The peak seasons of Furano

Kaku Place Furano

Furano, a resort town conveniently located in the middle of Hokkaido, is known for its two peak tourist seasons.

In winter, the 470 acres of ski terrain offers something for all skill levels. The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup and Snowboarding World Cup have both been hosted in Furano a total of 12 times.

Popular destination

Summer is the true peak season with tourists coming from all over the world to enjoy the endless fields of lavender, sunflowers, poppies, lilies and a rainbow of other flowers. The Tomita Farm in Naka-Furano is the most popular destination, although there are many other flower farms throughout the Furano Valley to explore.

Day trips to the Biei to visit the spectacular “Blue Pond” as well as the famous trees dotting its rolling hills are usually on most tourists’ itineraries.

Furano was the site for a popular TV drama in the 1980s called “Kita no Kuni Kara.” Japanese fans continue to flock to the region to see where their favorite scenes were filmed.

The locals take a lot of pride in their town. Furano is a welcoming destination that offers an authentic Japanese experience for its tourists.

Shirogane or “Blue Pond” near Biei

Reasonable land prices

Over the past few years, forward-thinking investors have started buying property in Furano as land prices are reasonable.

Kitanomine is the main ski village that starts from the base of the main gondola and gently slopes down towards downtown Furano. A new hotel called Fenix Furano directly across the street from the main gondola is currently under construction by Hokkaido Tracks Resort Properties and it will open this June.

The Hong Kong-based developer, Zekkei Properties, successfully sold the entire project in a short period and they are planning a second hotel now.

Nearby in the quiet Shimogoryo neighborhood is a seven-unit boutique condominium under construction, also by Hokkaido Tracks Resort Properties. It will open in July to take advantage of the peak summer season and only a few units are still available, with prices start from JPY36 million (about P16 million).

An upcoming project by Metropoly Holdings called Kaku Place is a 16-unit condominium conveniently located in the heart of Kitanomine Village. Sales are starting soon and the Hong Kong-based developer was a senior executive at Shangri-La Hotels.

A rainbow of flowers for summer

International developer

Hokkaido Tracks Resort Properties was the first international developer in Niseko that started in 2003 and had opened a full-service office in Furano about three years ago.

Real estate sales have been strong and innovative developers are lining up for the project management expertise that Hokkaido Tracks is well known for.

While Kitanomine is still the most popular location for investors, many are finding incredible value in downtown Furano, the nearby winery region, and Naka-Furano which is surrounded by beautiful flower fields. Almost all areas enjoy panoramic views of the Furano Valley and Tokachi Mountain Range.

Family-friendly holidays, investment opportunities

Lavender and flower fields in Furano, Japan

Tourists visit Furano throughout the year but the peak summer season in July and August is when the flower fields are in full bloom. During the winter, January and February offer the best skiing conditions.

There are many local festivals but the Furano Belly Button Festival at the end of July is the largest and it gets its name because Furano is considered Hokkaido’s belly button due to the central location.

If you are looking for a family-friendly holiday or investment opportunities then Furano should be on your list. The team at Hokkaido Tracks Resort Properties would be happy to speak with you about your requirements and make recommendations based on their unrivaled market knowledge.

Scott Tovey leads the real estate sales team in Furano and can be reached at [email protected] or +81-80-3324-9605