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

Find your hotels in 218 cities throughout Japan!!!

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. alicia says:
    June 2, 2016 at 9:03 am

    hi, i would like to visit Furano’s Tomita farm and Flower Park Kamifurano. i will be staying in sapporo, would like to know which train i should take to Furano? thanks!

  2. xinyi says:
    May 29, 2016 at 4:08 am

    hi takeshi-san,

    i will be travelling to sapporo from 25 June to 1 July 2016.
    below is my rough itinerary

    day 1 (25 june) – accommodation in arashikawa
    new chitose airport to arashikawa
    (5180yen on unreserved seat)

    day 2 (26 june) – accommodation in arashikawa
    day trip to furano / biei

    day 3 (27 june) – accommodation in sapporo
    arashikawa to sapporo
    (4290yen on unreserved seat)

    day 4 (28 june) – accommodation in sapporo
    day trip within sapporo town

    day 5 (29 june) – accommodation in otaru
    sapporo to otaru
    (640yen on unreserved seat)

    day 6 (30 june) – accommodation in otaru
    day trip within otaru

    day 7 (1 july) – 920am flight from new chitose airport
    taking earliest train from otaru to new chitose airport
    (1780 on unreserved seat)

    i planning to get the Furano Biei Rail Ticket 6500yen (valid for 4 days) to cover my Day 1-3.

    can we purchase this pass from JR ticketing counter in new chitose airport?

    below is information from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6829.html.

    “Useable from April 29 to October 31, 2016 (on sale until October 28), this ticket consists of a round trip by limited express train (unreserved seats) from Sapporo (or New Chitose Airport) to Furano or Asahikawa, and unlimited train travel along the JR Furano Line between Furano and Asahikawa. The ticket is valid for up to four consecutive calendar days and costs 6500 yen if used from Sapporo.”

    i just want to clarify that the 6500 4-days pass covers all the journey for my day1-3 without additional charges?
    or i have to add 1070 yen for day 1 new chitose airport to sapporo journey and start using the pass from sapporo to arashikawa onwards?

    can i take norokko train using this pass?

    for the rest of the days i will buy single tickets.

  3. Samantha says:
    May 21, 2016 at 1:41 am

    Is there a toilet onboard this train?

  4. Masyita says:
    January 6, 2016 at 12:02 am

    If I want to go to Furano from Sapporo, which train should I take? A bot confuse bout the train in Japan as there are few types of train. And is there any train from Furano to Biei?

  5. Allie says:
    May 20, 2015 at 5:46 am

    Hi!

    Do you know if there is still a Furano free pass for 2015?

    Thank you!

  6. Lavender Season in Hokkaido | Visit Furano and Biei | Kyuhoshi says:
    March 26, 2015 at 4:10 am

    […] I told you before that, one can easily travel all over Hokkaido by Furano Biei Norokko Train Info. So be sure to buy one from a reputed JR pass seller or from tour operators. Apart from this you […]

  7. Lavender Season in Hokkaido | Kyuhoshi says:
    December 16, 2014 at 6:34 am

    […] I told you before that, one can easily travel all over Hokkaido by Furano Biei Norokko Train Info. So be sure to buy one from a reputed JR pass seller or from tour operators. Apart from this you […]

  8. Verna says:
    July 17, 2014 at 10:45 am

    Will be in Hokkaido at the end of August. I know it’s the end of flower season. Is it still worth going to Tomita farm, etc?

    Looking at the Norroko train schedule, if you get off at one place, you have to wait awhile for the next train. You might end up being in the area for 2 hours, is this correct? Would it be better to take a chuo bus tour to the area to see everything in a day?

  9. YC says:
    March 22, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    Hi. May I know the fare for this train to and fro Asahikawa Station? Is the fare chargeable based on ride basis or we can purchase a card and free ride in a day? I dont seem to be able to find the fare information from Hyperdia.

  10. YK says:
    August 5, 2011 at 9:45 am

    Sat on one of these trains in June. The gist about this train is that you can’t really reserve your seats on the train prior to the train.So you have to like show your rail pass in order to sit onto the reserved area where there is a shop selling goods, otherwise is a cash payment of some amount below 1000 yen. The conductor does not wear a uniform or is an older person. The Conductor on this train wears a sweater, jeans and is most likely in his 20s! I was wondering why a tourist was in the Conductor’s room till I realised he was the conductor! This train is the ONLY train to get off at the Lavender Farm station to walk to the Tomita farm across the road. The free thing you’ll get on this Train is a postcard. The reason why I mentioned the reserved seat for JR pass holders is the fact that it gets rather crowded in the non reserved areas and since you have the JR pass, why stand? Thanks for this great JPrail site, have pictures of some of the trains I took during my stay in June/July and willing to share them.

123
Copied title and URL