Category: Sightseeing
Tomita Farm
Admission | Free |
Opening Hours | 8:30 - 18:00 |
Closed | - |
Contact | 016-739-3939 https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/ |
Notes | Flower viewing, souvenir shops, photography spot, parking available, cafe on site |
Location / Getting There | ✸ From Asahikawa Airport ~ 45 minute drive via National Route 237 ✸ From New Chitose Airport ~ 2 hours 30 minute drive via Higashi-Koukan IC on the Higashi Expressway ✸ From Sapporo city ~ 2 hours 30 minute drive via Hokkaido Expressway Mikasa IC 15号 Kisenkita, Nakafurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido 071-0704 |
Tomita Farm is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Furano, and is one of the top spots during the spring and summer. It is a huge area that is divided into different fields of stunning flowers, souvenir shops and food stalls. Whether getting to the farm via car, bus, or train you can spend a couple of hours here enjoying the great sights! The flower season starts as early as mid April and goes until early October. The different flowers have different blooming times, though the best times to visit the park are around late June through July.
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The most prominent flowers at the Tomita Farm are the lavender fields which bloom early and are best seen early July. The lavender field here was the first lavender field in Japan and was foundation for Tomita farm. The souvenirs and the numerous shops sell many lavender based products, from soap and scent packs to lavender ice cream! Apart from the lavender, Farm Tomita has various flower fields, a forest covered field, a herb & perennial garden, a greenhouse, and a birch forest. Take your time and enjoy the splendid views as each garden offers colorful beauty.
Getting to the farm by bus
The nearest bus stop is “Nakafurano” (Furano Bus). The Furano Bus (rapid lavender) does eight trips a day. For more information, click on this bus timetable. From Asahikawa station it takes 1 hour and 25 minutes and costs ¥780 one way. From Asahikawa airport it takes 48 minutes at ¥680 one way. The Chuo Bus from Sapporo runs ten times a day. Check here for the Sapporo bus timetable. From Sapporo to the Furano terminal it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes at ¥2,260 one way. From the Furano bus station you can take a taxi which is a fifteen minute ride, or you can take the local train to the farm.
Getting to the farm by train
The local station is “Lavender Hata Station” which is a 7 minute walk from Farm Tomita, or its a 25 minute walk from “Nakafurano Station”.
Sapporo Station ~ Takikawa Station ~ Furano Station ⇔ Nakafurano Station
- SapporoJR Limited Express Super Kamui and others (about 55 minutes)
- TakikawaJR Nemuro Main Line (about 1 hour 10 minutes)
- FuranoJR Furano Line (about 10 minutes)
- Nakafurano
One way ¥ 3,940
Sapporo Station ~ Asahikawa Station ⇔ Nakafurano Station
- SapporoJR Limited Express Super Kamui and others (about 1 hour 25 minutes)
- AsahikawaJR Furano Line (about 1 hour 5 minutes)
- Nakafurano
One way ¥ 5,470
Toyako Art Museum & Park
Admission | ¥300 adults ¥200 high school students ¥100 children Free for Toyako townspeople |
Opening Hours | 10:30 - 16:30 |
Closed | Mondays November to March |
Contact | 0142-87-2525 |
Notes | Local art gallery, parking available, wheelchair access |
Location / Getting There | Located on the northern side of Lake Toya. 3 minute walk from Toya Mizu-no-eki (Toyasui Station). 35-17 Tōyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 049-5721 |
The Toyako Art Museum is a small art museum that can be found by the northern shores of Lake Toya. The museum predominantly displays works from local artists. They have works from sculptors, painters, photographers, and writers. Inside the lovely rooms, there is a collection of first edition books, plus limited edition books from modern and contemporary writers. There is also works of the Village International Sculpture Biennale on display. Whilst looking at the artworks, viewers can also get nice views from the windows that look out directly across the lake.
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Throughout the year, the Toyako Art Museum holds a variety of events, including special exhibitions and mini concerts. Besides the Toyako Art Museum, you can also find a nice little park across the road. The park is home to a historical landmark, being the monument of Okubo Jinnojo. Okubo Jinnojo was a statesman, born in 1849 in Shikoku. He, among other things, used his money for pioneering Hokkaido, especially in the Toya district. To get to the museum and park, you can take a bus from Toyako Onsen bus terminal bound for Toya Mizu no Eki (Toyasui Station). Get off at Toyasui station and it’s a three minute walk from there.
Flower Land Kamifurano
Admission | Free |
Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 |
Closed | Winter |
Contact | 0167-45-9480 https://flower-land.co.jp/ |
Notes | Flower viewing, small shop, photography spot, parking available, cafe on site |
Location / Getting There | It's a 7 minute drive from KamiFurano train station. Located between Biei and Furano. Car is needed to get there. 27 号 Nishi 5 Senkita, Kamifurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido 071-0505 |
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Shikisai no Oka
Admission | Free (¥200 donation is preferred) |
Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 |
Closed | Winter |
Contact | 0166-95-2758 https://www.shikisainooka.jp// |
Notes | Flower viewing, small shop, photography spot, parking, alpaca farm inside, buggy rentals available |
Location / Getting There | It's a 12 minute drive from Biei station or a 30 minute drive from Furano train station 〒071-0473 Hokkaido, Kamikawa District, Biei, Shinsei, 第3 |
Shikisai no Oka (known as Shikisai Hill in English) is famous for its sweeping vistas and beautiful flower arrangements covering the hills on this huge expanse of land. Shikisai is open all year and is a great place to visit not only in the summer months but also during the winter. The flowers here are spectacular and a great place to get some photos. Throughout the year, there are different kinds of flowers that are in full bloom. In June, the poppies are out. In July (which is a great time to go), you can see nadeshiko, salvia, marigold, and stunning fields of sunflowers. September is best time for salvia and dahlia.
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To get round the fifteen hectares of these panoramic gardens, there are walking paths, but there are other options. You can take the popular tractor bus ride around the fields at a cost of ¥300 for children and ¥500 for adults. Alternatively, you can drive yourself around with a buggy ¥500 per person, or a four person cart hire which costs ¥2000 per fifteen minutes. Shikisai no Oka is also open during the winter from early December to early April. Here you can go on a fun snowmobile ride or tour, plus you can rent out sleds, or tubes and enjoy the slopes! Finally, Shikisai no Oka is also home to an alpaca farm. For ¥500 you can go in and feed and meet the dozen alpacas that make their home here.
Snowmobile rides | ¥1000 for 1km ride ¥5100 for 30 minute course |
Snowmobile tour 5km (30 minutes) | ¥7200 |
Snowmobile tour 10km (1 hour) | ¥18,000 one person ¥14,400 two people ¥12,000 three people |
Snowmobile tour 20km (2 hours) | ¥30,000 one person ¥24,000 two people ¥21,600 three people |
Snowmobile tour 30 - 40km (2.5 hours) | ¥42,000 one person ¥38,400 two people ¥33,600 three people |
Kamifurano View
Admission | Free |
Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
Contact | - |
Notes | Sightseeing spot , parking available, photography spot |
Location / Getting There | 12 minute drive from Kamifurano station on route 237 34 Go Nishi 9 Senkita, Kamifurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido 071-0509 |
The districts of Furano can be divided into three areas, Furano, Nakafurano, and Kamifurano. These areas are made up of beautiful farmlands, with mountain ranges on either side. It is in the northern district of Kamifurano, you can find a great photo spot that overlooks the valley with the Tokachidake mountain range in the background. This area can be found along route 237 on the right hand side. It is only a couple of minutes past a large ferris wheel and the Trick Art Museum. The ferris wheel and Trick Art Museum are also popular tourist attractions. There are also a couple of restaurants and coffee shops nearby.
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The lookout area has a wooden viewing platform and an information booth that offers local information to tourists. The view is exceptionally beautiful during the summer months from May to July as this is when the lavender is in full bloom. This sightseeing spot overlooks a large lavender field. This sightseeing spot is easily accessible on National Route 237, which runs from Kamifurano to Biei. This road is about eight kilometres from JR Kamifurano Station. If you get on the “Rapid Lavender” bus that connects Furano and Asahikawa, you can get off at the “Fukayama Pass” stop in front of you.
Sobetsu Waterfall
Admission | Free |
Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
Contact | - |
Notes | Sightseeing spot , parking available, short walking trail |
Location / Getting There | 12 minute drive from Toyako Onsen on the southern edge of Lake Toya Takinomachi, Machi Sobetsu, Usu District, Hokkaido 052-0101 |
Sobetsu Waterfall can be found on the southern edge of Lake Toya. It is a beautiful waterfall, where you can take a nice walk to its base. You can get some great photos and experience the waterfall up close. To get to the waterfall you need to follow the road down on route 2 keeping Sobetsu river on your left (coming from Toyako Onsen). At the bottom of the hill, make a U-turn and cross over the river and follow the small road keeping the river on your left. There will be parking on the left hand side. Once parked, simply follow the winding path until you reach the waterfall.
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The walk to the waterfall is a nice stroll and it takes about 8 minutes to get there. On the way you can enjoy the flowing stream and the surrounding trees creating a picturesque scene. The path crosses over the river twice over small bridges. On the way to the falls you can also find a small Buddhist Shrine on the left. With the falls in the background, this small shrine is also a good spot to get some photos. The path reaches a small wooden viewing platform about 10 metres from the falls. This wooden platform can get slippery so make sure you hold on to the rail. Sobetsu Waterfall is a beautiful spot to visit.