If you think about making a day trip or a few days trip to Furano and Biei from Sapporo, this deals, “Furano Biei Rail Ticket” is the best deal. This ticket includes unlijmited ride in these areas and round trip from Sapporo.
In this post, I will tell you the detailed information about this deal. I also show you the comparison between this ticket and Hokkaido Rail Pass.
Overview
Furano Biei Rail Ticket is valid for 4 days which includes these following rides:
- Unlimited ride of local and rapid train in Furano, Biei, Asahikawa and Takikawa areas
- Round trip between Sapporo and this unlimited ride area by limited express non reserved seat
You may find PDF brochure of this ticket in the link below:
JR Hokkaido Travel Information – Furano Biei Rail Ticket
Prices and valid period
This ticket is valid for any 4 consecutive days from April 27, 2019 to October 31, 2019. This is not available in winter season.
| Duration | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 4 days | 6,500 | 3,250 |
Child rate is applied to 6 to 11 years old. Child who is 5 years old and younger is free of charge.
One day means midnight to midnight, technically 0:00 to 23:59. Even if you start using the pass at 23:00. you will spend one full day for just one hour. So try to start in the morning. It does not make sense to start to use in late evening.
Valid train and railway lines
Please see the coverage area map below:
Trip to/from unlimited ride area
You may take non reserved seat on limited express train. You have several choices.
- Limited Express Kamui and Limited Express Lilac
- Limited Express Furano Lavender Express
If you go to Asahikawa first, you can take eiter Limited Express Kamui or Lilac. These trains are basically same which run between Sapporo and Asahikawa. It runs very frequently, every 30 minutes in the morning and evening.
Access to/from Sapporo and Asahikawa. Limited Express Kamui / Lilac
If you go to Furano first, you may take Furano Lavender Express. This train is only train which connect Sapporo and Furano directly. However this train is seasonal operation train. This does not run every day. Please check the timetable before you go.
If you want to go to Furano from Sapporo but Furano Lavender Express does not run on that day, you can take Limited Express Kamui or Lilac to Takikawa. And you may catch a local train to Furano at Takikawa.
Takikawa station guide. How to catch a local train to Furano.
Local train does not run frequently between Takikawa and Furano. Please check the timetable before you go.
Takikawa is the first station when you enter unlimited ride area. In unlimited ride area, you cannot take limited express train. For the round trip between Sapporo and unlimited ride area, you can ride the train to the final destination even if you are in unlimited ride area. However once you get off the train, you cannot take limited express train any more. Limited express train ride is allowed for only trip to/from Sapporo.
You CANNOT make any stopovers between Sapporo and unlimited ride area. Once you exit the station between Sapporo and unlimited ride area, the ticket is invalid.
You have to take a bus to get some places, such as Blue Pond in the photo above. Furano Biei Rail Ticket covers only train. Any bus trips are not covered by this pass.
Train ride in unlimited ride area
You may take local train or rapid train as many as you want. You can make stopover as many as you want. Rapid train does not meany a limited express train. It is a sort of local train but it skips some stations and it offers faster trip than local train. Most of rapid trains are operated by local train fleet. But in summer season, some rapid trains are operated by limited express fleet. You can take this kind of train by this ticket without any extra charge.
When you go to Biei, you may think about taking Furano Biei Norokko Train.
Furano Biei Norokko train, Easy rail trip around Furano area for everyone.
This train has both reserved seat and non reserved seat. You can take non reserved seat car only. All seats on reserved seat car cannot be allowed to take by this ticket.
How to purchase Furano Biei Rail Ticket
You may purchase this ticket at the ticket office in any major JR Hokkaido stations, such as Sapporo, New Chitose Airport, Otaru. Even if you purchase this ticket in Otaru, New Chitose Airport or other than Sapporo station, this ticket covers only round trip between Sapporo and unlimited ride area. You cannot start using this ticket farther than Sapporo. But you can start using this any other stations on the way to unlimited ride area from Sapporo.
This ticket is sold until October 28, 2018. The last day of using this ticket is October 31, 2018 and it is valid for 4 days. That is why the last day of sales is October 28, 2018.
Eligibility
This ticket is available for any tourists. Actually this ticket is sold as Furano Biei Furii Kippu (ふらの・びえいフリーきっぷ) for local travelers. Many of deals are available for the foreign tourist who enter Japan as short term stay. But anyone can purchase this ticket.
Compare regular fare and Furano Biei Rail Ticket
It is very easy to get the worth of this ticket. Please see the fare table for major segments.
| Segment | Transportation | Fare (one way) |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo – Asahikawa | Limited Express Kamui or Lilac | 4,290 |
| Sapporo – Furano | Limited Express Furano Lavender Express | 4,290 |
| Asahikawa to Biei | Local train | 540 |
| Asahikawa to Furano | Local train | 1,070 |
| Furano to Biei | Local train | 640 |
You may get the worth by only round trip to Furano or Asahikawa. You may get the worth by Sapporo-Asahikawa-Furano-Sapporo too. Most of you have this circle plan or get Furano or Asahikawa and visit Biei. You can get the worth by any type of tours. If you have plan to visit Furano and/or Biei, just buy this ticket anyway.
Compare Furano Biei Rail Ticket and Hokkaido Rail Pass
Hokkaido Rail Pass is much more expensive than Furano Biei Rail Ticket.
Hokkaido Rail Pass. The best deal for rail trip in Hokkaido for oversea visitors
Even 3 days of Hokkaido Rail Pass is 16,500 yen. The price is 10,000 yen higher than Furano Biei Rail Ticket. Hokkaido Rail Pass is not the choice for the trip to Furano and Biei obviously. However if you think about a few day trips from Sapporo, Hokkaido Rail Pass is better choice than Furano Biei Rail Ticket.
e.g.
Day 1 – Day trip to Asahikawa from Sapporo
Day 2 – Day trip to Furano and Biei from Sapporo
Day 3 – Day trip to Noboribetsu onsen and Lake Toya from Sapporo
Hokkaido Rail Pass offers unlimited train travel in all part of Hokkaido. If you use Furano Biei Rail Ticket, you cannot make two round trips between Sapporo and Furano/Asahikawa. It includes only one round trip. But you can do it by Hokkaido Rail Pass. And also if you visit other than Furano, Biei and Asahikawa, Furano Biei Rail Ticket does not help at all.
If you think about visiting Hakodate and stay overnight there, you need Hokkaido Rail Pass anyway. You can get the worth of 3 days Hokkaido Rail Pass by round trip between Sapporo and Hakodate. If you add Furano and Biei after trip to Hakodate, which pass is the best choice?
Hokkaido Rail Pass 3 days (16,500 yen) + Furano Biei Rail Ticket (6,500 yen) = 23,000 yen
Hokkaido Rail Pass 5 days 22,000 yen
Hokkaido Rail Pass Flex 4 days 22,000 yen
Hokkaido Rail Pass 7 days 24,000 yen
If you can complete Hakodate, Furano and Biei in 5 days, Hokkaido Rail Pass 5 days is the best choice. But if you will spend 7 days, Hokkaido Rail Pass + Furano Biei Rail Ticket seems to be the best choice. But Hokkaido Rail Pass covers reserved seat on limited express train. If you travel in peak season, that makes you be comfortable because you can secure your seat. Hokkaido Rail Pass 7 days is 1,000 yen higher but you can get bigger benefit.
Flex 4 days may be the best choice. You can pick any 4 days in 10 days period.
e.g.
Day 1 – Sapporo to Hakodate (use pass day 1)
Day 2 – Hakodate sightseeing
Day 3 – Hakodate to Asahikawa with stopover at Noboribetsu (use pass day 2)
Day 4 – Asahikawa sightseeing
Day 5 – Trip to Furano and Biei (use pass day 3)
Day 6 – Asahikawa to Otaru and back to Sapporo (use pass day 4)
You may use Flex 4 days pass like this.
The price of Furano Biei Rail Ticket is very affordable. However if you travel several spots other than Furano, Biei and Asahikawa, Hokkaido Rail Pass is better choice.
Assessment
The price of Furano Biei Rail Ticket is very attractive. This is highly recommended if you intend to stay in Asahikawa, Furano and/or Biei. This is a perfect choice for small trip to these areas from Sapporo.
Comments
Hi Takeshi-san, I’ll be travelling from Otaru to Furano, Kamifurano & Biei from 5/8/19 to 10/8/19. Wud it be good for me to buy the Furano Biei Rail Pass for travelling around and how much will it cost? Also where can I buy the Pass from? Thanks Lydia
Hi Lydia san,
You can use this pass. But this pass covers from Sapporo to Furano and Biei. You have to pay a regular fare for Otaru to Sapporo. The price is shown in the post above. You can buy this at the ticket window in Sapporo station. It may be sold in Otaru station too. But even if you buy it at Otaru, you still have to pay the regular fare for Otaru to Sapporo.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Tks Takeshi-san for quick response. Sori I can’t locate e cost of Furano Biei Pass. Cud u tell me Plse? Tks Lydia
Hi Lydia san,
The price is 6500 yen. It is shown at the chapter of “Prices and valid period” in the post.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thank you for sharing so much of information on this weblink.
Whilst my main focus was the Lavenders, I wud also like to see the sunflowers at Hokuryu and pick cherries if possible from a farm. I’m travelling alone and wud like your advise if there buses that I can take to go to Hokuryu and cherry farm? Thanks
Hi Lydia,
I know that there are the bus running from both Asahikawa station and Takikawa station. But unfortunately I don’t have any timetables. I have no idea how often the bus runs to these places. And these buses are not covered by Furano Biei Rail Ticket.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thanks Takeshi-san. Good to know dat buses go there which will find out more from Travel Service Centre when in Japan.
When I use Furano Biei Pass, can I do multiple trips during 4-days validity to sightsee various places in Furano, Kami Furano, Biei & Asahikawa? Thanks again
Hi Lydia san,
You can ride the local train in these areas as many as you want by this pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thanks Takeshi-san.
I’ve bought 4-days flexible Hokkaido Pass and intend to buy the Furano Biei Pass for 4 consecutive days to sightsee Furano (Lavender Farm) \Biei (Blue Pond)\Asahikawa (Hokuryu Sunflower & Cherry Farm) then to Hakodate for 2 days before return to Sapporo.
I’ve drafted my itinerary and wud be grateful if you cud advice if the following itinerary shld be revised so I cud maximise my stay and use of the Passes whilst in Hokkaido:-
05/08/19 Otaru – Sapporo – Furano via Furano Lavender Express from Sapporo at 9.05am (if available) then to Lavender Farms using Hokkaido Pass
06/08/19 Sightsee Furano\Nakafurano
07/08/19 Furano – Asahikawa to sightsee Sunflowers at Hokuryu Farm via bus and Cherry Farm using Furano Biei Pass
08/08/19 Daisetsusan & surroundings
09 & 10/08/19 Kamifurano stay at Farm Pension with You and sightsee Blue Pond & Shikisai No Oka (Biei) and surroundings
11/08/19 Bibaushi Station to Sapporo – Hakodate to stay for 2 nights
13/08/19 Hakodate to Sapporo using Hokkaido Pass
Thanks again
Lydia
Hi Lydia san,
Your itinerary is okay but I don’t think that you need Furano Biei Rail Ticket. I didn’t know that you will use Hokkaido rail pass flex 4-day. And you intend to use this for Otaru-Sapporo-Furano and Bibaushi-Hakodate. So you will use Furano Biei Rail Ticket for Furano, Biei and Asahikawa area only. The one way fare for Furano to Asahikawa is 1,070 yen. The one way fare for Furano to Biei is 640 yen. So if you make three round trips between Furano and Asahikawa, you will get the worth. I think the regular ticket is cheaper. If you really want to compare it, please make sure how many travels you make by train. You can get the fare at hyperdia:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
I think you need Hokkaido Rail Pass only.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you Takeshi-san for your patience & advice for my Hokkaido trip. Will do detailed planning and then decide if I still need the Furano Biei Pass.
Surprised you’re still responding during the weekend. Take Care & Best Regards Lydia
No worries, Lydia san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
can this furano bei rail ticket be used from new chitose aiport to sapporo to unlimited furano area?
some japan guide said it could be used from chitose aiport or sapporo?
Hi Mimi,
In my understanding, it covers from JR stations in the city of Sapporo. New Chitose is not located in the city of Sapporo. So it does not cover from New Chitose to Furano area. You have to start using from Sapporo.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
thank you so much
from JR Furano station, i saw at some website there is a bus 4 times a day to Furano Jam Garden,
but i can’t find the bus schedule
can anyone give me the bus schedule to Furano Jam Garden and
back from Furano jam Garden?
very much appreciated as i am afraid to drive in Japan but there seems no other way to get to the jam garden
Hi Mimi,
As far as I know, there is no bus running. Only driving is the way to get there. I checked Japanese official website and it does not say anything about the bus.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Awesome!
Thanks for the speedy reply Takeshi.
If I were to buy it at a train station, do you know which train stations have it?
Hi Gengyan,
You can buy it most of JR stations around Sapporo.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Awesome. Thanks Takeshi!
No worries, Gengyan.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
Kindly advise when can Furano Biei Rail Ticket avaiable for purchase and whether I can purchase it online.
Many thanks.
Laras
Hi Laras san,
I believe it will come up very soon but I cannot confirm it at this point.
This ticket was not sold online before. I think this ticket will be sold at the window only.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, how do I contact JRhokkaido to check with them for the availability of the furano-biei passes?
Hi Gengyan,
It’s available now. It has not been updated in JR Hokkaido English website but I could find it in Japanese site.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Awesome! Thanks for the speedy reply Takeshi!
No worries, Gengyan.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi
Planning to kamiyubetsu tulip park in 16 may from asahikawa station. Thinking to take jr train from asahikawa station to engaru station then from engaru station take a taxi, may I know the fare? Is there any buses from asahikawa to tulip park?
Hi Agnes,
Unfortunately I cannot find the taxi fare to get the park. You can find the train fare for the train at hyperdia:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
As far as I know, there is no bus running between Asahikawa and Kamiyubetsu tulip park.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you Takeshi for reply my enquiry. I would like to know if i buy JR hokkaido pass , so long i take JR train i can use? If happen take their local train can i use? I m going from Asahikawa, Furano. Biei to Sapporo for 8 days in May 2019.
Hi Agnes,
You may take any JR trains in Hokkaido by Hokkaido Rail Pass. But I cannot say which pass the best one is for your trip at this point. Please decide how you spend your 8 days in Hokkaido. I understand that you will visit Asahikawa, Furano, Biei, and Sapporo. But how do you get Asahikawa? Are going to arrive in New Chitose and transfer to Asahikawa directly? Where are you going to stay? Are you going to stay in Asahikawa and make a day trip to Furano and Biei. Or are you going to stay overnight in Furano and Biei as well? How about the trip to Engaru?
Please fix your trip plan day by day before choosing the deal.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi San
Please advise which JR pass should we get .
13 July – fly in Sapporo for 4 nights
16 July – day trip to furano
17 July – Otaru for one night
18 July – fly to Nagoya to Takayama
20 July – Kyoto
22 July – Osaka for three night before heading back to Singapore.
Thank you.
Hi Sally san,
I recommend you to use JR pass 7-day for 16 July to 22 July.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
You may use a regular fare ticket or subway pass in Sapporo before using JR pass.
http://www.sapporo.travel/learn/transportation/sapporo/?lang=en
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
I plan to travel from Sapporo to Asahikawa in mid June 2019 and stay in Asahikawa for a 4 days and within the 4 days , I intend to travel from Asahikawa to Biei , Naka Furano and Furano before going back to Sapporo from Asahikawa.
Please advise whether I can use Furano Biei Rail Ticket Pass and when does JR Company normally announce availability time of the ticket.
Many thanks.
Laras
Hi Laras san,
You can use this ticket if it’s available. I believe it will be available in this season and the official announcement will be made soon.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JRPail.com
Hi Team,
Just wondering if you would know whether this pass (fFurano Biei Rail Ticket) will be sold in 2019 as well?
Many thanks
Hi Christine,
I think it will be but JR Hokkaido has not announced yet. I think it will come up sometimes in March.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
Good day, hope you can help us 🙂 We’ll be arriving at Sapporo on November 4th 2018 and fly out back to Tokyo on the 7th. Can you please inform which pass should we get to go to nearby town from Sapporo (Tomita Farm/Furano/Biei/Otaru) because from what i’ve read so far there’s no services operating within those days, worse part is we cannot change our travel dates. Please help, Thank you.
Hi Dinnie san,
Train runs as normal in your travel date but many deals are no longer available because unfortunately November is not a peak season. You may use S ticket which is round trip ticket to Asahikawa from Sapporo. Please see the link below:
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/pdf/e-direction03.pdf
You have to add a regular fare ticket for Asahikawa to/from Biei and Furano, and also between airport, Sapporo and Otaru. Please use hyperdia to find the fare:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
You can find the train timetable in the link below too:
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/train/index.html#ip1
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi San,
Really appreciate your response. Sorry to ask another question, so this S ticket can take us for any round trip on JR train from Sapporo -Asahikawa – Sapporo within 6 days of use? and I’m guessing there’s a JR counter at New Chitose Airport?
Thank you for informing on this, you’ve been a real help 🙂
Hi Dinnie san,
It’s valid for 6 days.
There is an information desk in New Chitose.
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/travel/info.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Can I purchase this Furano Biel Pass if I plan to travel from Sapporo to Asahikawa (spend 3 nights) ? At the same time travel to Furano? Then on the 4th day,travel back to Sapporo from Asahikawa?
I don’t understand where it is mentioned that the ticket will be invalid if I stop at a unrestricted area.
Thanks. I hope you can clarify.
Hi Hyee,
You can use Furano Biei Pass for your trip. If you stop by and exit station between Takikawa and Sapporo, ticket will be invalid. As long as you stay in the coverage area, you can take trains as many as you want. It offers unlimited travel.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com