Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [482]
Festivals & Events
Heso Matsuri (; Navel Festival) On 28 and 29 July, this is Furano’s signature festival. If you’ve been pining for a place where you can strip off your shirt and have a traditional mask painted onto your torso before you go revelling, you’ve come to the right festival. Tobiiri odori (‘jump right in’) dancing is part of the fun; as with sumō, it helps to be a bit on the heavy side!
Furano Wine Festival () Coinciding with the grape harvest every September, this festival offers tastings and bacchanal merriment. A barbecue lets you buy local produce and then grill it for yourself, while costumed revellers stamp barefoot on grapes in a barrel.
Sleeping & Eating
Alpine Backpackers (; 22-1311; fax 23-4385; www.alpn.co.jp/english/index.html; dm Apr-Oct/Dec-Mar ¥2500/2700; ) The perfect crash pad for anyone with plans to spend every waking moment on the slopes, Alpine Backpackers is conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from the Kitanomine lift near the Prince Hotel. True to its moniker, backpackers are well catered for with cooking facilities, laundry machines and a boiling onsen that gets the aches and pains out after skiing.
Furano Youth Hostel (; off Map; 44-4441; www4.ocn.ne.jp/~furanoyh/english.htm; 3-20 Okamati Naka-Furano-Cho; dm/s/d incl breakfast & dinner ¥3360/5460/8820; ) Just west of the JR Naka-furano station, the Furano Youth Hostel occupies a big farmhouse complete with an expansive deck overlooking the countryside. The best part of staying here is the free breakfast and dinner (except Monday night – the chef takes a break!), which are simple but tasty self-service meals featuring local produce.
Rokugō Furarin Youth Hostel (; Map; 29-2172; www.furalin.jp, in Japanese; dm incl 2 meals from ¥5040; ) Another great youth hostel, this place really feels like home. It’s airy and un-institutional with simple decorations that seem more like a kid’s room than a hostel. Once again, meals are buffet-style, with an emphasis on fresh, organic and local. From Furano station it’s a 15-minute bus ride to the terminus at Rokugō (the bus leaves from in front of the station), but you can get a free lift from the station if you phone ahead.
If you’re planning a ski trip, the two most convenient (and nicest!) places to stay are at the Prince Furano Hotel (Map; 23-4111; fax 22-3430; www5.princehotels.co.jp/en/furano; r per person from ¥16,000; ) and the New Furano Prince Hotel (Map; 22-1111; http://www5.princehotels.co.jp/en/newfurano/; r per person from ¥18,000; ). Lying at opposite ends of the ski slopes, near gondolas, both Prince hotels are snazzy places with a variety of restaurants, bars, and lounge areas. Note that published prices can be slashed significantly if you book in advance through a travel agent – cheap packages are usually available, which include lift tickets, accommodation and even train fare. LAN cable internet available at both properties.
Drinking
Bars and restaurants abound both in the town centre, and closer to the slopes in the vicinity of the Prince hotels. A local landmark that’s always a great night out is the Furano Bar Bocco (22-1010; www10.plala.or.jp/bocco/English/index.htm; 12-1 Hinode-cho; cocktails from ¥500; 8pm-2am Mon-Sat), a few blocks east of the station along the main drag, which is a fun little watering hole with a great international vibe. English is spoken.
Getting There & Away
BUS
Frequent buses run between Furano and Sapporo (¥2100, three hours), as well as between Furano and Asahikawa (¥860, 1½ hours).
CAR
Rte 237 runs between Asahikawa and Furano. Once again, be extremely careful in the winter months as this route can be icy and treacherous.
TRAIN
There are frequent kaisoku on the JR Furano line between Furano and Asahikawa (¥1040, 1¼ hours) via Biei (¥530, 40 minutes). There are also frequent futsū on the JR Nemuro line between Furano and Takikawa (¥1040, one hour) – hourly Super Kamui tokkyū run