Skip to content
Japan
Deutsche Version

Hokkaido · City

Furano

富良野市ふらのしFurano-shi

Lavender, patchwork hills and powder snow at the heart of Hokkaido

Furano is a farming city in the basin at the geographical centre of Hokkaido, known for its summer lavender and flower fields, its ski resort and the television drama Kita no Kuni kara; together with neighbouring Biei, with its rolling patchwork hills and the Blue Pond, it forms one of Hokkaido's best-known rural landscapes.

Overview

Furano lies in a long basin between the Yūbari and Ashibetsu mountains to the west and the volcanic Tokachi range to the east, near the geographical centre of Hokkaido – hence its nickname, the 'navel of Hokkaido'. The Sorachi River drains the basin, and its fertile floor is a patchwork of onion, carrot, potato, melon and wheat fields. The climate is continental: summers are warm and dry by Japanese standards, winters very cold with light, dry snow.

The area's fame rests on colour. Lavender was planted in the Furano basin from the 1940s and 1950s for perfume oil; when synthetic fragrances made it unprofitable, a few farms kept their fields, and photographs of them in the 1970s turned lavender into the region's emblem. In July, lavender, poppies and other flowers bloom in striped fields across Furano and the neighbouring town of Nakafurano, where the best-known flower farm lies. Kuramoto Sō's television drama Kita no Kuni kara ('From the Northern Country'), filmed in Furano's Rokugō district from 1981 to 2002, made the city known across Japan.

North of Furano, the town of Biei is famous for its rolling hills of wheat, potatoes and flowers, popularised by the landscape photographer Maeda Shinzō, and for the Blue Pond near Shirogane Onsen. In winter Furano Ski Resort, which has hosted World Cup alpine races, offers dry snow with fewer crowds than Niseko.

Landmarks

  • Lavender and flower fields

    ラベンダー畑rabendā-batake

    Striped fields of lavender and summer flowers across Furano and Nakafurano, at their peak in July.

  • Furano Ski Resort

    富良野スキー場Furano Sukī-jō

    Ski area on the slopes of Mount Kitanomine above the city, known for dry snow and wide views of the Tokachi range.

  • Rokugō and the Kita no Kuni kara sets

    麓郷Rokugō

    Farming district in the hills east of the city where the houses from the drama are preserved.

  • Furano Winery and Cheese Factory

    ふらのワイン工場Furano Wain Kōjō

    Municipally run winery and dairy producing wine, grape juice and cheese from local farms.

  • Ningle Terrace

    ニングルテラスNinguru Terasu

    Craft shops in log cabins linked by boardwalks through the forest near the ski resort, inspired by Kuramoto Sō's writings.

  • Blue Pond (Biei)

    白金青い池Shirogane Aoi Ike

    Pond of milky blue water among dead larches near Shirogane Onsen in Biei, created by an erosion-control dam.

  • Biei hills

    美瑛の丘Biei no Oka

    Rolling fields of wheat, potatoes and flowers along the 'Patchwork Road' and 'Panorama Road' north of Furano.

  • Shirahige Falls (Biei)

    白ひげの滝Shirahige no Taki

    Spring water pouring from a cliff into the blue Biei River at Shirogane Onsen, at the foot of Tokachidake.

Districts

  • Furano city centre

    富良野駅前Furano Ekimae

    The compact centre around JR Furano Station with shops, restaurants and the Heso Matsuri route.

  • Kitanomine

    北の峰Kitanomine

    Resort area at the base of the ski slopes with hotels and restaurants.

  • Rokugō

    麓郷Rokugō

    Hill farming district east of the city, setting of Kita no Kuni kara.

  • Yamabe

    山部Yamabe

    The southern part of the city, a former town, with farms and forests below Ashibetsu-dake.

  • Biei (neighbouring town)

    美瑛町Biei-chō

    Separate town north of Furano with hill farmland, photographers' viewpoints and Shirogane Onsen.

History

The Furano basin was Ainu land; the name comes from the Ainu word furu-nu, usually explained as 'place with a smell', after the sulphurous air from the Tokachi volcanoes. Settlers from Mie Prefecture established the first permanent farms in 1897, and the railway from Asahikawa arrived in 1900. The town of Furano and the neighbouring town of Yamabe merged in 1966 to form the city.

The 1970s and 1980s transformed Furano into a destination: lavender fields became famous through a national railway calendar photograph in 1976, and the drama Kita no Kuni kara ran from 1981. The city-owned Furano Winery was founded in the 1970s, and the ski resort hosted FIS World Cup races. In 1988 an eruption of Tokachidake led to erosion-control works in Biei that accidentally created the Blue Pond.

  1. 1897

    Settlers from Mie Prefecture found the first permanent farms in the basin.

  2. 1900

    The railway from Asahikawa reaches Furano.

  3. 1926

    An eruption of Tokachidake sends mudflows through Kamifurano, killing over 140 people.

  4. 1966

    The towns of Furano and Yamabe merge to form Furano City.

  5. 1969

    The first Hokkai Heso Matsuri celebrates Furano as the centre of Hokkaido.

  6. 1976

    A national railway calendar photograph makes the lavender fields famous.

  7. 1981–2002

    The drama Kita no Kuni kara is filmed in Furano's Rokugō district.

  8. 1988

    Tokachidake erupts; the subsequent erosion-control dam in Biei creates the Blue Pond.

Culture

Furano's culture is rural and seasonal: flower fields and harvests in summer, skiing in winter. Kuramoto Sō, author of Kita no Kuni kara, settled here and founded the Furano Juku school for actors and scriptwriters, giving the city a small theatre scene. The Heso Matsuri, with dancers painting faces on their bellies, is a cheerful local invention celebrating the city's central position. Photographing Biei's fields from the road is popular, but the fields are private farmland and visitors are asked not to enter them.

Festivals

  • Hokkai Heso Matsuri

    北海へそ祭りHokkai Heso Matsuri

    On 28 and 29 July, dancers with faces painted on their bare bellies parade through the city centre.

  • Lavender season

    ラベンダーまつりRabendā Matsuri

    Lavender festivals are held in the basin in July, when the fields reach full bloom.

  • Furano Wine Festival

    ふらのワインぶどう祭りFurano Wain Budō Matsuri

    Harvest festival of the municipal winery in autumn.

Food

  • Furano melon

    富良野メロンFurano meron

    Sweet orange-fleshed melons, sold at roadside stands in high summer.

  • Furano omelette curry

    富良野オムカレーFurano omu-karē

    Local curry with an omelette of Furano eggs, served by restaurants under common rules on local ingredients.

  • Furano wine

    ふらのワインFurano wain

    Red and white wines from the municipal winery, made from grapes grown in the basin.

  • Cheese and dairy

    チーズchīzu

    Cheese, butter and ice cream made with milk from local farms.

  • Onions and potatoes

    玉ねぎtamanegi

    Staple crops of the basin, shipped across Japan.

Getting around

  • The JR Furano Line runs from Asahikawa via Biei to Furano in about an hour and a quarter; the Nemuro Line connects Furano with Takikawa on the route to Sapporo.
  • Asahikawa Airport lies between Biei and Furano, with buses to both towns.
  • Highway buses link Sapporo and Furano in about two and a half hours.
  • A car or bicycle is the easiest way to explore the flower farms and the hills of Biei; seasonal sightseeing trains and buses run in summer.

Day trips

  • Asahikawa

    Hokkaido's second city with its zoo and ramen, about an hour north.

  • Daisetsuzan National Park

    Volcanic highlands with Tokachidake above Biei and Kamifurano.

  • Asahidake

    Hokkaido's highest peak, reached by ropeway from Asahidake Onsen.

  • Sapporo

    The capital, about two and a half hours by bus.

Other cities in the prefecture

CapitalSapporoSapporo-shiHokkaido's planned capital on the Ishikari PlainCore cityAsahikawaAsahikawa-shiRiver city of the Kamikawa Basin and gateway to DaisetsuzanCore cityHakodateHakodate-shiTreaty port between two bays at the foot of Mount HakodateCityKushiroKushiro-shiFog, cranes and fish: the Pacific gateway to eastern HokkaidoTownNisekoNiseko-chōPowder snow, Mount Yotei and hot springs in south-western HokkaidoCityNoboribetsuNoboribetsu-shiHell Valley, sulphur springs and the demons of Hokkaido's great onsenCityOtaruOtaru-shiHerring, coal and banks: the port that built Hokkaido's economy

Frequently asked questions

When do the lavender fields bloom?

Mainly in July, with the peak usually in mid-July; early varieties begin in late June, and other summer flowers continue into August.

Is Farm Tomita in Furano?

The best-known lavender farm lies in Nakafurano, a separate town immediately north of Furano city; visitors usually treat the whole basin as the Furano area.

What is the difference between Furano and Biei?

They are separate municipalities: Furano is known for its flower fields, ski resort and the drama Kita no Kuni kara, while Biei, to the north, is famous for its rolling farmland hills and the Blue Pond.

Is Furano good for skiing?

Yes. Furano Ski Resort offers dry inland snow and has hosted World Cup alpine races; the season generally runs from late November or December to early May.

Why is Furano called the navel of Hokkaido?

Because it lies near the geographical centre of Hokkaido; the Heso (navel) Matsuri in July celebrates the idea.

Related

Sources

  1. 1.富良野市 (opens in a new tab) — 富良野市 (Furano City)
  2. 2.令和2年国勢調査 (opens in a new tab) — 総務省統計局 (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
  3. 3.美瑛町 (opens in a new tab) — 美瑛町 (Biei Town)
  4. 4.Japan National Tourism Organization (opens in a new tab) — JNTO

Editorial team · Published: