Furano Marche, located in central Furano, sells local produce and foods under the catchphrase “Make the town more cheerful and more fun!”

Furano is one of Hokkaido’s top agricultural production areas, and the products sold at Furano Marche are inexpensive and fresh, with many bearing the label of with their grower. The specialties at Furano Marche shouldn’t be passed up!

Ningle Terrace is a magical wooded shopping area. It’s named for “Ningle,” the forest-dwelling main character of Furano-based screenwriter So Kuramoto’s book titled “Ningle.”

The craftsmen of Ningle Terrace use their skills to create and sell original works and conduct craft workshops. Here you can take a break in a log cabin café and feel like Ningle as you walk through the forest.

The Blue Pond in Biei is a scenic spot that’s gained popular in recent years. Dead larch trees rise from middle of the pond known as “Biei Blue,” giving it a surreal atmosphere. The color changes depending on the season and weather. In spring, snowmelt gives the pond a green-blue tint and in early summer it can appear light blue. It’s beautiful in any shade!

Farm Tomita is one of the best sightseeing spots in the Furano region. The dark purple “Noshi Hayazaki” variety of lavender begins to bloom in late June. The “Hanamoiwa” and “Okamurasaki” varieties bloom soon after, turning the fields a vibrant purple until early August. The best time to visit is mid-July, when all the types of lavender are in bloom.

The farm’s café serves lavender-flavored drinks and ice cream. Also at Farm Tomita, you’ll find the largest lavender field in Japan, “Lavender East” (open only in July).

Lavender-colored tractors pull wagons around the grounds, providing visitors with a relaxing way to immerse themselves in the breathtaking scenery and the rich lavender scent.

The fields of Nakafurano from Biei to Bibaushi are called the “Patchwork Road” because of the colorful pattern created by the crops grown there. The gently rolling hills are stunning, and you’ll get wonderful photos no matter where you take them.

Since the scenery is similar to France’s Champagne-Ardenne region, a French restaurant using local ingredients has opened in Biei. It's the perfect place to sit and relax while enjoying a great lunch or dinner.

At Furano Cheese Factory, not only can visitors buy fresh cheese, but they can also watch the cheese-making process and even make their own in the “handmade experience workshop.”

Four hands-on activities include butter and ice cream making (900 yen each, tax included) and cheese and bread making (1,000 yen each, tax included). Bread making requires a reservation, but other activities do not as long as there are vacancies (English recipes available).

There’s also a model cow to “milk,” a section devoted to the history of cheese, and a photo area where both children and adults can “become” cheese craftsmen.

In addition, the Cheese Factory serves pizza made with local produce, freshly made cheese, and soft-serve ice cream, all of which are exceptional.

The Furano Wine House overlooks the city from Mt. Shimizu, and diners can enjoy a meal of local ingredients, a wine that suits their taste, and a magnificent view of the Tokachi mountain range.

The wine comes directly from the winery, and exclusive vintages available here can be sampled and purchased in the Wine House shop. Wine can also be shipped throughout Japan so that you can relive the memories of your trip with a glass of your favorite.

Popura Farm is a soft serve ice cream shop in Nakafurano. “Santa's Beard” (small 800 yen, large 1,400 yen), is the shop’s trademarked signature menu item – half a melon topped with ice cream made with fresh milk.

Other ice cream topped yubari melon (cantaloupe) desserts include “Santa de Mix” which combines milk and melon-flavored ice cream, “Santa de Melon” with melon ice cream only, and “Santa's Belly Button” topped with Tokachi red beans (small 850 yen, large 1,500 yen for each). Limited-time offerings like “Bali Bali Santa” are also available.

Kitoushi Observatory is a castle-shaped observation building in the mountains of Higashikawa-cho, adjacent to Asahikawa City. Green rice paddies fill the lush panorama in spring and summer, then turn a bright golden hue for the autumn harvest. Nearby Kitoushi Forest Park is a popular spot for barbecues and “park golf.”

Fukiage Hot Spring Health Center is an inn known for its open-air baths. Located on a hillside in the Tokachi mountain range Daisetsuzan National Park, it still has beautiful snow in spring and is a popular base for mountaineering in summer and skiing in winter. The open-air baths make it possible to enjoy the forest and a hot, relaxing bath simultaneously.

There’s plenty for children and adults to enjoy, like the slide in the “mixed open-air bath for men and women” (bathing suits required). With 48 bunk beds, 4 Japanese-style rooms, and meals, it offers attractive accommodation (adults 3,100 yen for one night, including bathing; additional heating charge of 150 yen per night from November 1 to April 30).

Although people visit Furano for its beautiful scenery, trespassing has harmed the area’s tranquility. In 2016 the famous “Philosophy Tree” was cut down, partially due to the continued bad manners of sightseers.

Because the fields that comprise Furano’s lovely vistas are actively used for farming, be sure to respect local rules and customs to avoid future sad situations like that of the now lost Philosophy Tree, and to maintain the beauty of Furano and Biei.

Text by: Masakazu

▼Early-bird lift tickets are recommended for winter skiing in Japan▼