SEP.2017 JRHokkaido Mail Magazine Fall Foliage Train Tour ! Contents: 1.Visit Japan's first colors of autumn‒ Asahidake 2. Good to visit in autumn! Furano&Biei 1.Visit Japan's first colors of autumn ‒ Asahidake Where is the first place in Japan to see autumn colors? The answer is the Daisetsuzan National Park, which is located in the middle of Hokkaido with the colors of leaves starting to change in early September. Daisetsuzan National Park is the largest national park in Japan with a total area of 230,000 hactares , including Mt. Asahidake,the highest peak in Hokkaido. The easy way to enjoy the spectacular nature landscape is to take the Asahidake Ropeway. Start the journey from Sapporo station, you can take a JR Limited Express train bound for Asahikawa with the riding time of only 1 hour and 25 minutes. Then transfer to the bus from Asahikawa station to the entrance of Asahidake Ropeway called “Sanroku station”. Here you ride the Asahidake Ropeway for about 10 minutes to get to Sugatami Station at 1600 m above sea level. After getting off the ropeway, there is a 1-hour exploration path available where you can enjoy the landscape view of Daisetsuzan mountains from observation points and also visit nature spots like Sugatami Pond and Meoto Pond. When visiting Sugatami Station, wearing shoes (ex. sport shoes) that let you move easily and comfortably is recommended. In case of rapid changes of weather in the mountain, bringing warm clothes and rain gear is also suggested. Recommended route Ltd. Exp. Lilac No.5 Bus Asahidake ropeway Mt. Strolling Asahidake Sugatami Sapporo Asahikawa around (Sanroku Sta. Sugatami Sta.) Sta. 08:30 Dep. 09:55 Arr. 10:10 Dep. 11:36 Arr. Asahidake ropeway Bus Ltd. Exp. Kamui No.46 Taking Sugatami Sanroku a hot Mt. Asahikawa Sapporo Sta. Sta. spring Asahidake bath 18:00 Dep. 19:26 Arr. 20:00 Dep. 21:25 Arr. For more details of the timetables and fares, please check the followings： Asahikawa Denki Kido Bus：ttp://www.asahikawa-denkikidou.jp/kyouei/ideyu%20gaikokugo(2016.10.1).pdf Asahidake ropeway：http://asahidake.hokkaido.jp/en/ ※Image photos. Publisher: Inbound Tourism Sales & Marketing Railway Operation Headquarters Hokkaido Railway Company Copyright © Hokkaido Railway Company ALL Rights Reserved. 01 SEP.2017 Fall Foliage Train Tour ! JRHokkaido Mail Magazine 2.Good to visit in autumn! Furano&Biei After the colorful flower season, it turns to harvest season in Furano and Biei area. Brown-colored hills and yellow-tinged trees are very reminiscent of autumn, the pastoral scenery extends covering all the fields. We especially recommend visiting “Blue pond” and “Shikisai-no-oka”. The forest trees surrounding “Blue pond” turn to autumn color, where you can enjoy a totally different landscape from summer. Also you can visit the panoramic flower field in ”Shikisai-no-oka” until the end of October. After the summer peak season, without tourist crowds you can relax with a change in peace and enjoy your time in Furano and Biei. When visiting “Blue pond” and “Shikisai-no-oka”, it is convenient to take the “Flower Fields and Blue Pond course” of “Biei View Bus” from Biei station. Biei View Bus： http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/travel/pdf/fb03.pdf Bus route：http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/travel/pdf/fb04.pdf When travelling to Furano and Biei from Sapporo, the special discount ticket ”Furano Biei Rail Ticket” is recommended. For more details, please check the followings: http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/travel/pdf/fb02.pdf Recommended route（September 25th -October 9th） Ltd. Exp. Kamui No.9 Local train Sapporo Asahikawa Biei 09:30 Dep. 10:55 Arr. 11:33 Dep. 12:07 Arr. Biei View Bus (Flower Fields and Blue Pond Course) 13:45 Dep. 16:40 Arr. Local train Ltd. Exp. Kamui No.42 Biei Asahikawa Sapporo 17:39 Dep. 18:16 Arr. 18:30 Dep. 19:55 Arr. ※Image photos.Publisher: Inbound Tourism Sales & Marketing Railway Operation Headquarters Hokkaido Railway Company Copyright © Hokkaido Railway Company ALL Rights Reserved. 02.