Not Just Lavender Fields! Twenty Select Tourist Spots in Furano, Hokkaido

Ten Recommended Destinations in Furano

1. Farm Tomita

Farm Tomita is said to be the farm that started lavender tourism in Japan. It is a popular destination visited by approximately 1 million people every year. With colorful flower fields of not just lavender but a variety of different flowers, wonderful views of the Tokachidake mountain range and pastoral landscapes, it is a great place to enjoy the grand nature of Furano.

There is a variety of different buildings scattered around the vast grounds, including Hanabito House, where you can learn about the history of Farm Tomita and it's lavenders, along with a variety of cafes and shops. The lavender soft serve that is only available at Farm Tomita is hugely popular, and there are many other products made with lavender to discover.

2. Choei Lavender Park and Hokuseiyama Ski Area

Choei Lavender Park and Hokuseiyama Ski Area is located on the slopes of Mt. Hokusei. There are colorful fields of four different types of flowers, including lavenders, sunflowers, marigolds and salvias. There is a park at the summit with an observation space from which you can see the lavender fields as well as the Tokachidake mountain range and the Furano Basin.

The highlight of this lavender park is the opportunity to take a mid-air stroll. You can come down from the mountain on a lift and enjoy the fantastic views unique to Furano. There are souvenir shops and a curry shop popular among locals at the foot of the mountain so you can enjoy shopping and dining.

3. Highland Furano

Highland Furano is a hotel with lavender fields. It has the largest lavender fields in Furano City that is open to the public. It also has the only natural hot springs in Furano where day visitors are welcome. There are open-air baths from which you can enjoy a view of the lavender fields while soaking in hot springs.

Highland Furano also has guest rooms with views of the lavender fields. The lavender fields are lit up at night in July to give it a different atmosphere from the daytime. This is a hotel recommended for those who want to enjoy views of Furano's lavender fields both day and night.

4. Rokugo Forest

Next to be introduced is Rokugo Forest, with various buildings that were filmed in the famous TV series, Kita no Kuni Kara, set in Furano. In this forest, you can see buildings from the series, such as the log house that the protagonist, Kuroita Goro, built deep in the forest, as well as Goro's Third House (windmill house).

These are all buildings that were used at the beginning of the series and remains a popular spot for fans to experience famous scenes from the series. There are also shops selling items related to the series as well as restaurants you can visit, so relax and enjoy your time in the natural beauty that is Furano.

5. New Furano Prince Hotel

New Furano Prince Hotel houses Ningle Terrace, which is a popular tourist destination. Ningle Terrace consists of shops in buildings that look like log houses selling items that are unique to Furano and can only be purchased here. It is particularly romantic when the sun sets and the buildings are lit up, making it a perfect spot for goinng on dates.

On the hotel grounds, there is also a garden called Kaze no Garden, which was the set for a TV drama series of the same name. It has approximately 2,000 sq.m. of flower fields with about 20,000 flowers of 450 varieties. There is also Gabriel no Ie, a shop selling items related to the TV series as well as saplings of the flowers in the garden.

6. Glass Forest in FURANO

It is also the only place in Hokkaido to experience blowing glass that is heat resistant. It consists of six buildings, and there are workshops for making tombo balls and for sand blasting. In particular, Building No. 2, which has displays depicting the flower fields of Furano from spring to fall in glass, is a must see.

7. Furano Wine Factory (Furano Wine)

There are lavender fields above the winery, and when the lavenders are in bloom, both the winery and fields are lit up. There is a mystical atmosphere that can only be perceived here and thus it has become a popular spot for dates.

8. Furano Cheese Factory

There is also a corner named the Ice Milk Factory, where soft serve made with fresh Furano milk is served, and a Pizza Factory, where authentic Neapolitan pizza is baked in an oven procured directly from Naples. There are also workshops to experience making butter and ice cream by hand.

9. Campana Rokkatei

Campagna Rokkatei also has original products only available at this branch. There are local items such as Furano Mochi, made with mochi that contains red peas from Furano, and Furano Ankoro made with green peas from Furano.

10. Furano Jam Garden & Anpanman Shop

Furano Jam Garden also has Anpanman Shop on the grounds. The first floor is one of Japan's largest shops for Anpanman goods, and the second floor houses a gallery of Anpanman paintings. There is also a Rokugo Viewing Platform with views of the grand nature of Furano, so this is a place for people of all ages to enjoy.

Five Recommended Spots Around Furano Station

1. Hokkaido Longitudinal and Latitudinal Center Marker

In 1914, professors from what was then Kyoto Imperial University installed equipment at this site to measure longitudes, latitudes and gravity for astronomical observations. The center marker was erected here in commemoration. When visiting, keep in mind that it is on the grounds of a working elementary school, Furano Elementary School.

2. Heso Jinja (Hokushin Jinja)

3. Furano Marche / Furano Marche 2

There is a wide selection of Furano specialties so it is the perfect place to look for souvenirs. It is also a great place to try the latest local food from Furano. There is a parking lot and information center, so you can stop in when you want to get information about Furano.

4. Concierge Furano

The second floor of Concierge Furano houses a shared office area where the Commerce and Tourism department of Furano City is located and on the third floor, there is a dormitory-style hostel called HOSTEL TOMAR. The hostel offers reasonably priced accommodations and is recommended for those traveling on a budget.

5. FURANO NATULUX HOTEL

FURANO NATULUX HOTEL is a great place to enjoy local cuisine made with fresh Furano ingredients. The hotel has a cafe open to the public that serves fantastic food such as an original hamburger made with homemade buns and a rich soft serve ice cream.

The hotel is in a convenient location just one minute on foot from JR Furano Station. It is a great place to enjoy dishes that are unique to Furano in a luxurious setting. There are also food items that can be taken out, so you can enjoy them while strolling around town.

Five Hidden Gems Recommended in Furano

1. Torinuma Park

Torinuma Park in the suburbs of Furano City is a park that is designed around trees that are growing naturally so you can enjoy the grand nature that is unique to Hokkaido. The emerald green marsh in this park with highly transparent water is a must see. There is a mystic view that is breathtakingly beautiful.

At Torinuma Park, you can also enjoy seasonal flowers and creatures. In the spring, there are different varieties of Asian skunk cabbage, in the summer, fireflies, and in the fall, colorful foliage. It is a great place to visit with children and is becoming more and more popular as a hidden gem perfect for girls' trips and dates.

2. Saika no Sato

Next to be introduced is Saika no Sato, where you can enjoy eight different types of lavender. The vast 15-acre land is covered with a wide variety of flowers each season. There is also an observatory at the top of a hill from which you can see a panoramic view of the beautiful mountains and flowers.

The foremost attraction of Saika no Sato is the opportunity to pick lavenders. It is 1,000 JPY per person and you can pick as many lavenders as will fit into a bag that is provided. This is a place you can enjoy with friends, on your own, on a date or with children.

3. Roller Coaster Road

Roller Coater Road refers to Nishi 11 Sen, a road in Kami Furano-cho with sharp ups and downs. It is a road that is straight for 2.5km but has sharo hills and was used as a set for the TV series, Yasashii Jikan. 

Even though the road is nicknamed Roller Coaster Road, if you look around, you will see there are wonderful panoramic views of the grand nature of Hokkaido. There are hills after hills of beautiful pastoral landscape and it has been selected by locals as one of the eight great views of Kami Furano.

4. Panorama Road Ehana

Panorama Road Ehana is a road on which you can feel as if you are being sucked into the great nature of Furano. It is a straight, 5km road that leads from a high hill down to the Furano Basin. This is also a little known spot for fantastic views that has been chosen by locals as one of the eight great views of Kami Furano.

It is less steep than Roller Coaster Road so it is not a problem for those who are not that practiced at driving. It is also a popular road not just for drivers, but also for walkers and bicyclists. In the winter, it transforms into a glittering, snow-covered road. It is a road that you will want to visit in the snowy season as well.

5. Miiyamatoge Art Park

The highlight of Miyama Art Park is the Trick Art Museum. It is filled with artwork that utilizes optical illusions. It is a great place for photographs to post on social media, and one that people of all ages can enjoy. 

Enjoy Fantastic Views and Flavors Unique to Furano

Furano in Hokkaido is filled with lavender fields and other places to enjoy the grand nature. There are majestic, panoramic views of nature all around, so you don't even have to go to tourist destinations to see them.

Furano not only has beautiful views of nature, but also numerous stylish shops. There are also many original products and foods that are unique to Furano. Why not go to Furano to enjoy the fantastic views and flavors you will only be able to experience there?

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Translated and republished with permission from: SPIRA (formerly known as Relux Magazine)

By the way, you can book a hotel through Relux (run by SPIRA) by clicking here!

Title Image: Tanya Jones / Shutterstock