Your Family-Friendly 4D3N Furano, Hokkaido Itinerary, Sorted

Every Singaporean worth their red passport is aware of what a wonderful destination Japan is. Whether you fly for the food, the beautiful scenery, or just for the excellent exchange rate, chances are you’ll likely run into quite a few people you know when you’re in Japan. For families, Japan is a great destination, thanks to the safety, cleanliness and their relatively good nature in putting up with rowdy children. With overtourism and crowding rampant in some areas, it’s worth looking a little further afield and finding fresh new places to visit. Enter Furano, Hokkaido.

Furano is not a “new” destination by any means. Its spring flower fields followed by summer lavender fields are quite famous and make for gorgeous photos. Lesser known is the powder skiing in winter, which tends to be overlooked for more “famous” destinations like Niseko or Hakuba. 

However Furano has lots to offer off the slopes as well and makes for a great family destination – no matter what time of year you choose to visit. So here are a few things to know before you book those plane tickets.

Getting To Furano

Furano is about a two-hour drive from New Chitose Airport in Sapporo. Singapore Airlines flies direct but you can also take ANA and transfer at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. Transfers are seamless and easy to make with children though you will need to pick up your luggage first before sending it on.

To get around Hokkaido easily, it is best to consider self-driving, which is relatively easy and affordable to do. Many car rentals will also rent car seats and come with English GPS. Roads are wide and drivers considerate. Just make sure you have a valid international driver’s license. If you decide not to drive, hotels can arrange taxis and in the Spring/Summer, cycling is also an option. The benefit of car rentals is you can also rent car seats for children which makes everything more reliable. With the travel time by plane and car, it would be best to factor in half a day for travelling both to and from the area.

DAY 1: Cycle through nature, shop for local crafts and indulge in delicious food

Start the day with a leisurely cycling tour to explore the surrounding, beautiful areas. If your family is keen, you can opt for the three-hour or five-and-a-half-hour tour that includes a visit to a local, working farm where guests can explore the wide array of produce that grows in the area. Furano is known as the agricultural heart of Hokkaido, Japan’s second-biggest island. This means all year-round foodies can enjoy the freshest of produce and sample a selection of excellent meats and vegetables produced in the region.

If you have young children, you won’t want to tire them out all in one day. Get back to your hotel and head to Ningle Terrace near the Furano Prince Hotel where craft shops and cafes await. There’s even an exciting-looking rope course nearby that children will definitely beg you to let them try.

For a dinner of local delights, try Furanoya, which specialises in curry soup that comes in varying degrees of spicy. The soup is more hearty and warm than it is spicy and scary, so even young kids should be able to take level three (purportedly it ranges as high as level 30).

Of course, a day in Japan would not be complete without a visit to a konbini. Seicomart is a chain of convenience stores only found in Hokkaido and is the perfect stop for an evening treat. Whether you’re thinking of some single-sized charcuterie servings, or maybe a delicious butter ice cream (no joke, it’s really delicious), this is the place to go.

DAY 2: Beautiful flowers and delicious natural produce straight from the farm

Farm Tomita is a must-visit in Spring-Summer when different varieties of flowers are in bloom from April through to October. The mild weather will make it perfect for exploring on foot and it's easy to spend a couple of hours to half a day here. There are three cafes on the farm which make for a great light lunch or snack. Potpourri House and Cafe Rene are closed during the winter, while Hanabito House Rene is closed during the summer so take note of these dates when visiting. Stop by Tomita Melon as well while you’re in the area to sample the region’s famous melons with views of Mount Tokachi in the distance. The melon soft serve is not to be missed.

Since you’re already going in the right direction, make it a driving day trip and head up to Biei, Furano’s neighbouring city. Filled with natural wonders and kid-friendly activities, it’s worth spending half a day in Biei to see the famous Shirogane Blue Pond and visit the Shikisaino Oka Alpaca Farm to get up close and personal with these cute, furry creatures. Be sure to stop by the Biei Free-Range Dairy Farm to say hello to the four species of cows roaming the vast fields and providing delicious milk for a wide range of products (which you can buy, of course).

There’s plenty to eat in Biei if snacking hasn’t filled you up. Restaurant Asperges is well-known for its delicious cuisine that uses fresh produce from around Biei. Food is very vegetable-based, taking advantage of the area’s agricultural prowess, but mains allow you to sample the region’s tasty pork as well. For a more casual option, consider trying Junpei, known for its katsu and curry.

DAY 3: Cheese, a farmer’s market and time to go shopping

Just outside of Furano town, head to the Furano Cheese Factory. It might be slightly on the outskirts of the city but is worth a trip to check out the dairy products that the area is known for. Plus it opens early at 9am which is great for families who like an early start. Hokkaido milk and butter are famous and the cheese is excellent as well. If you’re there, and the season is right, you might as well check out the area’s famous “One Cherry Tree” down the road from the cheese factory. As the name suggests, this lone cherry blossom tree is quite a sight against the mountains.

Enjoy lunch at the cheese factory where fresh pizza makes for a tasty light meal or head to Cafe Goryo, near the famous cherry tree which is also a scenic and delicious place for a meal. Then head back into town where Furano Marche plays home to a farmer’s market (closed on Tuesdays) where you can pick up fresh, in-season produce (as well as yummy, local potato chips!). There’s also a cafe, crepes place and a souvenir shop in the area where you can pick up omiyage (gifts) to take home. There is also a big Satudora in town which is perfect to get all your Japanese drugstore needs from famous brands like Kose to more local finds you can’t get overseas. They also offer tax-free shopping there so it's worth checking out.

End your evening with dinner at Ramen Shina Tora, a quiet favourite amongst locals that has definitely caught the attention of visitors. Its black garlic ramen is delicious as is the tsukemen. English menus make it easy to order what you want.

DAY 4: Explore nature and dig into more desserts

Drive half an hour out of Furano to Minami Furano which plays home to Lake Kanayama Forest Park. In the winter, this lake freezes over and is a popular place for ice fishing for the local smelt. In the spring and summer, it is still worth a visit for kayaking, walks or cycling around the lake and generally enjoying the scenery.

A short drive from the lake is Hotel Larch which is styled like a log house and has a great lunch (and a great view of the surrounding mountains) on offer. If you have time, consider a drive to Mont-bell, a popular Japanese brand for skiing and outdoor activities. There’s a big store in Minami Furano in a compound that includes a few small eateries and, even better, an outdoor playground for kids. When we visited, the area was under renovation but the store was still open (and the playground still looked enticing).

Take it easy on your last day with a stop at Furano Delice near the ski slopes. This gorgeous little cafe is famous for its delicious cheesecakes and other delicacies. 

Winter activities in Furano

As a year-round destination, keep Furano on your radar when planning your winter holidays as well. The powder-soft snow in the region competes with Niseko and Kiroro but is much less crowded and therefore great for beginner skiers.

Beyond skiing, families will love the opportunities winter brings to indulge in activities you’d never otherwise get to experience. This includes ice fishing, snowshoeing through pristine forests, and experiencing Kan Kan Mura, a mini-festival area for kids located near the Furano Prince Hotel where kids can go sledding, ride ski mobiles, and indulge in other snow activities. You can even go hot air ballooning in the region – a winter-only activity as the farming fields are in use during the rest of the year for crops.

One activity unlike any other is the cabbage picking experience organised by tour company Urespa at Endo Farms, a third-generation farm that has been in production for almost a century. Taking advantage of the weather, Endo stores their cabbage in the snow, which tourists are welcome to dig up and learn more about. After which, a short trek to a tent results in a delicious, freshly prepared stew of cabbage, homegrown potatoes, and homemade sausages. 

Where to stay

A lot of the hotels in Furano are geared towards skiing visitors. A family-friendly option would be Nozo Hotel, an international boutique hotel. The hotel prides itself in having staff who can easily communicate with foreign travellers and offers a range of rooms that suit families and single travellers alike. Their family rooms (either with a queen and a set of bunk beds, or a queen with a pull-out couch)  can accommodate up to four guests quite comfortably.

Uniquely for the area, the hotel also has a kids' playroom which is an easy way to keep the younger ones entertained while you relax after a day out (or need to do laundry nearby). Their all-day dining restaurant, Shirakaba uses local produce, allowing you to sample the best of Furano with its shabu shabu offerings as well as pork hamburg katsu, two great options.

What’s more, many of the activities mentioned above can be organised through the hotel, with the staff being able to advise what is most suitable for what age group where kids are concerned. The hotel also offers ample parking spaces should you be self-driving on your holiday.