Overview
Located in central Hokkaido, Furano offers a lot to those wanting to experience the best of Japanese skiing in a truly Japanese environment.
Furano also serves as a great base to explore the ski resorts and backcountry mountains of central Hokkaido such as Tokachidake, Asahidake, Kamui, Tomamu and Sahoro.
The transfer time to Niseko 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 Furano to Niseko.
Furano to Niseko 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 Furano to Niseko is relatively direct with just one change of vehicle required at Chitose Airport.
- Stage 1: Furano to Chitose Airport (2.5 to 3 hours)
- Stage 2: Chitose Airport to Niseko (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 and drop off all over the Furano area, so whether you are staying in Shin Furano, Kitanomine or Furano Town, bus services are an option open to you.
Buses pick up and drop off all over the Niseko area, so whether you are staying in Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village, Annpuri or Moiwa, bus services are an option open to you.
If you let your 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 for departure, 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
Furano to Niseko 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 Furano to Niseko with a variety of vehicle sizes offered.
The driver will meet you at your accommodation in Furano and drop you off at your accommodation in Niseko.
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 Niseko and plan to cook some of your own meals, this can be really useful. Hirafu has a couple of grocery stores but none of Niseko’s villages have any large supermarkets. So, a trip to the supermarket requires visiting nearby Kutchan town.
Pros
- Available 24 hours a day
- Most convenient
- Much faster than bus services
Cons
- More expensive than other options
Train from Furano to Niseko
- 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!
Furano Station is centrally located in Furano Town. Tickets can be purchased on the day of travel from ticket machines or a sales counter.
If you are staying in Hirafu & Hanazono villages, Kutchan Train Station is the closest station and is a 15 minutes’ drive.
If you are staying in Niseko Village or the Annupuri area, Niseko Town Station is the closest station.
There are two possible route options that take place in four stages:
Option 1
- Stage 1: JR Nemuro Line: Furano Station -> Takikawa Station (66 minutes)
- Stage 2: Limited Express Lilac Line: Takikawa Station -> Sapporo Station (53 minutes)
- Stage 3: JR Rapid Airport Line: Sapporo Station -> Otaru Station (30 minutes)
- Stage 4: JR Hakodate Line: Otaru Station -> Kutchan Station (75 minutes) OR Otaru Station -> Niseko Station (90 minutes)
Option 2
- Stage 1: JR Furano Line: Furano Station -> Asahikawa Station (73 minutes)
- Stage 2: Limited Express Lilac Line: Asahikawa Station -> Sapporo Station (84 minutes)
- Stage 3: JR Rapid Airport Line: Sapporo Station -> Otaru Station (30 minutes)
- Stage 4: JR Hakodate Line: Otaru Station -> Kutchan Station (75 minutes) OR Otaru Station -> Niseko Station (90 minutes)
Some Train Services will allow you to complete stages 3&4 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 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 Niseko will provide a pick up and drop off service between Kutchan Station or Niseko Town Station and your accommodation, if you book it with them in advance with a couple of weeks’ notice.
Alternatively, you can take a local taxi for approximately ¥2,500 for the 15 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 Niseko 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 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 Furano to Niseko
- Price: Varies by vehicle type and hire duration
- Transfer Time: 4.5 hours
If you are coming from Chitose Airport or Sapporo to Furano before coming to Niseko, you can hire a car from Chitose Airport or Sapporo.
Alternatively Furano Town has two car hire options located close to Furano Town Train Station for those wanting to drive themselves the 4.5 hours drive from Furano to Niseko.
The route 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 Rusutsu or Kiroro ski resorts, off-the-beaten path Onsen (hot springs) in the area or authentic dining in Kutchan Town.
If you like the sound of this but prefer not to drive yourself from Chitose Airport to Niseko, 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.
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 Niseko area
Cons
- Challenging driving conditions – snowy / icy roads & poor visibility
- Long drive
You might also like
Niseko Transfers
Whether you are coming from Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate or one of the other Hokkaido Ski Resorts, there are numerous options for the transfer to Niseko.
Book now through our Pre-Trip Concierge Service.
Available for guests that have booked accommodation with us.
Getting Around Niseko
Whether you prefer to jump on a shuttle bus, book a taxi or hire a car and drive yourself, there are plenty of options to get around the Niseko area.
Niseko Accommodation
With the healthy mix of visitors from East and West, there is a variety of styles to suit everyone.
Furano Ski Resort
Located in Central Hokkaido, Furano offers a lot to those wanting to experience the best of Japanese skiing in a quieter, truly Japanese environment.
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.