Furano Ski Resort

Furano Ski Resort (富良野スキー場), also known as Furano Ski Area, is a resort in Furano, Hokkaido, Japan, owned and operated by Prince Hotels. The resort is notable for its long-standing association with the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup. In recent years, it has hosted the mid-February Snowboarding World Cup. Recently, interest from international winter sports enthusiasts, particularly from Australia, has led to a yearly rise in tourist numbers.

Ski season
The resort generally operates from the end of November to the beginning of May.

Accommodation
Accommodation is available in three main areas: at the base of the Furano Zone, at the base of the Kitanomine Zone, and in downtown Furano. The base of the Kitanomine Zone offers a variety of lodging options within a short walk of the lifts, including hotels, pensions, western-style self-contained condominiums, and backpacker lodgings. In the Furano Zone, the only accommodation adjacent to the lifts is the ski-in ski-out New Furano Prince Hotel.

Transport
The public bus service, known as “Lavender,” operates from the New Furano Prince Hotel, passing through the Kitanomine resort area and then into downtown Furano. Additionally, a night Resort Shuttle Bus runs from the New Furano Prince Hotel to downtown Furano, also via Kitanomine.

Airports

 * Asahikawa Airport is the closest Airport to Furano. From Asahikawa Airport bus, “Lavender”, is available. This is a public bus service and therefore cannot be paid in advance. Alternatively Hokkaido Resort Liner operate a reserved seat service.
 * New Chitose Airport: From New Chitose Airport Hokkaido Resort Liner operate a bus service several times a day directly to Furano. This bus must be booked in advance and only operates in winter.

Railways
Those coming from Asahikawa may take the Furano Line directly to Furano Station. Those coming from the New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, and Takikawa areas can go by way of the JR Nemuro Main Line, and there is also a low-transit time Direct Limited Express Train that runs seasonally from Sapporo.

Buses
A bus route operated by Furano Bus Systems known as the Lavender Express runs between Asahikawa Station, Asahikawa Airport, and Furano Station. The transit time from Asahikawa Station to the ski area is around one and a half hours. From the airport it takes roughly seventy minutes, and from those coming up from the town below, it is ten minutes from the train station. There are also direct routes running from various hotels inside the cities of Asahikawa and Sapporo, however these only run during the winter months. The Northliner, an intercity bus operating between Furano and Obihiro, stops at Kyokai Byoin (協会病院), the large hospital in the heart of the city. A bus from Shimukappu also runs, however it avoids the ski resort area altogether, only going as far as Furano Station.

Automobiles

 * National Highway 237, running very near the Asahikawa Airport, connects Asahikawa and Furano, reducing travel times and commuting stress. From New Chitose Airport and the Greater Sapporo Area, Hokkaido Prefectural Roads serve the needs of the busy traveller.

Ski slopes

 * Furano Ski Resort is divided into two areas, the Furano Zone and the Kitanomine Zone. The 24 courses are serviced by a series of lifts and gondolas.