Furano Biei Norokko train, Easy rail trip around Furano area for everyone.

Asahikawa
KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA
2011.08.05
Furano Biei Norokko train goes on Furano line. (C) 800px-Norokkogou-furano-biei / Birdman
Furano Biei Norokko train takes you one of most popular spot, Furano and Biei. (C) 800px-Norokkogou-furano-biei / Birdman

Furano is one of most popular spot in Hokkaido. Especially July is the busiest season because the bloom of Lavender. You can enjoy Furano in not only summer season but also autumn. You may see the fall color leaves in September. The scenery in autumn is breathtaking too. Furano can be accessed directly from Sapporo by Limited Express Furano Lavender Express / Furano Koyo Express from July to mid October. There are three round trips in the peak season. But if you want to have a nice rail excursion and enjoy the scenery from the train, I recommend you to take this train “Furano Biei Norokko train”. Of course you can take this train by Japan Rail Pass with no extra charge. Let’s see the details about this train.

Route and schedule

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Hotels in Sapporo
Hotels in Furano
Hotels in Asahikawa

There are three round trips between Asahikawa or Biei and Furano. One round trip connects Asahikawa and Furano in 1 hour 40 minutes, and another two round trips connect Biei and Furano in 50 minutes.

Norokko is a combination word of “Noroi” and “Torokko” in Japanese. “Noroi” means very slow. Torokko means an open air observation car in these days. This is very popular type of the fleet for cruising train during summer time. On the other hand, this train does not give you any luxury atmosphere. There are the wood bench seats only. But you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and the fresh air from the nature of Hokkaido.

Furano Biei Norokko train is usually operated from early June to late September. Please check the latest operation date information at Seasonal trains information.

Stations 
Asahikawa (旭川)X
Biei (美瑛)X
Bibaushi (美馬牛)X
Kamifurano (上富良野)X
Lavender Batake (ラベンダー畑)X
Nakafurano (中富良野)X
Furano (富良野)X
Summer scenery in Farm Tomita

Lavender Batake station is open for this train only. It is only 7 minutes away from one of the most popular spot in Furano, Tomita Farm Lavender Field. So you can take this train to Lavender Batake from Furano.

Operation dates

Furano Biei Norokko Train is usually operated from early June to late September. Please check the most updated information at Seasonal trains information.

Accommodation and train formations

This train is operated by open air observation car (=Torokko in Japanese). There are reserved seat and non reserved. But the accommodations are completely same. There are the wood bench seat.

Images

Exterior of the train (C) 100yen [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Interior of the train (C) Rsa [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Train formation

123
RNRNR

R=Reserved ordinary seat NR=Non reserved ordinary seat

You can watch the movie at Lavender Batake station.

Comments

  1. Wen says:
    January 12, 2020 at 6:22 am

    Hi. May I know how to travel from New Chitose Airport to Farm Tomita? Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Hazel Lee says:
    June 10, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    Hi,
    We will be renting a car and driving to Furano.
    However, I read about the Norokko train which we can see beautiful scenery by train.
    What is your recommendation if we want to park the car somewhere and then take the Norokko train for sight seeing then go back to the car.
    Where should we park and where should we board and alight the train, in order to see nice scenery on the Norokko train?
    Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Mag says:
    May 28, 2019 at 2:38 am

    Dear Takeshi,
    May i know ill Furano Biei Norokko Train operate in 18 june 2019 please? when is the earlier date it start operating please?
    thanks for your time,
    cheers
    Mag

    Reply
  4. Jon says:
    April 28, 2019 at 8:13 am

    Hello!

    I planned to take Furano Lavender Express from Sapporo Station to Furano, and then change to a train to drop off at Lavender-Farm Station in Mid July. However, I am unsure of what train I should be taking from Furano. Google map told me to alight at Naka-Furano Station and walk over. What would you recommend?

    Cheers!

    Reply
  5. Anh Dang says:
    April 21, 2019 at 10:26 pm

    Hello,
    From Sapporo, I plan to buy the Furano-Biei-Rail tickets for 4 consecutive days. Leaving Sapporo on June 9, back to Sapporo on June 12. For the 3 nights, Should I stay all 3 nights at one location either Asahikawa or Furano? Which location is better for sightseeing in this region to cover Furano and Biei.
    Does it made sense if split Asahikawa for first 2 nights and the last night in Furano?
    Does the round trip rail ticket valid for Sapporo to Asahikawa on the first day, then Furano to Sapporo on the last day?

    Thanks for your help.
    Anh Dang

    Reply
    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      April 22, 2019 at 6:22 am

      Hi Anh,

      It takes about 75 minutes by the local train between Asahikawa and Furano. Biei is located in the middle of Furano and Asahikawa. So you can stay either place of Furano or Asahikawa. Asahikawa is much bigger city than Furano and there are many more hotels at more affordable rate. It is totally up to you which place you will stay.

      If you use Furano Biei rail Ticket, you can take either way of Asahikawa-Sapporo or Furano-Sapporo. It doesn’t matter which city you can arrive/depart.

      By the way, this ticket has not been sold in this season yet. I believe it will come up soon but I cannot confirm it now.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      Reply
  6. Len says:
    April 20, 2019 at 1:45 pm

    Hi Takeshi!
    I will be travelling in Hokkaido this summer in late August and I’m wondering about whether the passes I hold will be eligible for this train.
    I have both the Vanilla air higashi Hokkaido pass and the Seishun 18 kippu. I assume they can both be used on Norroko for unreserved seats. However, I am wondering if seats can be reserved using either of these passes? If it is possible, how much would the extra fee be?

    Much thanks!

    Reply
  7. Djuwita Tandjo says:
    May 13, 2018 at 2:11 am

    Hi,
    We are planning for day trip from Sapporo to Otoru on June 9, 2018 and Sapporo to Furano Tomita Farm on June 10, 2018.

    I saw there are two options traveling to Furano
    (1) direct by Crystal Express
    (2) Sapporo-Asahikawa + Furano Biei Norokko train.

    I can’t find the train schedule for Crystal Express. Can you share the round trip train schedule?

    How much is the round trip train from Sapporo for both options? and Where can we purchase the tickets? Do we need to purchase in advance?

    We have 15 people on the trip, is there other alternative transport other than train?

    Thanks in advance

    Djuwita

    Reply
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