Furano, Hokkaidō Prefecture, Hokkaido Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Furano (富良野市, Furano-shi) is a city in the prefecture of Hokkaido, Japan, located in the southern reaches of Kamikawa Subprefecture, under whose jurisdiction it resides. Well known throughout Japan as a tourism destination, it is famous for its lavender fields, the television drama Kita no Kuni kara and the Furano Ski Resort, which held the Snowboarding World Cup in recent years. As of September 2016, the city has an estimated population density of 38 persons per km² (98 persons per sq. mi.). The total area is 600.97 km² (232.04 sq mi).

History The city takes its name from the Ainu word "Fura-nui", which means "Stinky Flame" or "Foul-Smelling Place", in the language of the indigenous people of Hokkaido. This is most likely because the valley was associated with sulfuric fumaroles near Tokachi Peak. In 1897 the first homesteaders arrived from Mie Prefecture and settled in what is now the Ogiyama area of the city. The Village of Furano was established as a satellite settlement of the then-preeminent Utashinai Village. In 1899 the settlement was transferred from under the jurisdiction of Sorachi County to Kamikawa County, an official town hall was raised, and Furano Village, Sorachi County was officially established.

Mass transportation soon followed when a railway link to Asahikawa, what is now the second largest city in Hokkaido, was opened in 1900. Three years later, Furano was divided into the upper Kamifurano Village (the present-day town of Kamifurano) and the lower Shitafurano Village (present-day Furano and Minamifurano.) In 1908, Minamifurano Village (now a town) established itself as an autonomous municipality. On April 1, 1915, Yamabe Village was created as a separate municipality, and Shimofurano, Sorachi County gained Second Class Village Status in the Hokkaido Village System. Following rapid development, on April 1, 1919, Shitafurano Village achieved town status and was renamed Furano Town. It gained First Class Town Status exactly two years later. During the closing stages of World War II, Furano was bombed by American naval aircraft in July 1945. On September 30, 1956, Furano annexed the village of Higashiyama. Ten years later, Furano annexed the town of Yamabe and the population boost was enough for it to become a full-fledged city. Furano officially changed its name to Furano City on May 1, 1966.

Economy: Industry The keystone industry is agriculture, which is centered on onions and carrots. Furano notably produces more carrots than anywhere else in Japan. Watermelon and the Akaniku-brand "Furano Melon" are also produced in large numbers.

Industry also includes tourism, particularly to its lavender fields and ski slopes, as well as the cultivation of grapes, including a municipally-managed winery, and dairy products such as milk and cheese. Furano Delice, made famous for being the first candy factory to put pudding in a milk bottle, is well known for its Furano Milk Pudding.

Agriculture • Furano Agricultural Cooperative (JA Furano).

Local business • Daisy Food Production Industries, Inc. – Furano Factory (デイジー食品工業株式会社富良野工場).

Financial institutions • North Pacific Bank, Ltd., Furano Office • Hokkaido Bank, Ltd., Furano Office • Asahikawa Credit Union, Furano Office (formerly Furano Credit Union) • Hokkaido Workers Credit Union, Furano Office • Sorachi Commercial Credit Association, Furano Office.

Postal services • Furano Post Office (the Furano Office of Japan Post Service Company, Ltd. is located within the same building.) • Furano Wakaba Post Office (includes ATM service) • Kitanomine Post Depot (postal service only) • Rokugo Post Office.

Police • Furano Police Station.

Education Public High Schools ▪ Hokkaido Furano High School, Hokkaido Furano Ryokuho High School; Technical Schools ◦ Furano Nursing College; Middle Schools ◦ Furano Higashi, Furano Nishi, Jukai, Yamabe; Elementary Schools ◦ Furano, Ogiyama, Higashi, Torinuma, Furebetsu, Jukai, Yamabe; Elementary/Middle Schools ◦ Rokugo, Nunobe.

Transport: Air • Asahikawa Airport is located south of Asahikawa's city centre in the outlying town of Higashi Kagura. It is approximately an hour away from Furano by bus or car.

Transport: Rail • Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido); ◦ Nemuro Line: Shimanoshita – Furano – Nunobe – Yamabe; ◦ Furano Line: Gakueden – Furano.

Transport: Bus • Furano Bus – city bus lines, Furano to Asahikawa (the "Lavender Express") • Shimukappu municipally owned and operated Furano to Shimukappu bus line. • Hokkaido Chuo Bus Co., Ltd. – Furano to Sapporo (the high-speed "Furano") • Dohoku Bus Co., Ltd., Hokkaido Takusyoku Bus Co., Ltd., Tokachi Bus Co., Ltd. – Minamifurano to Obihiro (Northliner).

Transport: Road National Highways ◦ Highway 38 ◦ Highway 237; Prefectural Highways ◦ Hokkaido Route 135 – Bibai, Furano ◦ Hokkaido Route 253 – Higashiyama, Furano ◦ Hokkaido Route 298 – Kamifurano, Asahikawa, Nakafurano ◦ Hokkaido Route 544 – Rokugo, Yamabe ◦ Hokkaido Route 706 – Nanyou, Yamabe ◦ Hokkaido Route 759 – Nae, Furano ◦ Hokkaido Route 800 – Kitanomine ◦ Hokkaido Route 985 – Yamabe, Kitanomine.

Culture: Heritage • Furano Traditional Chinese Lion Dance – The Furano Traditional Chinese Lion Dance Preservation Society is a part of the Furano City Lifelong Learning Center. • A monument marking the exact geographic centre of Hokkaido is located in the playground of Furano Nishi Junior High School. • Groundbreaking Memorial for the Hokkaido University Satellite Research Farm No.8, Furano Campus – Tenmangu Shrine Grounds • Groundbreaking Memorial for the Hokkaido University Satellite Research Farm No.8, Yamabe Campus – Yamabe Shrine Grounds.

Economy: Tourist Industry Downtown District • Kita no Kuni kara (北の国から) Museum is located almost directly adjacent to the Furano Station area. • Gokokuzanfurano-ji – (護国山富良野寺) or Eighteenth Hokkaido Sanjuusan Sacred Grounds of Kannon Fudasho (北海道三十三観音霊場十八番札所). Since Furano is Hokkaido's Navel Town, they proudly display a duplicate of the Buddha Nyoirinkannon Heso Ishi (Navel Stone) from Kyoto's famous temple Choho-ji.

Kitanomine District • The Kitanomine Area is centered on ski resorts and pensions. Furano Ski Resort, owned and operated by Prince Hotels, is a popular winter destination for people from around the world. Ningle Terrace is a rustic sort of shopping village located just to the side of New Furano Prince Hotel. The word “Ningle” refers to a 15 cm-tall character known as The Wise Man of the Forest from a book with the same title that was written by So Kuramoto. The shopping area was created based on the writer's ideas. Open year-round, people from all over the area come to browse the handmade trinkets and look for faeries when the snow has not buried them alive. There is also a shop based on the one Takeshita Keiko (竹下景子) worked at in the 'Kita no Kuni kara'　(北の国から) television drama. • Furano Cheese Factory • Furano Ice Milk Factory • Furanoengekikoujou – Furano Theatre Factory (富良野演劇工場), a non-profit organization established and run by the city, Furano Theater Factory is a small-scale theater that strives to meet the creative needs of its citizens, hosting a myriad of events year-round. The Theater Factory was designed by Sou Kuramoto, the famous writer of Kita no Kuni kara.

Rokugo District • The houses used by the characters in the television drama 'Kita no Kuni kara'　(北の国から) can still be found in the far-reaches of the Furano city limits in the Rokugo area, separated from Furano Station by a distance of about 15 kilometers. Rokugo Forest was the setting for the drama's early period. Gotaro's Stone House, The Lost and Found House, Jun and Ketsu's House, and Yahataoka, a hilly, back-country setting that came up frequently throughout the series, can all be found perfectly preserved in a memorial-esque open-air museum. • Rokugo Observation Deck • Furano Jam Farm • Anpanman Shop • Furano Music Box • Popuri Village specializes in cultivating late-blooming Lavender, meaning visitors can see the purple flowers in all their glory, even if they have missed the season.

Other districts • Highland Furano is a public spa in Shimanoshita, complete with a mid-sized lavender field. • The city owns and operates a successful wine factory known as the Wine House. • Furano Wine and Juice Factory is a publicly run business located in Shimizuyama. • Torinuma Park is a public park famous for the fact that it never freezes, even though it is located in the heart of snow country, Japan. Camping is not allowed, however visitors are more than encouraged to camp in the nearby Yamabe Village of the Sun Nature Park.

Events • Shoukon Festival – Peace Memorial Festival (June 15–16) • Hokkaido Belly Button Festival (July 28–29) • Furano Shrine's Annual Festival (August 25–26)

Immigration • In May, 2009 Furano City joined hands with various private-sector associations to establish the Furano Chamber for the Promotion of Immigration.

Geography The Furano Valley is nestled between the Tokachi Volcanic Mountain Range (part of the Daisetsuzan National Park) and the Yuubari cluster of summits, including Ashibetsu Peak. The Sorachi and Furano Rivers, both tributaries of the Ishikari River, meet within the city limits. Furano is located at the exact geographic centre of Hokkaido, earning it the nickname "Heso no Machi" or "Navel Town". A monument positioned at the centre is located on the grounds of Furano Nishi Junior High School.

Roughly 70% of the city is mountain and forest. In 1899, the Tokyo University Forest in Hokkaido was established for research purposes in the south-east sector of the city. Nearby lies Rokugo Forest, the setting for the well-known Japanese television drama Kita no Kuni Kara.

Mass communications • Daily Furano (newspaper) • Radio Furano (community FM station) 77.1 MHz • Hokkaido Shimbun, Furano (newspaper).