Visiting Multiple Areas in Hokkaido? Consider Day Trips

This is your long-awaited Hokkaido trip and wants to get the most out of it right?
Getting around the huge island of Hokkaido can be tough especially when you have a list of places to visit.
In order to visit as many places, taking day trips to the suburban cities outside of Asahikawa and Sapporo is recommended.
By doing so, you are luggage free and travel around at ease. 

Furano is one of the most popular cities in Hokkaido and many visitors plan on making a trip during their stay.
As much as spending a night in Furano is great, there are ways to enjoy the city with a day trip as well. 

The lavender garden might be the first thing that comes to mind in Furano but it isn’t available during fall and winter.
Do not worry as there are places to enjoy during the non-lavender season and for those without a car, let’s make sure you get around hassle-free via taxi.

Start Fall/Winter Furano Tour from “Glass Forest in FURANO”

Quoted：Glass Forest in FURANO

If you can arrive in Furano around 9 am, begin your day at the glass studio, Glass Forest in FURANO, located in Rokugo, an area half an hour west of Furano and the filming site of the famous TV series “Kita no Kunikara.”
At the Glass Forest in FURANO, they have their original “Shibare Glass” which is inspired by the natural phenomenon, diamond dust. 

Quoted：Glass Forest in FURANO

“Shibare(ru)” means “freezing or severe cold” in the Hokkaido dialect and this type of glass has fine cracks that look as if it has been frozen.
The snowflake-like cracks that run through the clear glass are reminiscent of winter in Hokkaido.
The glass is heat resistant and can be used for hot drinks so the more you use it becomes uniquely yours. 

Early Lunch at Yuiga Dokuson

Quoted：唯我独尊

Once you’re back near the Furano Station area it should be a perfect time for an early lunch. Yuiga Dokuson is a curry restaurant loved by the locals since its establishment in 1974.
It’s only a quick 5 minute walk from the station and usually crowded with both locals and visitors.

Enjoy the warm and cozy natural ambiance in the heart of Furano.

No matter how noisy the outside may be, you’ll be comfortable inside the log cabin filled with the smell of curry. The curry roux they use is made from local ingredients such as onion and 30+ types of spices for the rich aroma and taste.

The menu is full of Hokkaido-style dishes such as “Ezo venison curry,” “Hokkaido pork curry,” and “omelet curry,” making it difficult to decide what to order, but the “omelet + sausage curry” is a must-try for first-timers.

Each curry serving size is enough to satisfy any adult.
The yellow rice is covered with rich curry, decorated with Hokkaido potato and corn, and the homemade sausage with the omelet for perfection. 

The omelet and curry goes so well customers often forget about eating with rice.
But don’t worry, curry refill is free at Yuiga Dokuson.
Simply take your plate to the counter and say “ru ru ru ru.”

“Ru ru ru ru” is a famous phrase used in the Kita no Kunikara to attract foxes. Try it for yourself to see if any fox will come!

The restaurant owner loves to hear the “ru ru ru ru” phrase so make sure to use it to get your extra curry sauce. 
Yuiga Dokuson has a parking space for 10 cars and it is usually packed before noon on weekends.
To avoid the crowd, it is recommended to dine in right when the restaurant opens at 11 am.
The curry here will satisfy your hunger and keep you warm in the cold weather.

Take a Walk at the “Ningle Terrace”

In the afternoon, visit the “Ningle Terrace,” a shop village 10 minutes from Yuiga Dokuson where you can enjoy shopping in rich nature.
Ningle refers to a 15cm tall forest wisdom fairy in the book written by Sou Kuramoto who also designed the Ningle Terrace.

Ningle Terrace is located inside the New Furano Prince Hotel with 15 log cabin-style shops. Each shop has its own unique natural theme and sells candles, fountain pens, silver accessories, and other items all of which is handmade by the craftsmen. Each shop is connected via a walkway so you can literally enjoy shopping inside the forest. 

There are cute and cozy cafes inside the Ningle Terrace if it gets too chilly outside.
The shops are open all year round and visitors can enjoy the appearance differences depending on the season.
The snow-covered scenery in the winter is truly a magical experience. 

Find your own unique souvenir exclusive to the Ningle Terrace!

The Famous Furano Cheese Factory 

After a nice refreshing walk in nature, let’s head out to buy two of the most well-known items in Furano; cheese and wine!

Furano Cheese Factory is a 5 minute drive from Ningle Terrace and is surrounded by birch trees.
It sells a variety of cheeses, also offers a glass-fronted tour of the cheese-making/aging rooms, milking experience with a cow model, and even a workshop where you can handmade butter, cheese, and ice cream!

Reservation is recommended for handmade workshops especially if you’re visiting as a day trip.
If you plan on visiting the Ningle Terrace beforehand, 3 pm butter or cheese workshop will be perfect.
Each of the workshops will last about an hour and 1,000yen/person. 

Butter workshop is recommended for those with children as it’s easy to make.
Handmade butter is yours to take home so it is recommended more in winter than in summer. 

The city of Furano in collaboration with Rakuno Gakuen University has created the wine-infused cheese only available here.
There are plenty of selections from your standard cheese, to unique squid ink cheese and onion cheese. 

Get Your Favorite Bottle – Furano Wine Factory

The daylight in fall and winter Hokkaido is short so let’s make sure you get a nice bottle of wine before heading back.
The brick-walled Furano Wine Factory is 10 minute drive from the Furano Cheese factory.
A visit to the winery is recommended if you have time to spare in your schedule.

Furano wine is a popular souvenir of Furano as it is made only with local ingredients. Since its establishment in 1972, the company has been producing wine using only grapes grown in Furano.

They sell red, white, rose, a limited edition spring line, as well as red and white grape juices.
Furano wine is extremely affordable despite the high quality and it starts at around 1,000 yen and even has 180ml mini bottles.

Wine tasting is highly recommended if you’re not driving. It has a refreshing taste so make sure you don’t drink too much! 
Take some bottles home if you’re short on time and you can buy them in large quantities as they do deliveries as well.
It’s only a 5-minute drive to Furano Station so take your time to enjoy and relax until your departure time.

Furano Day Trip Summary

What did you think of our Furano day trip plan?
The beautiful scenery comes along wherever you visit and experiences and cuisines unique to Furano should make your planning exciting!
If a day trip sounds like it’s not enough time in Furano, there are other entertaining activities in town to be sure to check those out.

For Hokkaido activity experiences visit Basho Trip