72 Hours in Furano: A Summer Itinerary

Set in the heart of Hokkaido's Powder Triangle, Furano spends winter as a ski town and summer as something else entirely: rolling purple fields, turquoise ponds, and produce so good you’d be dreaming of it back home. 

The lavender season pulls in crowds, and the fields, roads, and cafés get busy from late June through August. But with a little planning around the timing, Furano in summer still does deliver one of the most rewarding few days you can spend on the island.

Furano’s highlights fall into three areas that you wouldn’t want to miss — the town itself, the lavender belt in Biei and Kamifurano just to the north, and the mountains beyond. Here's how to spend three unforgettable days here.

Base yourself well and the rest falls into place. Fenix Furano and Fenix West both sit in the Kitanomine zone with everything from compact suites to multi-bedroom apartments and penthouses. 

If you’re feeling a bit hungry after that long flight, head down to Ronin Coffee for a quick bite and caffeine fix. If you have extra time before check-in, Furanoya – a small Japanese curry shop - is exactly the kind of restorative bowl you’ll need after the journey.

Once you’ve dropped your bags, settle in. Before dinner, head to Ningle Terrace, an artisan village threaded through the forest that turns magical once the lights come on. Wooden cottages house woodworkers, candle makers, and paper artists, and there’s a cosy café for baked milk and cake. It's only minutes from the hotel, an ideal start to an arrival day. 

For dinner, walk over to SHIRONA Gyoza, a popular spot where every dumpling is folded by hand. The walls are signed by travellers from all over, with enough space left for you to leave a mark. One thing to check before you go: it’s walk-in only and closed on Thursdays, so if you land on a Thursday, save it for another night. Looking for an alternative? Shinobi and Masajin both take bookings and grill local beef.

This is your big day out, so start reasonably early. Everything today sits in the cluster from north to east — roughly an hour-plus from the hotel — but once you're there, the stops line up neatly, with no doubling back.

Begin with the lavender farm, about 20 minutes north of Furano. Farm Tomita boasts endless rows of lavender and rainbow flower beds with free entry and a taste of the famous lavender soft serve. It opens at 9 AM; arrive early to get ahead of the tour buses, because this is the busiest spot in the region at peak bloom (late June to early August). 

From the fields, drive northeast into the Biei area for the afternoon. Shirahige Waterfall — a quick, photogenic stop where spring water spills bright blue through the rock. Then continue a few minutes to Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike), whose surreal turquoise water and bare standing trees draw a crowd for good reason. Tip: Grab the blue-hued soft serve from the stand for another photogenic moment.

Round out the afternoon with a drive along Biei’s patchwork panorama roads — the rolling, rollercoaster-like hills and wide-open farm views that this stretch of Hokkaido is famous for. 

If there is enough time and if you’re feeling active, hikers can add Mount Tokachidake to the day — the highest drivable point in Hokkaido and a summer hiking base, with everything from viewpoint trails to longer alpine routes. An optional add-on for those who want the climb.

Head back to town for dinner at Mangoo, a Korean-style yakiniku spot where you grill premium local beef at the table. It's a peak-season favourite, so book ahead. If it's full, Lantana is another izakaya alternative (also reservations only).

Keep your final day light — no long drives standing between you and the airport. With most departures routing back through New Chitose or Asahikawa Airport, you'll want to leave Furano by early afternoon, so build the morning around something close and relaxed.

Furano Winery is just five minutes north of the hotel, on a hill overlooking the town. The self-guided tour is free, and be sure to join the tasting — a low-key, scenic way to spend a final morning. 

If you've still got an appetite before you go, Furano’s food scene rewards one last meal — whether it's a final bowl of soup curry, a wood-fired pizza at Pizza Zizi, or Le Gaulois for a French menu to switch things up. Then point the car toward the airport, with one more soft serve in hand.

Ready to plan your Furano summer? Let Nisade put it together for you.