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Orientation

Four municipalities, Furano City, Nakafurano Town, Kamifurano Town and Biei Town, make up the area commonly referred to as Furano and Biei.

Because attractions are spread over the entire region and public transportation is rather poor, a rental car is the recommended means for getting around. There are a few rental car outlets around Furano Station, and even more of them at Asahikawa Airport and in central Asahikawa.

Alternatively, cycling is an attractive way of getting around. Rental bicycles are available for typically 200 yen per hour for a regular bicycle and 600 yen per hour for an electrically powered bicycle. Do not underestimate distances. Furano and Biei, for example, are over 30 kilometers apart from each other.

The JR Furano Line connects Furano with Biei and Asahikawa. Trains run roughly once per hour, and the one way trip between Furano and Biei takes about 40 minutes, costs 620 yen and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Hokkaido Rail Pass. During summer, most trains stop at the temporarily constructed Lavender-Batake Station, a short walk from Farm Tomita.

Also during the summer the Furano-Biei Norokko, a special train for tourists, operates along the Furano Line. In 2011, there are 1-3 round trips per day from June 11 through August and on weekends in September and early October. The train carries nostalgic cars with wide windows and unreserved and reserved seats. Seat reservations cost a 300 yen supplement, but are free for JR pass holders.

The regular bus network around Furano is rather poor, and many sights and flower farms are not served by public transportation, at all. One bus line of general interest, however, is the Lavender-go bus, which connects Asahikawa Station with Asahikawa Airport, Biei and Furano once every 1-2 hours.

Furthermore, there is the seasonally operating Furano Kururu Bus, a loop line for tourists which connects Furano Station with the Cheese Factory, the Furano Winery and a few other of Furano's sights six times per day. A 1-day pass costs 900 yen and a 2-day pass 1000 yen. They include discounts for selected sights and shops. In 2011 the Kururu Bus runs from June 18 to August 15.

Sightseeing buses are numerous around Furano, but a lot of them do not target foreign tourists. Easy to use by foreigners are the Twinkle Buses by JR Hokkaido, which are for exclusive use by travelers using JR. Reservations are mandatory (not covered by the JR passes) and can be made at JR railway stations across Hokkaido. The following courses are offered around Furano and Biei in summer 2011:

From Furano Station:

	Twinkle Bus Furano (1000 yen, 4 hours)
	Starts and ends in Furano, visiting the Cheese Factory, the filming locations of popular TV dramas and a few shops. Operates once daily from June 11 through August and on weekends in September and early October.
	Twinkle Bus Furano - Lavender Course (1000 yen, 3 hours)
	Leads from Furano to Biei, visiting the Cheese Factory and Farm Tomita along the way. Operates once daily from July 2 to August 14.

From Biei Station:

	Twinkle Bus Biei - Hill Country Course (500 yen, 1 hour)
	Starts and ends in Biei, visiting the trees and observatory of the Patchwork Road area. Operates 3-7 times daily from June 11 through August and on weekends in September and early October.
	Twinkle Bus Biei - Takushin-kan Course (500 yen, 100 minutes)
	Starts and ends in Biei, visiting the Takushin-kan photo gallery and Shikisai Hill. Operates 1-3 times daily from June 11 to August 31.
	Twinkle Bus Biei - Lavender Course (1000 yen, 3 hours)
	Leads from Biei to Furano, visiting Lavender East and Furano Winery along the way. Operates once daily from July 2 to August 14.