JR Hokkaido Mail Magazine – Let’s go to Furano and Biei! Traveling HOKKAIDO by Train
May,2010
INDEX 1. Special discount ticket to let you fully enjoy the beautiful sceneries: Furano Biei Round Tour Ticket . 2. The Twinkle Bus takes you around Furano and Biei. 3. The journey in Hokkaido can be flexible with Rail & Rent a car!
Enjoy beautiful green scenery from the train windows.
While enjoying sceneries appear in a frame of the train window, the train takes you to your destination at leisure. Let’s go and visit peaceful country sides this summer again! Special discount ticket to let you fully enjoy the beautiful sceneries: Furano Biei Round Tour Ticket The summer season is coming to the Furano and Biei area. The beautiful flowers and hills and scenery will relax and comfort you. What you need to travel around Furano and Biei efficiently are: the limited express train “Furano Lavender Express” that takes you directly from Sapporo to Furano; the “Furano/Biei Norokko go” that allows you to enjoy the scenery along the railway at a leisurely speed; and the “Twinkle Bus” that starts from the Furano or Biei station and takes you to all the nearby tourist spots. “Furano Biei Round Tour Ticket” is 4 day validity period. This ticket allows unlimited train rides in the Free Area. Please enjoy staying in Furano and Biei using this ticket! The fields of flowers, with all their vivid colors, await you again this year! Furano Biei Round Tour Ticket （（（Valid period is 4 days ））） Sales period May5 Oct.14,2010 Use period Jun5 Oct.17,2010 Sapporo Dep.5,400yen （age 6 to 11: 2,700Yen ）,New Chitose Airport Dep.7,400yen Fare （age 6 to 11:3,700Yen ）
* If you get off at any station outside of the Free Area, the ticket becomes invalid. This does not include Sapporo Station, however, when you departure is from New Chitose Airport Station. * With the departure from New Chitose Airport Station, the valid train to Sapporo Station is the only local train with unreserved seating. “Furano Biei Round Tour Ticket ” is a set, Ticket A and Ticket B. “Ticket A” is valid only from the departed station to the first station to get off at in the Free Area. Please be sure to turn in this ticket to the station staff when you get off. “Ticket B” is for unlimited rides in the Free Area and also the return trip to your first departure station. After Ticket A is collected at the station, Ticket B enables you to take unlimited rides in the Free Area, and will also bring you back to your departure station. It is valid for 4 days. Please do not lose it. How to use the ticket
Limited Express (L’EX) ‘Furano Lavender Express’ It links Sapporo and Furano, a comfortable ride of about 2 hours without any transfers. Tentative schedules and operation date plans for the major stations (2010): Toward Dep. Dep. Arr. Days of Operation Furano Sapporo Takikawa Furano No.1 7:55 9:00 9:53 Daily July.3 Aug.15 Daily June.5 Aug.31 Sept.4 ・5、11 ・12 、18 20 、 No.3 9:06 10:05 11:02 23 、25 ・26 Oct. 2 ・3、9－11 No.5 10:10 11:16 12:17 Daily July.17 Aug.1 Toward Dep. Dep. Arr. Days of Operation Sapporo Furano Takikawa Sapporo No.2 14:10 15:10 16:28 Daily July .3 Aug.15 Daily June.5 Aug.31 Sept.4 ・5、11 ・12 、18 20 、 No.4 16:29 17:23 18:29 23 、25 ・26 Oct. 2 ・3、9－11 No.6 17:36 18:34 19:37 Daily July.17 Aug.1 Furano Biei Norokko Train’ You can enjoy splendid views of the nature from the wide windows of the train running slowly! During the operation period of the Norokko go, the “Lavender Field Station” will be in use between Nishinaka and Naka Furano stations. The closest flower garden, “Farm Tomita,” is an enjoyable 7 minutes walk from the station. Tentative schedules and operation date plans for the major stations (2010) Operates:: Daily June 5 thru August 31 Sept. 4・5、11 ・12 、18 20 、23 、25 ・26 Oct. 2・3、9－11 Toward Dep. Dep. Dep. Lavender Arr. Furano Furano Asahikawa Biei Fields No. 1 10:03 10:39 11:16 11:37 No. 3 ― 13:02 13:40 13:52 No. 5 ― 15:08 15:44 15:57 Toward Dep. Lavender Dep. Arr. Dep. Furano Asahikawa Fields Biei Asahikawa No. 2 11:52 12:14 12:54 ― No. 4 13:59 14:21 15:03 ― No. 6 16:13 16:38 17:20 17:45 Rail Connections From Super Kamui No. 5: Dep. Sapporo 08: 25> Arr. Asahikawa 09: 45 > Change to Furano Sapporo Biei Norokko Train: Dep. 10:03 Return to Furano Biei Norokko Train: Dep. Furano 16:13 > Arr. Asahikawa 17:45 > Change to Sapporo Super Kamui No. 46: Dep. 18:00 > Arr. Sapporo 19:20 The Twinkle Bus takes you around Furano and Biei. For people wish to visit tourist spots away from the station but who do not want to drive a rent a car, the Twinkle Bus, limited to JR passengers, is very convenient. It departs from and returns you to Biei and Furano stations to smoothly assist your travel. Reservations are available at the ticket counters in our stations and at Twinkle Plaza. Reservation When your tour plan is made, please purchase the ticket at your earliest convenience, as seats are limited. Fares vary with each tour. Please refer to the following. Fare Passengers with Furano Biei Round Tour Ticket , Lavender’s Hill Free Kippu, Lavender Free Pass, Japan Rail Pass, or JR Hokkaido Rail Pass also need to purchase the ticket. 1. Twinkle Bus Biei Hill Country Course
It takes you to the standard tourist spots in Biei. The following is the schedule of operation. The bus with ● mark will run. Bus Numbers No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8 Departure Times 9:20 10:50 11:05 11:55 13:05 14:05 15:15 16:15 Daily June 5 30 ● ● ● Daily July 1 August 31 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Sept.4 ・5、11 ・12 、18 20 、 The tree of Seven star ● ● ● 23 、25 ・26
Fare 500Yen. age 6 11 250Yen Travel time approximately 50 minutes. Biei Station > The tree of Ken & Mary (view from bus) > The tree of Seven star (Stopover time about 10 min.) > The Route tree of Family (view from bus) > Northwest observatory park Northwest observatory park (Stopover time about 10 min.) > Return to Biei Station The tree of Ken & Mary 2. Twinkle Bus Biei: Takushin kan Course
Takushin kan Gallery offers you a chance to enjoy landscape photography of our beautiful scenery. The gallery itself looks out on the Shikisai Hill, covered with brilliant summer flowers. The following is the schedule of operation. The bus with ● mark will run. Takushinkan Takushinkan Takushinkan Bus Numbers No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 Departure Times 10:45 13:10 15:40 Daily June 5 30 ● Daily July 1 August ● ● ●
Fare 500Yen,age 6 to 11: 250Yen Travel approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. time Biei Station > Shinei hill observatory The Hill of Seasonal Colors park l (view from bus) > Takushinkan (Photo Art Gallery) (Stopover time about Route 10 min.) > The Hill of Seasonal Colors (Stopover time about 10 min.) > Bibaushi Elementary School (view from bus) > Return to Biei Station 3. Twinkle Bus Furano
A set of the drama “Garden of the Wind,” the moving story that has attracted many people is in Furano. You can enjoy a moment of serenity and comfort in this garden filled with bloomed flowers. Daily June 5 August 31 Days of Sept.4 ・5、11 ・12 、18 20 、23 、25 ・26 Operation Oct. 2・3、9－11 Fare 1,000Yen, age 6 to 11: 500Yen Travel time approximately 4 hours.
Goro’s Stone House Furano Station: Dep. 11:50 > Jun and Yui’s Recycled House (Stopover time about 15 min.) > Goro’s Stone House(Stopover time about 20 min.) > Anpan Man Shop / Furano Jam Factory (Stopover time about 1 hour.) > Route Furano Cheese Factory (Stopover time about 15 min. ) > Shin Furano Prince Hotel / Kaze no Gāden (Stopover time about 1 hour. ) > Return to Furano Station: Arr. 16:00) Kaze no Gāden (Wind Garden) 4. Twinkle Bus Biei Lavender Course The tour renewed ！！！
After traveling a straight road that extends uphill and downhill like a roller coaster, and after visiting many beautiful tourist spots, including a purple carpet at the foot of Tokachi mountain ranges, you can taste good wines at the Furano Wine Factory.
Days of July 3（Sat ） Aug 15（Sun ） Operation Fare 1,000Yen, age 6 to 11: 500Yen Travel time 2 hours 20 minutes. Biei Station Dep. 13:30 →Roller Coaster Road （view from bus ）→Lavender East Route fields （Stopover time about 20 min ）→Furano Winery: （Stopover time about 30 min ） →Furano Station Arr.15:50 Roller Coaster Road Lavender East (Early July) Furano Winery
5.Twinkle Bus Furano Lavender Course New ！！！ You can sample rich cheeses made in Furano and also enjoy flavorful ice cream at the Milk Kobo (factory).You can spend a whole hour at the Farm Tomita and savor the deep scent of the lavender fields. Days of July 3（Sat ） Aug 15（Sun） Operation Fare 1,000Yen, age 6 to 11: 500Yen Travel time 2 hours 40 minutes. Furano Station Dep.10 ：10→Furano Cheese Factory （Stopover ） ルート Farm Tomita （Stopover ）→ Panorama Load Ehana （view from bus ）→Biei Station Arr.12 ：50
Farm Tomita: Mid July Biei Station The journey in Hokkaido can be flexible with Rail & Rent a car! JR Hokkaido offers a discount service for “Eki Rent a car” for those passengers with special tickets! Take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy your travels using the valuable Rail & Rent a car plan! Beautiful scenery, many sites of interest, and a number of popular tourist facilities are found along the railway line in the northern land. Your trip in Hokkaido can have more flexibility and be more enjoyable when you combine trains and rent a car. Take the train for long distance destinations, to get there quickly and comfortably. After arriving to the destination, you can drive a rent a car to travel around at your own pace. 1. The Eki Rent a car discount plan is limited to those passengers how have a Hokkaido Rail Pass (For the entire Hokkaido area) Our special recommendation is the “Flexible 4 day” Rail Pass. Valid for 10 days from the date of purchase, the pass can be used on any of 4 days that you select. Compared to the 3 day or 5 day Hokkaido Rail Pass, this plan allows greater flexibility, since you can a rent a car if you wish and you don’t need to travel on consecutive dates. Using our model tours as a guide, please create your own travel plan that will enable you to visit interesting spots in a wide area and to taste the various foods of Hokkaido. * It is necessary to make the online reservation. Please refer to the JR Hokkaido website with foreign languages for more details. Point1：：：You can get up to 32% off when you make your reservation online for the Hokkaido Rail Pass and the Eki Rent a car deal. Hokkaido Rail Pass Rent A Car General Rates Preferential Rates Compact Compact Car Large Car Large Car Rental Periods Car (5 people) (7 people) (7 people) (5 people) Jan. thru 24 hours 7,870 yen 12,600 yen 5,500 yen 10,500 yen June // → Sept. thru Per day after 6,820 yen 10,500 yen 5,500 yen 9,550 yen Dec. 24 hours 24 hours 11,020 yen 15,750 yen 7,500 yen 13,500 yen July and Per day after August 8,400 yen 12,600 yen 7,000 yen 11,440 yen 24 hours ※ Includes tax and miscellaneous fees. Summer is a busy season so we recommend you reserve early. Reservations can be made up to 3 days before the reservation date. Online Reservations ！ Point2：：：It’s free to return your rental car anywhere in the same zone! Zone Rental Car Office Locations A Hakodate, Onuma Park Sapporo, Otaru, Shin Chitose Airport, Tomakomai, B Noboribetsu, Higashi Muroran, Toya C Asahikawa, Biei, Furano D Wakkanai E Kitami, Abashir F Obihiro G Kushiro Rental car offices in Hokkaido are divided into the above 7 zones. Cars can be returned to any location within the same zone without charge. A supplementary charge will ber required if the car is returned to a location in a different zone. Ex. 1: A car rented at Biei Station can be returned at Furano Station with no charge. Ex. 2: A car rented at Asahikawa Station and returned at Sapporo Station requires a supplementary fee. ※ Please check on the fee required to return a car in a different zone at the time of rental.
Point3 ：：：Even with a lot of baggage, it’s easy to travel using a rent a car. You can rent and return the car at the station. And getting into the car or boarding the train is the only time you need to carry your baggage.
2. The Eki Rent a car discount plan is limited to those passengers who have a Furano Biei Round Tour Ticket (For the limited period) This more valuable plan is recommended, but only if you wish to use a rent a car only in the Furano and Biei area. * Limited to passengers with Furano Biei Round Tour Ticket . * The reservation must be made in advance in Hokkaido. “Rent a car Optional Ticket” with Furano Biei Round Tour Ticket Sale period: May 5 – October 8, 2010 Valid period June 5 – October 11, 2010 Fare 3,000 yen (4,000 yen in July and August) * Indemnity restitution charge and consumption tax included. Rent place Asahikawa and Furano stations ※The car must be returned to the rent station.(When you rent a car from Asahikawa Station, it must be returned to the Asahikawa Station.) Rent a car period One day (car rental and return must be completed within the business hour of each office) Business hour Asahikawa Office / 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Furano Office / 9:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Car type S class (1,000 – 1,400 cc / Automatic drive only) Reservation Reservation in advance required. Please contact JR Hokkaido stations or travel centers at least 3 days prior to date of pick up. Reservations by telephones or internets are not accepted. The number of cars is limited. Hokkaido in summer You can encounter pleasing and beautiful scenery everywhere you go.
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