[Furano City, Hokkaido] Enhancing Tourist Travel: Making Sightseeing More Comfortable during the Final Year of the Furano Biei Norokko Train!

Promoting Exploration through Enhanced Secondary Transport Furano City, Hokkaido, led by Mayor Taketoshi Kita, is committed to enhancing secondary transportation and promoting regional exploration to ensure that travelers visiting by public transport can navigate the city comfortably during the 2026 summer tourist season.

2026 marks the final year of operations for the 'Furano Biei Norokko' tourist train. The 'Furano Lavender Express,' which connects Sapporo and Furano without transfers, is also scheduled to run, providing further opportunities for visitors arriving by rail.

Furano City believes that enhancing transport options after arriving at Furano Station—enabling smooth access to flower fields, hilly landscapes, rural scenery, and local dining experiences—is essential for increasing visitor satisfaction, boosting tourism consumption, and encouraging repeat visits.

'Station-Departure' Secondary Transport Supporting Regional Tourism Furano City is home to numerous attractions, such as the Furano Winery and Furano Cheese Factory. Across the wider Furano-Biei area, there are even more destinations to explore. Therefore, 'how to travel efficiently after arriving in Furano' is a critical factor for visitors in enhancing their travel satisfaction and the quality of their experience.

For those visiting by train, clear and accessible local transportation is directly linked to the ease of public transit travel. During the peak summer demand, Furano City will actively promote various secondary transport options starting from Furano Station, expanding the potential for sightseeing beyond just private or rental cars.

Transport options from the station include sightseeing shuttle buses and chartered tourist taxi plans, which are used to efficiently visit major spots.

'Furano Biei Winery Tour': Deeply Savoring Local Charm Supported by the Furano Biei Wide-Area Tourism Promotion Council, of which Furano City is a member, the region is promoting the charms of its wineries, agriculture, and cuisine. In conjunction with this, the 'Furano Biei Winery Tour' has been launched—a stay-oriented content program allowing visitors to slowly savor time unique to this region while visiting wineries, producers, dining spots, and scenery.

In addition to the well-known flowers and snow of Furano, this program connects agriculture, food, wine, scenery, and local life, offering a deep experience of the region. While shuttle buses support transport from the station to main attractions, winery tours propose a journey where visitors stay in the region and connect with the land's background.

Both initiatives aim to help travelers deepen their enjoyment of Furano City and the Furano-Biei area, ultimately becoming fans of the region.