Backcountry report 3!!

Can you recognize white smoke from Mt. Tokachidake?  
This is a view from Bougakudai Ovservatory. 

Beautiful patterns of remaining snow are usually seen in this period of the year.                                            

 

Our correspondent went to Sandanyama again! But this time he hiked with his skis!!

 
These were slopes he ran down.

The weather was good, it was really comfortable and he perspired enough.

There were several groups who loved skiing :D

Backcountry report 2

Today's good weather brought our correspondent out into Sandanyama in Tokachidake again!!

The sticky snow turned into the corn snow as expected. So it was a great spring snowboarding day!

This is about halfway up the Sandanyama top. People can slide down between these bushes.

 This is the top of Sandanyama, 1,748 meters above sea level. The mountain over there is Mt Furano-dake. Sooo stunning it looks even from this side!!

 This is Ansei Creater. People slide down the opposite side, of course!

The snow is still good condition so it might be OK after 2 weeks, if the lines face to north would be chosen.

Let's wait our correspondent's next report :D

Furano Green Flag

Agriculture is another main industry besides tourism in Furano.
The amount of snowfall in a year reaches about 8 meters in total. That means Furano has a great natural dam in the mountains. There are springwaters here and there along the mountains. Ainu people found a pond where sweet water fountained and used to live beside it. Furano is rich in water and has comfortable weather from spring to autumn, so it is said almost all sorts of vegetables grown in Hokkaido are able to be grown here in Furano.

This is a scenery of farmland in Nakafurano yesterday. Now asparagus grown outdoors is in season and then people will see sprouts of rice, onion and pretty potato flowers later.
If you would like to eat Furano's farm produce, please find Furano Green Flag in this area.
http://www.city.furano.hokkaido.jp/green_flag/en/
Delicious dishes will be served there :D

Backcountry report

Our correspondent enjoyed snowboarding in Sandanyama on 18th May, located in Tokachidake, about 1 hour by car from Kitanomine. The weather was good, and there was enough snow with additional 10 cm of new snow!

He started off at 10:30 from the base where no snow remained on the road.

This was the halfway point after an hour of snowshoeing.

 After about 2.5 hours, he arrived at the top of Sandannyama, a great playground for backcountry skiers and boarders.

Other 3~4  groups were also enjoying the mountain.

The snow was soft but a bit sticky.

It would become corn snow after a couple of warm days, and make it available for Spring skiing until the end of May!!

Needless to say, people can enjoy wonderful volcanic hot springs at the base after drawing tracks :D

Sakura

Voilà, Furano's flower season commences with cherry blossoms!!

Yesterday was the best day seeing cherry blossoms in Kitanomine.

This is Asahigaoka Park located in Kitanomine, selected as one of the 100 most beautiful scenic areas in Japan.

A delightful walk is on offer :D

Bird watching

While I was walking up to my office today, I heard a lot of birds singing in the forest, and I happened upon a great spotted woodpecker drilling in a pine tree beside someone's house.
It was only about 2 meters high from the ground!
I felt for my camera in my bag in a hurry, but unluckily he flew away :-(

Now it's a good period for bird-watching in Furano, because branches are still almost naked or have few leaves. And it won't be long before we hear cukoos which tell us the proper time for sowing seeds

Here, you can enjoy today's photos of Furano.
The great Daisetsu mountains are covered with new snow again!

Can you find a little bird at the top of a branch?

The cherries have come to bloom now in Furano :D

Free tickets for the Furano Ropeway

Free tickets for the Furano Ropeway Cable car

for international guests.

※Show your passport to staff at the Furano Ropeway ticket counter

to receive your free cable car ticket.

■Period 4th June - 16th October 2011■

　 June 4th･5th･11th･12th･18th･19th （Sat & Sun Weekend Only ）

■Open 8am-4pm■

　6am-7pm: 16th July - 21nd August

　Time Every 20min (Eg:8:00/8:20/8:40/9:00)

■Furano Ropeway■

Nakagoryo Furano city Tel:0167-22-1111 Mapcode:919 552 448

It takes 15 minutes by car from JR Furano Station.

Please use‘Kururu Pass’and‘Lavender-Go',

then get off at‘New Furano Prince Hotel’

針對來自海外的旅客，富良野纜車免費券

※領取免費券時請出示護照。

■運行期間■

2011年6月4日・5日・11日・12日・18日・19日 （只有周六・日）

　　從6月25日～10月16日.毎天運行 早上8點～下午4點

■7月16日～8月21日■

早上6點～下午7點 毎隔20分鐘運行。（例：8：00/8：20/8：40/9：00）

■富良野纜車■

富良野市中御料　Tel 0167-22-1111 / Mapcode: 919 552 448

從JR富良野站開車15分鐘 請使用「KURURU巴士」

富良野巴士「薰衣草號」，在新富良野王子飯店下車

Mountain report

Yesterday was the final day of the season, and I was one of those who were out there to cap off the season :D

Here, some photos from the top of the mountain of the last day.

There was beautiful white snow waiting for us, which was brought from the snowy clouds due to the cold temperatures we had through this Golden Week.
It was incredible seeing new snow on the branches in early May! 

 

Farewell to the snow mountain until the first snow comes for 1112 season!!

Furano is going to Sydney snow travel expo in Australia on 22th !

Hello everyone.

We have still enjoyed skiing as well as bike riding, walking, play Golf, eating food of Spring and more.
And just be waiting to bloom cherry blossom flowers.

We Furano is going to Snow travel expo on 22th in Sydney.
And then attend to Morgul ski world expo in Merbourne and Travel Plan expos in Brisbane and Sydney.

We are realy excited to see you in Australia!
So Please come to see us at Furano booth in somewhere of 3 places which you live near there.

See you soon!
From Furano Tourism Association

Furano Zone

Tomorrow is the last day of the season.
So get out there and enjoy the last spring skiing day :D

Message from Japan Tourism Agency

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Snow report!

Snow came in May!
We had a little snow even in the village yesterday.
It is surprising seeing Kitanomine mountain is made up in white again in May.
It seems that the upper part of Furano Zone has always different season, as if there is an invisible but clear line at the bottom of Furano Downhill Romance #2 chair, like Blakiston Line.
The temperature of the skiable part is definitely colder.
So get out there and enjoy skiing!