Furano Ski Resort opened in 1962 and is visited by 200,000 people (November 2019 to March 2020) every year. When the Alpine World Cup Furano Tournament was held in 1977, it became known worldwide.

The name was changed from Kitanomine Ski Area to Furano Ski Area to showcase the Furano region as a ski destination. By 1995, the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup was held here ten times, and various events and events such as the FIS Snowboard World Cup and the All Japan Championships were hosted.

Furano Ski Resort is located inland near the center of Hokkaido. When the weather is nice, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Daisetsuzan mountain range. The snow conditions are stable, and it has been highly appraised overseas for having quality powder snow.

The best season is from mid-December to late February. During this time, Furano is particularly cold, and it is not uncommon to see temperatures at and below freezing during the day and -10°C during the morning and evening. You will need to prepare for these temperatures.

By Train
From Sapporo Station, take the train bound for Takikawa on the JR Hakodate Main Line. Get off at Takikawa Station and transfer to the JR Nemuro Main Line bound for Furano. When you get off at Furano Station, we recommend taking a taxi (10 minutes).

By Bus
From Asahikawa Airport, take the Furano Bus Lavender. It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

By Car
Take the Hokkaido Expressway from Sapporo IC, get off at Takikawa IC, and then take Route 38. You will arrive in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Alternatively, take the Hokkaido Expressway from Sapporo IC, get off at Mikasa IC, and proceed via the Bibai-Furano Line. This route takes about 2 hours.

The total area of the slopes is 194 hectares! It consists of two areas: Furano Zone and Kitanomine Zone. There are 28 courses in total, with the longest run at 4,000 meters.

The Furano Zone has the Furano Ropeway, which can hold up to 101 people, and you can climb to the summit all at once. Enjoy the spectacular panoramic view along the way. In the future, it will be operated with a limited number of people and ventilation to prevent the spread of Covid.

If you feel confident in skiing, then you want to try the Kitanomine Zone. There are slopes for beginners that are great for families. It is a wide course, suitable for practice. There is a giant course for intermediate users that is ideal for gaining additional skill and confidence.

The premium zone for advanced skiers is an uncompacted snow powder course that is open for a limited time. Because the snow conditions vary from day to day, it will only be open when the ski area decides it is safe.

The Kitanomine Zone has the Kitanomine Gondola that climbs to the top of the mountain, but please note that there is no beginner course available here.

The best part of the lift tickets at Furano Ski Resort is the wide variety available! If you want to ski just for a short time, you can choose a lift ticket that suits your needs, such as a 3-hour or a 5-hour ticket.

You can buy a lift ticket for the Furano Ski Resort in advance online or at the ticket counter on the day of purchase.

How to Purchase Online
Purchase from the Webket online ticket app or website or the link below. It can be purchased until 11 p.m. the day before. You can only pay by credit card. At the first purchase, you will receive and use an IC card that will be redeemed as a lift ticket at the ticket counter.

If you charge the IC card, you can use it again. At the time of the first purchase, 500 yen will be added as a deposit for the IC card in addition to the lift ticket fee, but it will be refunded if you return the lift ticket. Please check the Furano Ski Resort official website (English available) for details.

How to Purchase at the Ticket Counter
Lift tickets can also be purchased on the day at the lift ticket office inside the ski resort.

There are three lift ticket booths: one at the foot of the Furano Ropeway Station, a Kitanomine Daiichi Express Lift ticket booth, and a Kitanomine Ticket Center lift ticket booth. At the counters, a Pocketalk translator is installed for convenience.

At the Furano Ski Resort, lift tickets are free for elementary school students! You can pick up a free lift ticket at the ticket office. Preschool children are prohibited from using the lift, so be sure to have a guardian accompany them.

At the Furano Ski Resort, English-speaking staff may be available at the four rental shops, depending on availability.

There are a variety of rental plans – you are bound to find the right one for you! The Full Set is a plan where you can rent a complete set of ski equipment such as a helmet, goggles, ski wear, boots, and skis or snowboard so that you can enjoy solo skiing. It is recommended for those who want to enjoy skiing while traveling or who want to travel with less luggage.

Skiwear and snowboard sets are recommended for those who want to rent only certain items, such as skis or boots, separately.

Each rental plan has a 3-hour plan or an option to rent for several days. Be sure to choose the best plan according to your needs.

Full Package Set (Ski & Wear Set + Gloves + Goggles) Price Examples
・5 hours: 14,700 yen for adults, 11,200 yen for children (elementary school age and under)
・1 day: 16,400 yen for adults, 12,400 yen for children (elementary school age and under)
・2 days: 25,200 yen for adults, 18,200 yen for children (elementary school age and under)

Standard Ski (with poles) or Snowboard Price Examples
・5 hours: 4,600 yen for adults, 2,800 yen for children (elementary school age and under)
・1 day: 5,300 yen for adults, 3,200 yen for children (elementary school age and under)
・2 days: 9,100 yen for adults, 5,300 yen for children (elementary school age and under)

For more details on pricing and other rental plans, please check the official website.

For beginners or those looking to improve their skills, why not try the ski school at Furano Ski Resort? The "Furano Kimura Kozen Ski School," led by alpine skier Kozen Kimura, who has competed in four Olympic Games (starting at 19,000 yen for 2 hours), offers a variety of lessons. Additionally, the "Furano Pandalman Kids School" offers group lessons for children (starting at 17,000 yen for 2 hours).

There are also several schools that offer lessons in English. The "Furano Snow School" has foreign staff members and provides lessons in English.

Waku Waku Family Snow Land is a great place for parents and children to play together! This is an area where you can enjoy activities other than skiing.

Snow activities such as snow rafting (1 time 800 yen), snowmobile (1 lap course 1,500 yen, excusrion 4,000 yen), snow banana boat (short course 800 yen, long course 1,200 yen) are available for small children to enjoy.

They also offer walking skis, traditional Japanese kanjiki snowshoes, and sleigh rentals, so you can still enjoy the snow even when the weather is bad and you cannot ski.

For families looking to have fun together, "FURANO Snow Land" is highly recommended! This area offers a variety of activities beyond skiing. Snow activities suitable for young children include snow rafting (1,500 yen per person per ride), snowmobiles (3,000 yen for a one-lap course, 4,000 yen for a two-lap course), and snow banana boats (1,500 yen per person per ride).

Additionally, you can rent equipment for cross-country skiing, traditional snowshoes, and sleds. Even on days when skiing isn't possible due to weather, there's plenty of fun to be had!

Stop in if you are hungry! There are restaurants in each area of Furano Zone and Kitanomine Zone. At the Furano Zone, there is a Ramen Corner where you can eat ramen made by Chinese cuisine chefs, and Restaurant Downhill.

Downhill has a menu of mainly Western food. The “Sanroku White Curry” is excellent. On sunny days, you can dine while enjoying spectacular views of the Furano Basin.

In the Kitanomine Zone, there is a building called Kitanomine Terminal. On the first floor, you can find Restaurant KITA YATAI, and on the second floor, there is Restaurant UMI YAMA KITA. Each shop offers a variety of fare such as curry and spaghetti, as well as standard items such as alcohol and snacks.

The Furano Ski Resort has two hotels: Shin Furano Prince Hotel and Furano Prince Hotel.

We recommend the Shisai no Yu onsen at the Shin Furano Prince Hotel if you enjoy soaking in hot springs. Shisai no Yu is characterized by its smooth-textured water, which bubbles up from a source located 1,010 meters underground.

In addition, there is the shopping area Ningle Terrace which consists of 15 log houses nearby where you can enjoy shopping for craftworks inspired by nature.

(This article was originally published in December 2021 and updated in December 2024. See official websites for latest information.)