Furano Ski Area

Furano boasts over 950 vertical metres of skiing, making it a popular spot for the FIS Ski World Cup. Furano has hosted the Ski and Snowboard World Cup as many as 12 times, more than anywhere else in Japan.

Lifts operate from the end of November to the beginning of May and with over eight metres of some of the lightest and driest powder snow falling on 24 runs, Furano offers some of the best skiing in Japan.
10 lifts, including Japan’s fastest cable car that whisks 101 skiers up the hill at a speed of 10 metres per second, provide easy access to over 25 kilometres of runs. The mountain’s great variety of terrain offers runs suited to all levels skiers with a well-balanced 40/40/20 ratio of beginner, intermediate and advanced runs.

Leave it to Japanese efficiency to ensure that the runs are groomed to perfection each day with a number of black runs left ungroomed for powder lovers. Possibly the most attractive point of the mountain is the lack of crowds, which means there is no waiting in line for lifts, and fresh powder that fell the night before is still around the next evening for laying fresh tracks into.

Furano gets little wind and on clear days, you are able to see as far as Mt. Asahidake, the highest peak in Hokkaido, as well as the incredible smoking volcano located across the valley.

In mid-season when temperatures really drop, you may even experience diamond dust where the little moisture in the air freezes and sparkles like thousands of diamonds spinning around you.

Furano also operates Japan’s only free ski host programme. English speaking locals volunteer their time each morning to show visitors around the mountain and provide valuable information about the city such as where to get the best food after a day of skiing.

Two ski schools operate in Furano, including one run by four-time Olympian Kiminobu Kimura.

Furano has a conservative out of bounds policy and skiers are asked to refrain from going off-piste. However, Furano’s central location makes it a great base for accessing some of Hokkaido’s best off-piste and backcountry terrain. Daily tours run to Kamui Ski Links and Tomamu where the Furano Lift Pass can be used for a day of skiing (conditions apply) and backcountry tour companies operate out of Furano taking skiers up to the active volcanoes of Mt. Asahidake and Mt. Tokachidake.

Furano Ski Area Resort Information

• Vertical Rise: 958m
• Elevation: 1209m
• Number of Trails : 24
• Number of Lifts : 10
• Longest Run : 4km
• Lift capacity : 15,600 passengers per hour
• Terrain Park / Pipe :
  Half pipe, board cross course & straight jump table
  (Mid. Jan.~ end of Mar.)
• Average snow depth : 2.5m
  
  

• Furano Zone Approx. Opening date : November 22
• Furano Zone Approx. Closing date : May 5
• Kitanomine Zone Approx. Opening date : Early - Mid Dec.
• Kitanomine Zone Approx. Closing date : Last weekend of Mar
• Beginner lift % : 40
• Intermediate % : 40
• Advanced % : 20
• Expert % : N/A
• Night Skiing : Available on both zones until 9pm daily
• Nearest Airport : Asahikawa
• Nearest City : Asahikawa
• Nearest Train Station : JR Furano Station
• Best way to access Resort : Bus from Asahikawa Airport; 50 minutes. Bus from New Chitose Airport; 3hrs
• Car parking facilities/Charge? : Free car parking available
• On Mountain facilities : 4 restaurants, and many cafes and bars close to the ski area
• Accommodation : 6 Hotels, 30 B&Bs and Pensions, 10 Japanese style lodges, 1 Backpackers
• Town Population : 25,000 residents throughout the year
• Ski Area to downtown : 1.5km
• Furano Zone to Kitanomine Zone : 3km
• Furano Zone to Downtown : 4.5km

The Furano Snow School offers ski and snowboard lessons in English .Reservations can be made at the GF of the Kitanomine Gondola Terminal next to the Furano Biei International Tourism Centre and at the reservation desk in the New Furano Prince Hotel.
For more details

On Mountain dining & Facilities