JR Hokkaido--Furano Summer Special Trains
Today marks the first day of service of two JR special trains serving the Furano area. A strong welcome committee of volunteers, JR executives, local tourism officials, around 20 train buff photographers, and even the Mayors of Furano and Nakafurano were on hand to welcome the first riders of the season.
The first "special train" is the Lavender Express providing a direct, high-speed link between Furano and Sapporo station. It leaves Sapporo at 7:41 AM, and stops at Iwamizawa, Takikawa, and Ashibetsu, arriving in Furano at 9:44 AM. Faster and easier than driving!
The return train to Sapporo departs Furano at 4:53 PM, stops at those other places, and arrives back in Sapporo at 6:52 PM.
The Lavender Express will run on June 7, and then daily from June 13 thru August 11, and then Sat/Sun until September 20, with a last Silver Week hurrah of Sep 21-23. All seats are reserved.
The second train is the beloved throwback Norokko, quaintly & unhurriedly plying its way between Biei and Furano with open air cars. For train buffs, this is the last year the Norokko will be operating its current equipment. The JR guys tell me they will have a new & improved Norokko locomotive and cars next year.
The first and last Norokko trains of the day leave and return to Asahikawa. For the rest of the day, it goes back and forth between Furano and Biei, stopping at Bibaiushi (home of Shikisai no Oka), Kamifurano (Hinode Park lavender field), Lavender Station (across the street from Farm Tomita), Nakafurano, and Furano. It gets you to your flower spots.
Norokko also runs June 7, and then daily from June 13 thru August 11, and then Sat/Sun until September 20, with a last Silver Week hurrah of Sep 21-23. All seats are reserved. You don't actually get an assigned seat, but they only sell the number of tickets as there are seats, so no free standing in the aisles like most trains in Japan.
See you in Furano.