Overview
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.
Train, bus, private taxi transfer and self-drive are all possible options for transport from Niseko to Furano.
Niseko to Furano Bus
- Price: ¥5,600 per adult / ¥4,100 per child
- Transfer Time: 6 to 7 hours depending on where you are staying in Niseko and Furano
Taking the bus from Niseko to Furano is relatively direct with just one change of vehicle required at Chitose Airport.
- Stage 1: Niseko to Chitose Airport (2.5 to 3 hours)
- Stage 2: Chitose Airport to Furano (2.5 to 3 hours)
A comfort break along the way is provided for both stages, so you can get out and stretch your legs.
Buses pick up from Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village, Annpuri and Moiwa and drop off in Shin Furano, Kitanomine or Furano Town. So wherever you are staying, bus services are an option open to you.
If you let your Furano accommodation provider know which bus you have booked, most will meet you at your drop off location and take you to your accommodation for check in.
Similarly if departing from Furano to Niseko, if you let your accommodation provider know which bus you have booked with sufficient notice, most will pick you up from your accommodation and drop you off at the bus pick up location in plenty of time.
Bus transfers must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance but as early as possible is recommended.
Pros
- Well priced
Cons
- Change of vehicle and a 30 to 60 minutes wait at Chitose Airport is required
- Longer transfer time than a private taxi transfer
Niseko to Furano Taxi
- Price: ¥4,150 to ¥55,000 per person - depending on vehicle type and number of passengers
- Transfer Time: 4.5 hours
Private Taxi Transfers are the most convenient and fastest option for transfer from Niseko to Furano with a variety of vehicle sizes offered.
The driver will meet you at your accommodation in Niseko and drop you off at your accommodation in Furano.
Private taxi transfers must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance but as early as possible is recommended.
Tip
- You can book a stop off at a supermarket to buy groceries for an additional charge. If you are staying in self-catering accommodation in Furano and plan to cook some of your own meals, this can be really useful.
Pros
- Available 24 hours a day
- Most convenient
- Much faster than bus services
Cons
- More expensive than other options
Train from Niseko to Furano
- Price: Approximately ¥6,250 to ¥8,300 per person
- Transfer Time: 5.5 to 6.5 hours
Japan has a world-class network of trains that famously run on time to the second!
Tickets can be purchased on the day of travel from ticket machines or a sales counter.
There are two possible route options that take place in four stages:
Option 1
- Stage 1: JR Hakodate Line: Kutchan Station -> Otaru Station (75 minutes) OR Niseko Station -> Otaru Station (90 minutes)
- Stage 2: JR Rapid Airport Line: Otaru Station -> Sapporo Station (30 minutes)
- Stage 3: Limited Express Lilac Line: Sapporo Station -> Takikawa Station (53 minutes)
- Stage 4: JR Nemuro Line: Takikawa Station -> Furano Station (66 minutes)
Option 2
- Stage 1: JR Hakodate Line: Kutchan Station -> Otaru Station (75 minutes) OR Niseko Station -> Otaru Station (90 minutes)
- Stage 2: JR Rapid Airport Line: Otaru Station -> Sapporo Station (30 minutes)
- Stage 3: Limited Express Lilac Line: Sapporo Station -> Asahikawa Station (84 minutes)
- Stage 4: JR Furano Line: Asahikawa Station -> Furano Station -> (73 minutes)
Some Train Services will allow you to complete stages 1&2 without changing trains.
More commonly a change of trains at Otaru Station is required. This change is pretty straightforward as Otaru Station is a small station with just a few platforms. Most often this entails disembarking from your train, crossing the platform to the opposite track and boarding the train shortly after arriving at that platform.
If you plan which train you plan to get in advance, most accommodations in Niseko will provide a drop off service to Kutchan Station or Niseko Town Station, if you book it with them in advance with a couple of weeks’ notice.
If you are staying in Hirafu & Hanazono villages, Kutchan Station is the closest station and is a 15 minutes drive away.
If you are staying in Niseko Village or the Annupuri area, Niseko Station is the closest station and is 10 minutes drive away.
If you plan which train you plan to get in advance, most accommodations in Furano will provide a pick up service from Furano Station, if you book it with them in advance with a couple of weeks’ notice.
Furano Station is centrally located in Furano Town, which is 10 to 15 minutes drive from Kitanomine and Shin Furano.
Alternatively, you can take a local taxi for approximately ¥2,000 for the 10 minutes’ drive. Please ensure you have your destination written out in Japanese as most taxi drivers in Japan do not speak conversational level English.
Tip
- If travelling during day light, try and get a window seat on the right-hand side of the train for the section of the journey around Otaru as there are fantastic views out of the Sea of Japan to be had.
Japan Rail Pass: For guests visiting Furano as part of a longer itinerary of travel elsewhere in Japan, either side of their ski experience, a Japan Rail Pass can be a fantastic investment, allowing unlimited train travel on most Japan Rail trains, for periods of 7, 14 or 21 days to suit your travel schedule.
- Look up winter season train timetables on JR Hokkaido
- Search Japan's train schedules using the Japan Transit Planner.
Pros
- Free if you hold a JR Rail Pass
- Less expensive than a private taxi transfer
Cons
- A little complex if not familiar with trains in Japan
- 3x changes of trains required
- Not ideal for passengers with ski / snowboard bags
Drive from Niseko to Furano
- Price: Varies by vehicle type and hire duration
- Transfer Time: 4.5 hours
If you are planning on visiting Niseko before Furano and would like to hire a car, you can do so from Chitose Airport, Sapporo or you can hire a car in Niseko.
This is becoming increasingly popular, so book as early as you can and check that your accommodation has sufficient parking.
The route from Niseko to Furano is pretty straightforward with road signs in English but driving in January and February can be a little tricky for those without experience of driving in challenging winter conditions. Snow & ice covered roads are commonplace and visibility can be poor when snow is falling, which is not uncommon in Hokkaido!
If you are comfortable driving in these conditions, having a vehicle opens up the possibility of day tripping to Tomamu, Sahoro, Asahidake or Kamui Ski Links ski resorts, to off the beaten path Onsen hot springs in the area or for authentic dining in Furano Town.
If you like the sound of this but prefer not to do the long drive from Niseko to Furano, you can hire a car in Furano Town.
Larger 7 or 8-seater vehicles, such as Toyota Hi-Ace or Mistubishi Delica, are commonly available to book in advance and can easily transport ski and snowboard bags.
Hire vehicles are four-wheel drive, come with winter tyres already fitted (so no snow chains are required) and English language GPS can be booked.
All drivers must bring their own national driver's license and a valid International Drivers Permit to legally drive in Japan. Car hire companies will not hand over the keys without these documents.
Pros
- Flexibility to get around in the Furano area
Cons
- Challenging driving conditions – snowy / icy roads & poor visibility
- Long drive
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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 our 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.
Niseko Ski Resort
Niseko is the most famous and popular of all of the Japanese ski resorts.
Niseko is an international modern resort, complementing the epic mountain with abundant powder snow and incredible terrain.
Quite simply, Niseko is the powder capital of Japan.
Niseko Accommodation
With the healthy mix of visitors from East and West, there is a variety of styles to suit everyone.
All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing.