Overview
Furano has something for everyone with English speaking ski school and day care for families to full on off piste and backcountry experiences for powderhounds seeking the Japanese powder.
Furano offers a lot to those wanting to experience the best of Japanese skiing in a truly Japanese environment.
With well-established and smoothly operated transport routes, Furano is accessible to travellers from overseas and within Japan.
Where is Furano?
Furano is located in the central region of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost and snowiest of snowy islands.
Asahikawa is the closest city, with Furano being 60km due South. Sapporo is Hokkaido's largest city and Furano is approximately 140km to the East.
A common cause of confusion when planning a trip to Furano is the names of the nearest town, ski areas and villages.
The Furano ski hill is comprised of two zones called the Furano Zone and Kitanomine Zone, which are joined at the upper half of the mountain.
The area at the base of Furano Zone is called Shin Furano and features the New Furano Prince Hotel as the ski in / ski out hotel base.
At the base of the Kitanomine Zone is a ski village also called Kitanomine that features most of the ski accommodation, restaurants, dining and amenities.
Drive 2.5km from the base of the Kitanomine Zone in the opposite direction of the ski hill out of Kitanomine village, you will cross the river and reach the local town with a population of approximately 23,000 people, also called Furano, commonly referred to as Furano Town.
Furano Town has a lot of restaurants, some bars, Furano Train Station and more amenities such as car hire outlets.
Does Furano have an airport?
Asahikawa Airport is the closest airport but is much smaller than Chitose Airport, which is Hokkaido's primary airport with many more flights and routes.
Chitose Airport to Furano
Chitose Airport is the main gateway for passengers coming in and out of Hokkaido from within Japan and internationally.
The transfer time to Furano is between 2 and 2.5 hours depending on your choice of transfer.
Sapporo to Furano
Sapporo the capital of Hokkaido, is Japan's 5th largest city and has a population of around 2 million people.
Sightseeing, shopping, dining, nightlife and the famous Sapporo Snow Festival that takes place every February are the main draws for visitors
The transfer time from Sapporo to Furano is 2.5 to 4.5 hours.
Asahikawa Airport to Furano
Located just outside Asahikawa, Hokkaido's second-largest city, Asahikawa Airport is the closest airport to the ski resorts of central Hokkaido.
Flights from Tokyo Haneda Airport are the primary route up to Asahikawa Airport.
The transfer time to Furano is 1 to 1.5 hours depending on your choice of transfer.
Asahikawa to Furano
With a population of approximately 350,000 people, Asahikawa is smaller than Sapporo but is well worth a visit, with Asahiyama zoo, cable car to Mt Asahi and restaurants in the Asahikawa Ramen Village the main attractions.
The transfer time to Furano is 1 to 1.5 hours depending on your choice of transfer.
Narita Airport to Furano
Tokyo Narita Airport is one of two international airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area, the other one being Haneda Airport, which together forms the main gateway in and out of Japan.
Narita is a larger airport than Haneda and is located further away from the center of the city but is well connected to the city via rapid train services.
The transfer time from Tokyo Narita Airport to Niseko is between 6 and 13.5 hours depending on your chosen method of travel
Haneda Airport to Furano
Tokyo Haneda Airport is one of two international airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area, the other one being Narita Airport, which together form the main gateway in and out of Japan.
Haneda is a smaller airport than Narita but is located much closer to the center of the city.
The transfer time from Haneda Airport to Furano is between 6.5 and 13 hours depending on your chosen method of travel
Tokyo to Furano
Tokyo is the primary gateway in and out of Japan. To the outsider, Tokyo's myriad sights and sounds are as compelling as they are exotic.
The scale and the pace of life can be a little disorientating at first but the buzz quickly gets under the skin. It's a city to return to again and again and experience something new every time.
The transfer time from Tokyo to Furano is between 7 and 12.5 hours depending on your choice of transfer.
Niseko to Furano
Niseko is the powder capital of Japan - the most famous and popular of all of the Japanese ski resorts
This resort features truly international ski villages with a variety of accommodation, fantastic restaurants and modern facilities to complement the epic mountain.
The transfer time from Niseko to Furano is between 4.5 and 7 hours depending on where you are staying in Niseko and Furano and your choice of transfer.
Rusutsu to Furano
Rustusu Resort offers a fantastic Ski In / Ski Out resort hotel holiday experience for everyone.
The transfer time from Rusutsu to Furano is between 4 and 6 hours depending on your choice of transfer.
Kiroro to Furano
Kiroro is a medium-sized resort with fantastic tree skiing and is quieter than most other Japanese ski resorts.
Kiroro offers a fantastic Ski In / Ski Out destination resort hotel holiday experience for everyone.
The transfer time from Kiroro to Furano is between 3.5 and 6 hours depending on your choice of transfer.
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Furano Transfers
Whether you are coming from New Chitose Airport, Asahikawa Airport, Sapporo, Asahikawa or one of the other Hokkaido Ski Resorts, there are numerous options for the transfer to Furano.
Book now through out Pre-Trip Concierge Service
Available for guests that have booked accommodation with us.
Furano Accommodation
Furano has a mix of Ski In / Ski Out Resort Hotels, Japanese Pensions and self catering apartments located at the base of the Furano Ski Resort.
All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing.