at 5:10 PM.
The Twinkle Bus Biei (¥1500) serves routes to and from JR Biei Station and has several options: Panorama Morning Course (10:50 AM – 12:30 PM), Patchwork Course (1:20 PM – 2:40 PM), and Panorama Afternoon Course.
Furano Marche
Furano Marche is a place that sells local specialties from Furano and also functions as a restaurant. If you’re hungry during the day, this is a good place to find something to eat (since there aren’t many restaurants in Furano). There are several shops to choose from.
Furano Cheese Factory
My first stop with the Kururu Bus was the Cheese Factory. As the name suggests, you can sample cheese made here and, of course, buy some if you’re interested.
Tomita Farm
The final stop of the Kururu Bus is Farm Tomita. The great thing is that entrance to Tomita Farm is free! Depending on the month you visit, from June to September, it’s guaranteed to be filled with blooming flowers. In June, you’ll see poppies, in July, lavender, and from August to September, cosmos and sunflowers.
Feel free to take photos in any style you like, as long as you don’t step on the plants, especially the ones that are just starting to grow. Flower areas are usually marked off with plastic ropes.
Nakafurano Flower Park
About a 15-minute walk from Tomita Farm, this place is relatively quieter, making it better for photos. If you prefer, there’s a paid shared taxi (¥200 per person) from Tomita Farm. Due to the lack of information, my family and I walked from Tomita Farm under the scorching afternoon sun.
However, the effort of walking is worth it for the stunning views at Nakafurano.
There’s a ski-chair lift you can take to the top of the hill, making the view of the flower fields even more fantastic.
When it’s hot, don’t forget to try the Lavender Ice Cream (¥500) here—it’s sweet and fragrant.
Returning to Sapporo
From Tomita Farm, we walked about 8 minutes to Lavender Farm Station. At the temporary Furano Lavender Farm station (Furano Batake Station), we boarded the old-fashioned Norokko Train, which operates during the blooming season (make sure to reserve seats for this train). On a hot summer day, we dozed off as we traveled through the flower fields and countryside, passing through Biei until we finally arrived in Asahikawa.
The Norokko Train has seats that face both forward and sideways. Each seat has a number, so remember to reserve your seat.
If you have more time, Asahikawa is also recommended for a stopover, especially to visit the famous Asahikawa Zoo. However, due to limited time, I only had dinner in Asahikawa before continuing on the train to Sapporo.