If you want to escape the heat of the city during Japan’s scorching summer, Hokkaido would be your ideal destination to cool down. Moreover, lavender and other delightful blossoms fill a canvas of rainbow fields in Furano and Biei . Getting to these two wonderful locations has become an exciting adventure by hopping on variable trains of distinct styles and colors.
From Sapporo station to Furano station, you can take several route options. The most convenient is the direct purple-colored Furano Lavender Express, which takes less than two hours. Less costly would be the silver Kamui Line and green Lilac Line, with one change at Takikawa station for the Nemuro line or a change at Asahikawa station for the Furano line, both ways taking approximately two to three hours.
Furano Biei Norokko Train Photo by: PIXTA/ Anesthesia One of the country’s most antiquated operating train lines. The Furano line continues to Nakafurano, which brings you closer to the flower gardens. However, the special Furano Biei Norokko train passes along an exclusive route that opens your eyes to a patchwork of amazing lavender and other colorful flower fields and pretty red- and brown-roofed farmhouses against the backdrop of the Tokachi mountain range.
“Norokko” pertains to the Japanese expression “noroi,” meaning slow, and “torokko ressha” indicates a trolley train. The Furano line opened in 1899, making it one of the country’s most antiquated operating train lines. From Furano station,.
