Furano, Hokkaido's flower country
You have seen the purple lavender photos and wonder if getting there is worth the effort.
Choosing your region
Asahikawa, Furano and Biei as one region
Three famous names sit close on the map, and you want to know the order that makes sense.
Treat Furano, Biei and Asahikawa as one line on the map. Move in one direction, check which trains run in your season and decide whether to base in Sapporo or stay a night in the region. This page gives the order and the cautions.
What is the best order of stops?
Run the stops in one direction so no leg doubles back.
- Sapporo to Furano.
- Furano to Biei.
- Biei to Asahikawa.
- Asahikawa back to Sapporo, or onward.
JR Hokkaido’s route for when the Lavender Express is not running runs the other way: Sapporo to Asahikawa, then Biei, then Furano, then back via Asahikawa 1. Either direction works.
How long do the legs take?
Sapporo to Furano takes about 2 hours on the seasonal Furano Lavender Express, then about 40 minutes by local train between Furano and Biei 2. The Biei area is accessible by train, bus and car from Asahikawa and Furano, and from Asahikawa Airport the Lavender-go bus to Biei takes about fifteen minutes 3.
Read Furano and Biei by train, bus, car or taxi for the choices.
What are the seasonal caveats?
The Lavender Express is seasonal, so check whether it runs on your dates 2. Early lavender blooms usually start in late June, peak in mid-July and late fields last into early August, with some cutting back from August 4. See lavender season in Furano.
Local buses are not covered by the Sapporo-Furano Area Pass 5, so carry yen. Farm Tomita opens 9:30 to 16:30 and does not allow admission outside opening hours 6.
Where should you base yourself?
Two shapes work. Base in Sapporo and visit as day trips, or stay a night in the region for slower mornings. Compare them in Furano and Biei as a base for flowers and the eight-day Furano and Biei plan.
What about the scenery stops?
Biei’s rolling roads and ponds suit a slow loop by taxi or car. Our Biei patchwork road and Blue Pond guide explains the visit. Asahikawa adds the zoo; see the Asahikawa page.
What should Malaysian travellers remember?
Hokkaido summers are cooler than Malaysia, but evenings can be cool in the fields. Plan halal and dietary needs ahead because rural meals are limited. See our Furano page for the region.
If Furano and Biei are on your Hokkaido list, send us your month and whether you want a night in the region. We set the order and check the seasonal trains and buses.
Keep planning
Eight days in Hokkaido: Furano and Biei
You want the Furano and Biei countryside without moving hotels every night.
Furano or Biei as a flower-season base
You picture purple fields and now need a bed that makes getting to them easy.
Furano and Biei without a car
You want the flower fields and hills, but you do not want to drive in Hokkaido.
Furano's lavender season and what to plan
You have seen the purple fields in photos and want a visit that does not depend on luck.
Hokkaido, planned around your family
You picture cool air and open land, and want it to be easy for everyone.
Questions travellers ask
In what order should I visit Asahikawa, Furano and Biei?
A simple order runs Sapporo, Furano, Biei, Asahikawa and back, so each leg moves in one direction. When the seasonal Lavender Express does not run, JR Hokkaido's route goes via Asahikawa. We choose the direction from your flight and the season.
Do I need to stay overnight in the region?
Not necessarily. JR Hokkaido's own model course stays in Sapporo and visits Furano, Biei, Asahiyama Zoo and Otaru as day trips. Stay a night in the region if you want early or late light on the fields and a slower pace.
When is the best month for Furano and Biei?
For lavender, late June to early August, with the peak in mid-July, according to JR Hokkaido. Some fields cut back from August. Outside summer the region still suits calm travel, but the Lavender Express is seasonal and some services change.
Sources
Figures are checked against these sources and dated so you can see how current they are.
- JR Hokkaido, Furano model courseaccessed 2026-10-20
- JR Hokkaido, Furano model courseaccessed 2026-10-20
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Bieiaccessed 2026-10-20
- JR Hokkaido, Furano model courseaccessed 2026-10-20
- JR Hokkaido, Furano model courseaccessed 2026-10-20
- Farm Tomita official siteaccessed 2026-10-20
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