Furano’s two ski areas, Kitanomine and Furano, span 480 acres (194 hectares), with 23 trails serviced by 11 lifts and a vertical drop of about 3000 vertical feet (950 metres). One ski pass accesses all. Furano is easily one of the steepest mountains in Hokkaido – the longest run is almost 3 miles (4.8 km). Furano can be particularly snowy so rugging up here is imperative. One of Furano’s claims to fame is having Japan’s fastest cable car that lifts 101 skiers at 10 meters per second, a welcome addition given the size of the ski hill and the region’s often chilly climate.
Furano has an abundance of varied terrain for every level of skier and snowboarder, with a 40/40/20 split between beginner, intermediate and advanced. Children up to the age of 12 are covered in Furano’s Kids Ski Free program.
The tree runs here are fantastic. Simply obey the signs and enter through access points to find some truly deep powder shots that will live in the memory for a long time, if not a lifetime. Off-piste tip: a short traverse and mini-hike leads to seriously good terrain in the valley between the peak and the resort.
When it comes to groomed runs, Furano’s steep slopes and excellent fall lines mean it is possible to ski virtually the resort’s entire vertical at a decent pitch. An early lap down the Furano Zone ropeway is a good way to warm up in the morning. These quality slopes have made the resort a favorite for FIS Ski World Cup competitions, and Furano has hosted the Ski and Snowboard World Cup on more occasions than anywhere else in Japan.
Beginners are catered for at both the top and bottom of the mountain: the base areas of both sides of the mountain have wide gentle runs serviced by a detachable quad and 2-person lifts. There is also a beginner’s area at the top of the ropeway (cable car) so that beginner skiers and snowboarders don’t have to be confined to the base areas.
The resort’s highest points offer panoramic views of the Furano Valley and Tokachi Peak Mountain Range.
Mountain Stats
Skiable Terrain | 469.5 acres (190 hectares) |
Vertical | 964 m (3,163 ft) |
Top Elevation | 1,209 m (3,967 ft) |
Base Elevation | 245 m (804 ft) |
Average Snowfall | 850 cm (334in/ 27 ft) |
Beginner Terrain | 40% |
Intermediate Terrain | 40% |
Advanced Terrain | 20% |
Trails | 22 |
Parks | 1 |
Pipes | 1 |
Winter lifts Total | 11 |
Gondolas Trams | 1 |
Chair Lifts | 10 |
Longest Run | 4 km (2.5 mi) |
Season Opens | November |
Season Closes | May |