1. Travel from Sapporo to Furano by car

The best way to get from Sapporo to Furano is by car (rental car).
Driving around Hokkaido is a wonderful experience; you can enjoy the scenery and even encounter wild animals, making the journey itself enjoyable.

Why not rent a car and go for a drive?

There are two routes to Furano.

The shortest route is via Lake Katsurazawa (using the expressway: approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes).
[Dōō Expressway Sapporo IC → Mikasa IC → Hokkaido Prefectural Road 116 Iwamizawa-Mikasa Line → Bibai-Furano Line → National Route 38]

This is the shortest route from Sapporo to Furano.
The section from Sapporo IC to Mikasa IC is on the expressway, but you can also travel on regular roads without a significant difference in travel time.

This route involves a long stretch of mountain road with very few people, so there aren't many sights to see, but it's a common route for Hokkaido residents.

Once you leave the town of Mikasa, there are hardly any places to stop for convenience stores or restrooms until you reach Furano.
There are no gas stations nearby, so be sure to refuel beforehand.

During the lavender season in Furano, traffic can increase and congestion may occur.
Please note that this is a single road with no shortcuts.

<Tourist attractions near this route>

◆Mikasa City Museum

Many ammonite fossils, from small to large, are on display, and you can even touch the larger ones directly.
The museum also houses over 3,000 exhibits, including materials that provide insight into the history of Mikasa City, which flourished as a coal mining town.

Apparently, it has the largest collection of ammonite fossils in Japan.

[Mikasa City Museum]
Address: 1-212-1 Ikushunbetsu Nishikimachi, Mikasa City, Hokkaido
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
Closed days: Every Monday (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), public holidays during the winter season (December to March), and the New Year period (December 30th to January 4th).
URL:http://www.city.mikasa.hokkaido.jp/museum/

◆Mikasa Railway Village (Mikasa Railway Memorial Museum)

Photo by flickr: Hiro H. / Mikasa Railway Museum (outdoor)

The Mikasa Railway Museum is a museum centered around railways, preserving railway vehicles that were actually used in Hokkaido and other valuable historical materials.
A small steam locomotive is preserved in working order and operates on a 300-meter course, running back and forth.

This museum is a must-see for railway enthusiasts.

[Mikasa Railway Village (Mikasa Railway Memorial Museum)]
Address: 2-287 Horonai-cho, Mikasa City, Hokkaido
Opening hours: 9:5 am to XNUMX:XNUMX pm
Closed on: Every Monday (Winter closure: October 16th to April 15th)
URL:http://www.s-304.com

◆Katsurazawa Lake

This artificial lake, created by the Katsurazawa Dam, is now a quiet and desolate place, but in autumn, you can see magnificent autumn foliage.

Mikasa City previously attracted attention when the first fossil of a carnivorous dinosaur found in Japan, known as "Ezomikasa-ryu," was discovered there. This led to a town revitalization effort, and a reconstructed model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex was erected in the area.

Later, it was discovered that Ezomikasa-ryu was not a dinosaur but a reptile, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex model was removed.
Currently, I'm working as the mascot character for Mikasa City, promoting tourism.

◆Three-tiered waterfall

This natural spot features a river where water flows powerfully over three tiers of rocks.
The air is clean, and sometimes the spray from the waterfall reaches the observation deck, making it a place where you can soak up plenty of negative ions.

It's only about a one-minute walk from the parking lot, so it's easy to drop by, which is another attractive point.
The best time to visit is during the autumn foliage season.

[Three-tiered waterfall]
Address: Ashibetsu, Ashibetsu City, Hokkaido

A slightly longer route via Takikawa, Ashibetsu, and Akabira (approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes)
[Dōō Expressway Sapporo IC → Takikawa IC → National Route 38]

This route deviates significantly from the shortest distance and goes through Takikawa City.
Since you'll be taking the highway to Takikawa City, the time difference will only be about 20-30 minutes, but the driving distance will be considerably longer.

The opening of the bypass allows you to bypass Ashibetsu and Akabira town, making it possible to get to Furano faster than before.
The express bus from Sapporo to Furano takes this route because it passes through Ashibetsu and Akabira.

<Tourist attractions near this route>

◆Sunagawa Highway Oasis

The Sunagawa Service Area is located 5km before the Takikawa Interchange on the Hokkaido Expressway.
The "Sunagawa Highway Oasis" is located here, and it can be accessed directly from the expressway.

The vast grounds include the "Hokkaido Children's Land" and the "Highway Oasis Hall," which offers a wide variety of souvenirs and other items.

◆ Kitakaro Sunagawa Main Store

If you drive on the expressway, you'll pass it by, but if you exit at Takikawa IC and go back a little, you'll find the main store of Kitakaro, a famous confectionery shop in Hokkaido, along National Route 12.

While there is a store at the Sunagawa Highway Oasis that I mentioned earlier, the main store also has a café space and a gallery space.
Additionally, "Dog Garden" and "Kitakaro no Mori ~Moririn~" are located next door, making it a perfect place to take a short break.

[Kitakaro Sunagawa Main Store]
Address: 2-1, Nishi 1-jo Kita 19-chome, Sunagawa City, Hokkaido
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
URL:http://www.kitakaro.com

◆Iwase Ranch

Near the Kitakaro Sunagawa main store, which I mentioned earlier, if you drive a little through the fields, you'll find Iwase Farm's Italian restaurant, "RIVISTA".
This restaurant is also recommended, but across the street there is a shop where you can enjoy freshly made gelato.

It's so popular that there are long lines during the summer, so it's definitely a place you should visit.

[Iwase Farm]
Address: 237-6 Ichinosawa, Sunagawa City, Hokkaido
Opening Hours: Morning 9 Hours 00 Minutes ~ X PM XUMX Hours
Regular closing days: Open all year round (closed only during the New Year holidays)
URL:http://www.iwasefarm.co.jp

2. Take a bus from Sapporo to Furano.

If you're traveling from Sapporo to Furano by bus, you'll use the "Kōsoku Furano-go" express bus operated by Hokkaido Chuo Bus.
This route is a bit of a detour as it goes through towns like Akabira and Ashibetsu.

• Estimated time: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Fare: 2,260 yen one way, 4,150 yen round trip.
• Number of flights: 10 flights per day (※Summer 2018 schedule, excluding flights to and from Ashibetsu)
• Operating company: Hokkaido Chuo Bus Co., Ltd.
For more detailed information such as the time, please see below.CLICK HERE .

3. Take the JR train from Sapporo to Furano.

You can also travel from Sapporo to Furano by JR train. However, you cannot go directly to Furano; you will need to change trains at Takikawa Station. The journey time will vary depending on the time of day, but it will take approximately 2 hours and 4 minutes to 2 hours and 50 minutes if you use an express train.
- If using the limited express train (non-reserved seat) from Sapporo to Takikawa: 3,620 yen
- If you use only local (or rapid) trains for the entire journey from Sapporo to Takikawa to Furano: 2,490 yen (Note: Rapid trains are commonly used between Sapporo and Iwamizawa)
Please note that this route involves transfers and may take a long time.

[Typical JR Route]
Sapporo → JR Hakodate Main Line (50 minutes/using limited express train) → Takikawa → JR Nemuro Main Line (1 hour 10 minutes) → Furano

4. [Regular Sightseeing Bus] Introducing convenient regular sightseeing buses that allow you to sightsee from Sapporo to Furano.

A website where you can book local experience tours across JapanTravel Plus OneHere are some popular Furano bus tours featured in "[this section]".
▼To see all bus tours, please visit the Travel Plus One special page▼

Number 1 in popularity
Efficiently visit popular spots! Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond, Farm Tomita, and Shikisai-no-Oka (6,500 yen per person)
As the title suggests, this tour takes you to must-see tourist spots in Hokkaido, including the flower fields of Furano, the Blue Pond of Biei, and Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa.
A popular tour option is a course that covers all the must-see sights, perfect for first-time visitors to Hokkaido.

Popularity No. 2
Blue Pond, Farm Tomita, Biei Hills Tour & Lunch at Furano Winery Course♪ (7,980 yen per person)
This bus tour includes a set lunch featuring a hamburger steak and mini cheese fondue. A nice bonus is the 80-minute stay at Farm Tomita!

Popularity Rank 3
Hokkaido Panorama Road Course (Blue Pond, Asahiyama Zoo & Shikisai-no-Oka Course) (7,300 yen per person)
This tour is similar to our most popular course, but the biggest difference is the affordable price for elementary school students. If you're planning a bus tour with elementary school students, be sure to check it out!

Final thoughts

I've introduced several routes from Sapporo to Furano, but my top recommendation is traveling by car.

While there aren't many tourist spots along the way from Sapporo due to the mountainous terrain, having a car is extremely convenient for sightseeing in Furano once you arrive.

However, during long weekends in lavender season, traffic congestion may occur in some areas, so it's a good idea to plan ahead and leave early.
Even with traffic congestion, in Hokkaido, as long as you check the conditions of the expressways, you'll be fine.

I highly recommend driving around Furano and creating some wonderful memories.

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