Local Guide
 8 Sightseeing Spots in Furano and Biei You Can Enjoy Even on a Rainy Day

Furano and Biei offer a wide variety of spots to enjoy the beautiful nature, but there are also a wide variety of Properties that can be enjoyed even on rainy days. Here are some spots where you can stop by without worrying about the weather.

A picture gallery with a retro appearance

 Photos of Biei's beautiful changing seasons are on display.
Photos of Biei's beautiful changing seasons are on display.

Gallery of Shinzo Maeda, renowned as a leading Japanese landscape photographer. Shinzo Maeda, who was fascinated by the Western-style scenery of Biei-cho, continued to take landscape photographs, and the name "Biei, the City of Hills" became famous throughout Japan. As a base for his activities in Hokkaido, Maeda built a permanent Photo Exhibition Property on the site of a closed elementary school in Takushin, Biei-cho, a town with vast nature, and named it "Takushinkan" (Takushin Museum). The cute retro building surrounded by trees is a picturesque sight in itself.

Enjoy the scenery of Biei loved by photographers

 Birch-lined avenue with a corridor of 250 meters around.
Birch-lined avenue with a corridor of 250 meters around.

The museum exhibits Maeda Shinzo's representative works, including a series of "hills" that he has been working on as his life's work, as well as works by his eldest son, who is also a landscape photographer like his father. The space, where the passion for landscape photography of both father and son lives and breathes, has a relaxed atmosphere where visitors can take their time to appreciate the many beautiful photographs. Photo books and postcards are also available for purchase.
The building is surrounded by a park with a corridor of white birches and abundant nature, where visitors can take a stroll after viewing the photographs.

Photo Gallery Takushinkan
  • Address Aza Takushin, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction 15 min. by car from JR Biei Station
  •  Business hours May-Oct: 9:00-17:00, April, November-January: 10:00-16:00
  •  Closed Late January - early April *Inquiries required for winter hours.
  •  Admission Fee Free of charge
  •  TEL 0166-92-3355
  •  Parking Free of charge

Enjoy the world of Japanese painter Sumio Goto

 The work
The work "Ouka Joensouzu" painted on gold leaf ground.

Sumio Goto was a leading painter in the contemporary Japanese art world. The six exhibition rooms each contain works of art according to a different theme, including a 14-meter-wide painting of China, "Unkai Huangshan Rainy Day" (Yunhai Huangshan Rainy Day), which depicts China, and a 14-meter-wide painting of the mountains of Huangshan (Yunhai Huangshan Rainy Day), which depicts the sea of clouds. The six exhibition rooms each have a different theme, and visitors can view large works such as the 14-meter-wide "Unkai Kozan Usei" and the 7-meter-wide "Tokachi Mountain Range," which depict China, as well as smaller works such as sketches.

Enjoy the Gastronomic delights and the view at the Restaurant.

 Restaurant
Restaurant "Furano Grill" with the Tokachi Mountain Range spread out before your eyes

On the second floor is the "Furano Grill" Restaurant, where you can enjoy dishes using local brand meat such as "Kami Furano pork" and "Furano wagyu beef," Hokkaido salmon, and pizza made with 100% Kamifurano wheat.
Behind the all-glass windows, the Tokachi Mountain Range and the peaceful hills that Sumio Goto loved so much are spread out, creating an atmosphere full of openness.
The museum store sells postcards, colored papers, and one-page postcards, as well as books of Sumio Goto's paintings and catalogs of his solo exhibitions.

Goto Sumio Museum of Art
  • Address 26, Higashi-4-sen Kita, Kamifurano-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction 5 min. drive from JR Kamifurano Station
  •  Business hours 9:00-17:00 (Nov. - Mar. - 16:00)
  •  Closed December 29-January 3
  •  Admission Fee Adults 1,000 yen (tax not included), elementary to high school students 500 yen (tax not included)
  •  TEL 0167-45-6181
  •  Parking Free of charge

Visit the beautiful world of glass reflecting the northern climate

 Waltz,
Waltz," a work made of shibare glass with beautiful spiral cracks

The glass studio is located in Rokugo, Furano City, known as a location for the TV drama "Kita no Kuni Kara. There are six buildings and studios on the spacious grounds, and each building exhibits and sells original glassware, sundries, accessories, artwork, and other items. The "Shibare Glass" series is particularly popular. The fine cracks, reminiscent of diamond dust in a harsh winter, continue to change over time and gain in flavor. No two pieces have the same pattern, and it is fun to take a moment to hold one in your hand and look for the one piece that really hits the spot.

Create your own unique souvenir at the Experience.

 Experience creating a miniature dome for 1,500 yen (miniature glass to put inside is available for purchase separately)
Experience creating a miniature dome for 1,500 yen (miniature glass to put inside is available for purchase separately)

In the building where the hands-on workshop is located, visitors can try their hand at making items using glass. There are seven experience courses that can be enjoyed by both children and adults, ranging from easy experiences such as "sun catchers (mirror balls)" made by combining crystal glass and beads, and "miniature domes" made by selecting your favorite miniature glass, to more serious experiences such as "air-blown glass" made by blowing into a blowpipe. There are seven hands-on courses that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. The experience of experiencing the luster and texture of glass firsthand will surely be an unforgettable memory of your trip.
*Space-blown glass works will be delivered the next day or later.

Glass Forest in FURANO
  • Address 3, Urban area of Furukugo, Furano City, Hokkaido (next to "Pick-up House")
    Please use the map code (550 798 020) to set the destination in your car navigation system. MAP
  •  Direction Approx. 20 min. by car from JR Furano Station
  •  Business Hours 9:00-18:00 (extended hours until 19:00 in July and August)
  •  Closed Open all year round in summer, closed in winter (check website).
  •  Admission Fee Free of charge
  •  TEL 0167-39-9088
  •  Parking Free of charge

Enjoy the charm of Furano cheese in a quiet forest

 Cutting cheese in the cheese production room
Cutting cheese in the cheese production room

On the outskirts of Furano City, at the foot of Mt. Nishifurano, there is a quiet forest called Cheese Park, where Furano Cheese Factory is located. Here, dairy products made from raw milk produced on Furano's farms are manufactured and sold. Visitors can observe through glass windows the production process of cheese, including the cheese making room and ripening room, etc. At the sales corner on the second floor, in addition to purchasing cheese, butter, and other dairy products, visitors can sample wine-infused cheddar cheese, squidfish cheese, and other products. Visitors can also enjoy a wide range of activities, including a milking experience with a model cow and a cheese history corner.

Soft ice cream, pizza, and handmade experiences are also popular.

 The rich taste is very popular. Freshly made cheese ice cream
The rich taste is very popular. Freshly made cheese ice cream" 350 yen

The "Ice Milk Factory" offers gelato and soft-serve ice cream made from fresh Furano milk. At the Pizza Workshop, visitors can enjoy authentic Neapolitan pizza, made with local ingredients using an authentic maki oven imported from Naples, with a crispy outside and chewy inside. In addition, the "Handmade Experience Workshop" offers hands-on classes in making butter, ice cream, cheese, and bread. Anyone can easily experience making delicious dairy products.

Furano Cheese Factory
  • Address Nakagokku, Furano-shi, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction 10 minutes drive from JR Furano Station
  •  Business hours April-October 9:00-17:00, November-March - 16:00
    Pizza workshop 10:30-16:00
  •  Closed Dec. 31-Jan. 3, closed for Property maintenance
  •  Admission Fee Admission: Free
    Experience fee: Handmade Experience Course: butter and ice cream 880 yen each, cheese and bread 980 yen each
    Reservations required (If seats are available, participation on the day is possible. Reservations required at least 3 days in advance for bread baking)
  •  TEL 0167-23-1156
  •  Parking Free of charge

A museum that tells the story of cultivating the soil

 Precious cultivator using a horse from the late 1950s
Precious cultivator using a horse from the late 1950s

This museum was established to convey the wonder of agriculture and the importance of the relationship between the soil and people. The museum exhibits valuable farming equipment, soil samples, and other materials that provide visitors with an insight into the hardships of cultivating land in Hokkaido. In the first exhibition hall, the workshop and part of the forge of Toyoji Sugano, the founder of Sugano Agricultural Machinery, a manufacturer of work equipment, are on display. The second exhibition hall displays valuable hoes, plows, and cultivators from around the world, and more than 100 soil specimens are on display, including a 4-meter-long specimen of a mudflow that tells the story of the spectacular 1926 eruption of Tokachi-dake volcano.

Permanent exhibition of nearly 100 rare tractors

 Retro and cute Canadian steam tractor made over 100 years ago
Retro and cute Canadian steam tractor made over 100 years ago

The Tractor Museum, located next to the museum, has 93 classic tractors of various colors from Japan and other countries on permanent display, including the first domestic tractor and a steam tractor manufactured in Canada more than 100 years ago that is still in operation today. Visitors will be able to see these lovely tractors that they cannot help but want to take pictures of.
The "Soil Museum" was recognized and registered as a "Hokkaido Heritage" in 2004, a "Mechanical Heritage" in 2014, and two plows as a "Heritage of Future Technology" in 2017. If you visit Furano, this is a must-see spot.

Soil Museum
  • Address 25 Nishi 2-North, Kamifurano-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction 5 min. drive from JR Kamifurano Station
  •  Business hours 9:00-16:00
  •  Closed Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays *Varies according to the month.
  •  Admission Fee Free of charge
  •  TEL 0167-45-3055
  •  Parking Free of charge

All-you-can-eat cherry picking Experience

 The first farm in Hokkaido to win the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award in the National Fruit Tree Technology and Management Competition
The first farm in Hokkaido to win the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award in the National Fruit Tree Technology and Management Competition

A vast cherry orchard complete with a 47,000 m2 all-weather rain shelter dome similar to that of the Tokyo Dome. About 50 varieties and 1,500 cherries are grown here. For more than 40 years, the cherries have been cultivated using only organic fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers.
The cherry picking season is usually from early July to late August. There is no time limit for all-you-can-eat, and you can compare popular and new varieties. The low height cultivation makes it easy for even children to pick cherries. Staff/staff members will be on hand to give you advice on the varieties.

The best time to start is from late July, when the best varieties begin to ripen.

 The key to tasty cherries is to choose dark-colored fruit.
The key to tasty cherries is to choose dark-colored fruit.

At Ohashi Cherry Orchard, high-end varieties ripen from around late July. Recommended among them is the yellow "Gassan Nishiki," which boasts the highest sugar content among cherries and is very popular. For two days in late July, visitors can also pick the rare, high-end "Benishuho" cherries.
The garden is crowded around noon on holidays, but it is relatively empty from 9:00 to 11:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00. A special shuttle service is available only on weekdays to transport visitors around the spacious garden, making it safe for children and the elderly to enjoy the garden.

Ohashi Cherry Orchard
  • Address 469 Kami-ashibetsu-cho, Ashibetsu-shi, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction Approx. 35 min. from JR Furano Station by car.
  •  Business hours Early July - Late August 9:00 - 17:00 (Mon. last admission at 16:00)
  •  Closed No holidays
  •  Admission Fee Junior high school students and older: 1,500 yen and up, elementary school students: 1,000 yen and up (price differs for each cultivated field), free for children under elementary school age
  •  TEL 0124-23-0654
  •  Parking Free of charge

Relax in hot springs and nature at an altitude of 1,200 meters

 A variety of spectacular views of nature from hot springs
A variety of spectacular views of nature from hot springs

This long-established ryokan, established in 1965, is located in the Daisetsuzan National Park at an altitude of 1,200 meters in the middle of Mount Tokachi. The surrounding area is a virgin forest of red Ezo spruce, and is home to wild animals such as Ezo sika deer and foxes, a natural wonder unique to Hokkaido.
Visitors can enjoy one-day bathing from 7:00 to 21:00, and the outdoor hot spring offers a view of the Furano Basin. Early in the morning, a sea of clouds can be seen below the Outdoor hot spring, and if you are lucky, you may even get a chance to see the spectacular view. The hot springs in this perfect location offer an exceptional healing experience.

Enjoy the hot spring water flowing from the source at the foot of the mountain

 Outdoor hot spring with a pleasant view of nature
Outdoor hot spring with a pleasant view of nature

The hot springs at Kamihoroso are aluminum calcium sulfate springs. The hot spring water from Mt. Tokachi is smooth and soothing to the skin, and the yew wood bathtubs have a woody aroma that will provide you with a pleasant and relaxing experience. In the Restaurant, you can enjoy carefully selected seasonal Furano delicacies such as pork, vegetables grown in Furano, and specially cultivated rice "Nanatsuboshi," as well as a special one-day bathing and meal set menu. Enjoy both bathing and dining in a relaxed, at-home atmosphere.

Tokachidake Hot Spring Kamihoroso
  • Address Tokachidake hot spring, Kamifurano-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction Approx. 26 min. by car from JR Kamifurano Station
  •  Business hours One-day bathing 7:00 - 21:00 (last admission at 20:00)
  •  Closed Open daily, but closed for maintenance in spring and fall
  •  Admission Fee One-day bathing Adults 600 yen, children (elementary school students) 350 yen, free for children under elementary school age
  •  TEL 0167-45-2970
  •  Parking Free of charge

Delicious Furano vegetables

 It is often crowded as soon as it opens, so it is recommended to come early in the day.
It is often crowded as soon as it opens, so it is recommended to come early in the day.

Furano Marche is where various stores that focus on local delicacies present the charms of Furano. The Farmer's Market Ogall, located within this market, is an agricultural produce direct sales stand operated by JA Furano, where all the agricultural products of Furano, a major vegetable production area, are gathered together. In addition to sales of specialty products such as asparagus, melons, pumpkins, and potatoes, which are representative of Hokkaido, there are also original processed products made from agricultural products and a corner where farmers sell "fresh vegetables". There are plenty of things to enjoy each season. Each time you visit, you will discover something delicious.

Pick up seasonal vegetables from Furano as souvenirs!

 Seasonal produce comes in a variety of flavors and colors
Seasonal produce comes in a variety of flavors and colors

Asparagus is in season from April to May, melons from June to September, sweet corn from July to September, onions from September to March, and strawberries from December to June. JA Furano also offers a wide variety of processed products made from its original vegetables, such as soups, dressings, and curries. After enjoying sightseeing in Furano, why not stop by to look for delicious agricultural products as souvenirs?

Farmer's Market Ogall
  • Address Inside Furano Marche, 13-1 Saiwaicho, Furano-shi, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction 9 min. walk from JR Furano Station
  •  Business hours April 1 - June 28, 10:00 - 19:00; June 29 - September 1, 9:00 - 19:00; September 2 - November 4, 10:00 - 19:00; November 5 - March 31, 10:00 - 18:30
    *Fiscal year 2019
  •  Closed November 25 - 29, December 31 and January 1
  •  Admission Fee Free of charge
  •  TEL 0167-22-3939
  •  Parking Free of charge

After enjoying sightseeing, spend a relaxing time at a unique hotel.

All Guest rooms are spacious and relaxing.

 Guest rooms are suites of more than 100 square meters
Guest rooms are suites of more than 100 square meters

Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, about 90 minutes by train from New Chitose Airport, is surrounded by a vast 1,000 hectares of nature and is a resort that can be visited any time of the year. In summer, "UNKAI Terrace" offers spectacular views, and the "Farm Area" lets you experience the magnificent nature of Hokkaido. In winter, you can enjoy not only the ski slopes but also the "Ice Village," a town of ice, where you can fully enjoy your stay even if you don't ski. Within the area, there are two accommodations, "Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu" and "The Tower," that can be selected according to the purpose of your trip, allowing you to enjoy a stay that is perfect for you.

Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu" is a hotel nestled on a mountainside surrounded by the resort's forest. The 32-story high-rise hotel has only four Guest rooms per floor. The 32-story high-rise hotel has only four guest rooms per floor, providing a spacious and luxurious atmosphere.
All Guest rooms are suites. All rooms are equipped with a jet bath with magnificent views and a private sauna. Traveling with children can be made even safer and more comfortable.
We also offer the "Mamanakudama Suite" and the "Pet Room" where you and your dog can spend time together. The Tower" is the resort's first and only building with a private sauna.

Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu

Casual and active living

 Diverse Guest room types from twin to four-suite (Photo: Family Four-suite)
Diverse Guest room types from twin to four-suite (Photo: Family Four-suite)

Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, about 90 minutes by train from New Chitose Airport, is surrounded by a vast 1,000 hectares of nature and is a resort that can be visited any time of the year. In summer, "UNKAI Terrace" offers spectacular views, and the "Farm Area" lets you experience the magnificent nature of Hokkaido. In winter, you can enjoy not only the ski slopes but also the "Ice Village," a town of ice, where you can fully enjoy your stay even if you don't ski. Within the area, there are two accommodations, "Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu" and "The Tower," that can be selected according to the purpose of your trip, allowing you to enjoy a stay that is perfect for you.

The Tower by Hoshino Resorts is a landmark of Tomamu, located in the center of the resort. The twin towers of the high-rise hotel are designed to resemble a forest in summer and winter, respectively. The Tower is close to a variety of Restaurants and Property, and is recommended for those who wish to spend their time actively. A total of 535 Guest rooms are available in various types, including standard rooms and family rooms. They can accommodate a wide range of needs, including couples and families. In particular, the Family Twin and Family Force rooms have low beds and are safe for small children.

Hoshino Resorts Tomamu the Tower by Hoshino Resorts

A hotel where you don't stop at just sleeping, but rather, where your trip will be more exciting

 Superior Rooms
Superior Rooms" have storage space under the bed and can be used spaciously by two or three persons.

Asahikawa, a base city with good Direction to Furano and Biei, is a town that fascinates you with its individuality every time you visit, from the Asahiyama Zoo with its many attractions to the seasonal delicacies you will encounter in the local gourmet ladder. Located in the center of Asahikawa, OMO7 Asahikawa by Hoshino Resorts is also the departure point for airport buses, providing convenient Direction. Public spaces that are also part of the city and Guest rooms that emphasize ease of use for tourists, the Property offers a new way to enjoy Asahikawa, not only as a place to stay overnight, but also as a place to keep the excitement of your trip alive for a long time.

Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Asahikawa by Hoshino Resorts
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.