Furano

About Furano
Furano Ski Resort is located in the middle of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. It is easy to get there from the airports at Sapporo and Asahikawa. The resort consists of a friendly, local village and a wealth of ski slopes just 10 min from the town centre. Here is something for skiers of any level and plenty of great after-ski opportunities.

Furano Ski Resort
Furano Ski Resort is the third-largest winter sports resort on Hokkaido. It is very well-run and not too overcrowded. The resort boasts a height difference of over 950 meters as well as a snow depth of more than 8 meters. The snow here is one of the lightest and driest powders in the world. There are 10 different lift systems starting in late November and operating until the beginning of May. Furano Ropeway, Japan's fastest ski lift, takes up to 100 people at a time and drives up the mountain at 10 meters per second. This allows quick and easy access to over 25 kilometres of slopes in the area. As the mountains around Furano have such different terrain, there are pistes for all skiers - approx. 40% for beginners, 40% for trained and 20% for more advanced skiing. The trails are prepared every morning with typical Japanese thoroughness. Of course, some of the most difficult slopes are not prepared for the sake of those who love the powder! One of the best things about these difficult slopes is that not many others use them. So there is rarely a queue at the lifts for the newly fallen powder snow.

Other landmarks in Furano
Furano offers many different accommodation options and there are plenty of restaurants, pubs and karaoke bars for evening entertainment. Remember to enjoy a bath in one of the many outdoor hot springs with the most beautiful views of the valley and mountains. Furano's tourist office regularly organizes cultural events such as music and dance performances, tea ceremony and taiko drum lessons. The city also has Japan's only “Free Ski Hosts” - English-speaking residents of the area, providing free visitor guidance. They guide visitors around the hills and inside the town, and you can also get good tips and advice from them. There are two ski schools in Furano, one of which is run by former Olympic skier Kiminobu Kimura.