Furano Ski Resort sits around 200km / 4 hours from the hugely popular combined resorts of Niseko United however for many people, it’s their favourite ski resort in Hokkaido. The inland location of Furano means it receives less snow that Niseko and other resorts closer to the coast, but it also means the snow is drier and lighter – with many people claiming Furano experiences the best powder in the world.

The resort offers a great balance of excellent skiing and snowboarding and enough amenities including some good accommodation, without the resort being overdeveloped – a criticism you might hear levelled at Niseko. As such Furano retains its Japanese character with most accommodation located at the base of the ski fields or around 20-minutes away in Furano Village.

Furano is operated by Prince Hotel groups, with two large hotels located in the Kitanomine and Furano Zones of the resort. Both hotels offer a variety of room types, multiple restaurants, in-house shops, rental and a full-suite of services targeted at the Japanese market and families. Away from the hotels, there’s a good range of smaller lodges and family-run guesthouses, typically available at much lower rates than you’ll find in Niseko or nearby Hoshino Resorts Tomamu. It’s important to note that while Furano has a large village with plenty of accommodation, it sits around 20-mintues from the Kitanomine zone of the resort and is actually at its busiest outside of winter when the region attracts thousands of visitors to its famous flower fields. While it is certainly an option when looking for accommodation, if you’re after easy access to the ski fields make sure to find some closer to the resort base.