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Nakafurano Tourism Association > Life > A walk around the town for those with limited time to spend

A walk around the town for those with limited time to spend

A relaxing train ride to Nakafurano Station

After a 1-hour train ride from JR Asahikawa Station or a 50-minute bus ride from Asahikawa Airport, you finally arrive at Nakafurano Station. As you alight and walk towards the town, your heart fills up with excitement at the thought of the wonderful experiences waiting for you.

The Furano-Biei Norokko Train with its distinctive brown cars is in service from early June to late September. It runs slower than regular trains, letting you enjoy the scenery outside.
Your stroll around the town begins from the centrally-located JR Nakafurano Station.

 

Crossing the warehouses built from Biei soft stone

As you exit the station and turn to the left, you will pass a series of warehouses built from Biei soft stone. From late June to late July, the roadside along the warehouses blooms with lavenders.

These rare warehouses are built from Biei soft stone that was quarried from around 1964 to 1969. They have an imposing but dignified presence when you stand close to them. Note that entering the warehouses without permission is forbidden.

 

Lavenders that bloom even in winter?!

Located around 20 minutes on foot from the station is Farm Tomita, the only lavender garden in Hokkaido that is open all year round. In winter, you can see lavenders blooming inside greenhouses.

☆Lavender gardens within walking distance of Nakafurano Station:
Choei Lavender Park (10 mins), Nanaka-no-Hanabatake (10 mins), Farm Tomita (20 mins), Saika-no-Sato (25 mins)

The greenhouse’s interior is filled with the scent of lavenders. Other facilities you can visit outside of the lavender blooming season in summer include a photo gallery, various shops, and a house of dried flower arrangements.

 

Sweets made from “Horafuki”, a local Japanese sake

After enjoying the lavenders, you can take another 20-minute walk towards the town. At Maeno Shoten, a liquor shop established over 100 years ago, you can buy “Horafuki”, a local sake made from Nakafurano Yukihikari rice. They also make and sell various sweets made from sakekasu lees.

Try the Horafuki sake and various sakekasu confections (manju, cakes, Baumkuchen slices, and senbei crackers). They also make for great souvenirs.

 

Take a break in a cafe with a retro atmosphere

The next stop on your stroll is Original Blend Bell, a cafe with a distinctive yellow sign. The friendly couple who own the place will welcome you with a smile, and you can relax with a cup of original blend coffee.

The cafe has a traditional “kissaten” coffee shop atmosphere. They also have a large lineup of manga, and you might find yourself staying to read for a long time.

 

Wandering from shop to shop for snacks, tofu, miso, and soy sauce

After re-energizing yourself, you can go and explore the neighboring shops. At Fukushima Shoten, you can find a wide variety of traditional snacks and candies. You’ll have a hard time choosing which one to buy!

In the corner across the street, you will find a small tofu shop. They sell fresh and deep-fried tofu made from pure water and Hokkaido soybeans. Some of their products get sold out soon after they open for the day.

Lastly, at Takemoto Jozomoto, you can find miso paste and soy sauce made using traditional techniques. Sprinkle their soy sauce on some fresh tofu from the previous shop to make for a delicious treat.

Fukushima Shoten is popular with the local children, but even adults can have fun checking out the lineup of snacks and sweets.

 

Established in 1932, Otsuka Tofu Shop makes fresh and deep-fried tofu using traditional techniques. The large tofu slices make for a filling meal.

 

Takemoto Jozomoto was established in 1926. Their most popular product is the Furano Miso paste.

 

Enjoy lunch at a French restaurant popular with the locals

When you grow hungry after all the walking, you’ll come across Chevre, a lovely French restaurant. As you go inside, you’ll find the season’s menu written on a blackboard. They serve beautifully prepared dishes made with fresh, seasonal vegetables. It’s sure to be one of the highlights of your journey.

Chevre serves dishes made mainly with homegrown vegetables in summer or local Hokkaido produce in other seasons. Seating is limited, so making an advance reservation is recommended.
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