TRAVEL TOGETHER
Make this trip work for your group
Driving days combine Biei, Furano and mountain scenery.
- Adjust the route
- Adapt Asahidake to weather and stamina after long driving and hill walking.
- Check your room
- Compare the bed layout and room occupancy for your group. For friends, confirm separate beds or rooms; for couples, check the booked room category and outlook.
An editorial match to this route, not an accessibility or age-suitability certification. Existing budgets use the group size stated in the article; recalculate for your party.
THE ROUTE
Staying in Asahikawa,
Let's go to the earliest fall.
On the first day, we take the train to Asahikawa, and on the second day, we take a rental car to Biei and Furano. After seeing the zoo on the third day, stay overnight at Asahidake Onsen, and walk through the autumn leaves at Sugatami Pond on the last day. The fatigue of driving long distances and carrying luggage every day on the day of arrival at the airport was simultaneously reduced.
MAKE IT YOUR TRIP
Keep the moments you came for
Make time for this
Enjoy Biei’s hills and the mountain onsen stay without treating an Asahidake hike as compulsory. A departure-morning walk needs a late flight and workable return transport.
Arrange the trip around it
Count the drive back to Asahikawa after Biei and Furano. Skip the Furano dinner when the driver is tired; change the final overnight base if the airport connection is too tight.
Planning notes reviewed on 10 September 2026. Check the dated transport and property sources below for your travel dates.
3 NIGHTS · 4 DAYS
Schedule to follow
Directly from the airport to the heart of Hokkaido
AEON Mall and the JR Inn building beside Asahikawa Station, with the road by the station plaza
Masal64 / Wikimedia Commons · Resized · CC0- 01Arrival at New Chitose Airport · Move to domestic underground JR station
- 02Rapid Airport → Sapporo · Limited Express Kamui/Lilac transfer
- 03Arrive at JR Asahikawa Station in about 2 hours and 30 minutes including transfers.
- 04Check-in at a hotel near the station and rent a car starting the next morning.
- 0518:00 Santoka Asahikawa Main Branch · First dinner with salt ramen
- 06Take an early break after walking around Kaimonokoen
From the hills of Biei to the Forest of Furano
Biei's Blue Pond. Its colour varies with light and season.
- 0108:00 Asahikawa Station rental car pickup · Approximately 40 minutes to Biei
- 0209:00 Patchwork Road observation point · No entry to farmland
- 0310:10 Shirogane Blue Pond → Shirahige Falls
- 0411:50 Biei Junpei · Shrimp Tempura Rice Bowl Lunch
- 0513:30 Shikisai-no-Oka · Autumn Flower Field 60–90 minutes · July – September Adult ¥800
- 0615:30 Ninguru Terrace · Forest workshop walk
- 0717:00 Furano Kumagera early evening → return to Asahikawa
See animals and go to hot springs in the mountains
A seal swimming in its pool at Asahiyama Zoo
ParrotPoint / Wikimedia Commons · Resized · CC BY 4.0- 0108:30 Check out · Load luggage into car and move
- 0209:30 Asahiyama Zoo entrance · Adult ¥1,000 · 3 hours intensive viewing
- 0313:00 Late lunch and stopover in Higashikawa city
- 0414:20 Move to Asahidake Onsen · Mountain road about 50 minutes
- 0515:20 Check-in at ryokan · Relax in open-air bath and lounge
- 06Dinner included in plan with two meals around 18:00
- 07At night, check the ropeway operation and weather for the next day.
Return to the airport; a mountain morning only for a late flight
The mountain scenery of Asahidake. Decide on the ropeway and walk according to the weather.
- 01The standard departure day is breakfast, check-out and the journey back. From Asahidake, allow roughly 70 minutes to Asahikawa plus fuel, rental return and the walk to the station.
- 02Use the confirmed rail timetable for the journey to New Chitose, allowing roughly 2.5 hours plus connection buffers. Work back from the airline’s airport-arrival deadline.
- 03Optional mountain morning: only with a late flight and a confirmed return connection. Check the ropeway’s operating notice, visibility and trail conditions before buying a ticket.
- 04If taking that option, keep the walk short and set a firm turnaround based on your return train. Do not treat an 11:30 descent as suitable for every flight.
- 05For an earlier flight, skip the mountain outing. If the transfer still leaves little margin, spend the previous night nearer Asahikawa or the airport and recalculate the hotel and rental costs.
EAT ALONG THE ROUTE
From ramen to ryokan dinner,
Four meals that don’t break your driving routine.
Operating hours and prices are confirmed as of September 2026. There are frequent seasonal openings and temporary closures, so please check the official page again before visiting. Asahidake accommodations have few outside dinner restaurants, so it’s safe to choose a plan that includes two meals.
DAY 1 · Dinner
Ramen Santoka Asahikawa Main Branch
- Getting there
- Approximately 5–7 minutes walk from JR Asahikawa Station
- menu
- Shio Ramen, Shoyu Ramen, Tokusen Toronicu
- budget
- Approximately ¥1,000–2,000 per person
- Opening hours
- 11:00–22:00 · Last order 21:30 · Closed on Thursdays
This is a great first day meal to prepare even if your train is late at the airport. It may close early if the soup runs out, so we aimed to arrive before 20:30.
Check the latest information ↗
DAY 2 · Lunch
Restaurant and Cafe Junpei
- Getting there
- About 25 minutes from Blue Pond to downtown Biei. Parking for 10 cars.
- menu
- Shrimp Tempura Rice Bowl, Shrimp Tempura Set Meal, June Dog
- budget
- Approximately ¥1,300–2,000 per person
- Opening hours
- Mainly 11:00–15:00 · Closed on Mondays · Subject to change
Since it closes at 3pm on many days, we decided to have lunch behind the blue pond. If the wait for a seat is long, pack your June Dog and head to Sagyechae Hill.
Check the latest information ↗
DAY 2 · Early evening
Furano Kumagera
- Getting there
- Approximately 10 minutes by car from Ninguru Terrace, 3 minutes on foot from JR Furano Station
- menu
- Furano Wagyu Roast Beef Rice Bowl, Omelet Curry, Cheese Tofu
- budget
- Approximately ¥2,000–4,000 per person
- Opening hours
- 11:30–23:00 · Closed on Wednesdays · Subject to change
To save on the night drive back to Asahikawa, we scheduled a meal at 17:00. If you're traveling on a Wednesday, just switch to an alternative restaurant near Furano Marche for this meal.
Check the latest information ↗
DAY 3 · Ryokan dinner
Hotel Bear Monte / Stella Monte
- Getting there
- Approximately 3 minutes walk from Asahidake Ropeway · 1st floor of accommodation
- menu
- Japanese and Western buffet with Higashikawa rice and Kamikawa seasonal ingredients
- budget
- Accommodation plan with two meals recommended
- Opening hours
- Dinner time is assigned upon check-in, last admission confirmed in advance
Asahidake Onsen has few outside restaurants to walk to at night. Don't just reserve a room; be sure to check whether dinner and breakfast are included.
Check the latest information ↗DAY 2 CORE
The blue pond
First thing in the morning.
From Asahikawa, we pass through the hills of Biei and see the Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls first, then have lunch in downtown Biei. This route includes a return towards Biei for lunch before continuing south to Shikisai-no-Oka and Furano, then back to Asahikawa. It is not a one-way route; shorten the Furano visit if driving or queues run late.
Biei's field is not a tourist attraction, but actual farmland. Don’t drive off-road into fields or park in agricultural vehicle ramps. Use only official parking lots and viewing areas.
EARLIEST AUTUMN
Autumn leaves are better than the city,
It comes first from the mountains.
The Asahidake Ropeway ascends to Sugatami Station, approximately 1,600 meters above sea level, in about 10 minutes. The 1.7km loop walk usually takes 60–90 minutes, but wet wooden decks, strong winds and first snow can increase this time. We brought light padding and waterproof shoes and summit climbing was not included in this itinerary.
WHERE TO STAY
Two ryokans,
Two cost-effective hotels
Which stay suits your trip?
For DAY 1-2, stay overnight at JR Inn, which is the most convenient, and for DAY 3, Bear Monte in front of the ropeway is optimal. If you want more of a city experience, switch to OMO7, or if you prefer a mountain lodge feel and hot springs, switch to La Vista. It isn’t an itinerary that moves to all four places, but a comparison in which you select one section from each section.
Asahidake Onsen Hotel Bear Monte
Approximately 3 minutes walk from the ropeway · The most convenient choice for DAY 3
- price
- 2 people per room approx. ¥45,000–85,000+ / 1 night
- breakfast
- Hokkaido Japanese/Western food buffet centered on ingredients, check plan included
- Dinner
- Plan with main dish and seasonal buffet and two meals recommended
- parking
- Outdoor parking for 85 cars · Free for hotel guests
- Advantages
- The location is best for accommodation the day before the Sugatami walk, the rooms and lounges are modern, and there’s little travel loss.
- Cons
- The price is the highest among the four and dinner may not be available if you arrive late in the evening.
La Vista Daisetsuzan
Approximately 10 minutes walk to Asahidake Ropeway
- price
- 2 people per room approx. ¥30,000–65,000+ / 1 night
- breakfast
- Japanese and Western buffet included depending on reservation plan
- Dinner
- French course or Japanese kaiseki course · Varies by plan
- parking
- Outdoor parking · Free for hotel guests
- Advantages
- It's great to enjoy mountain cabin-style rooms, large public baths, open-air baths, and rental baths, and has a wider range of rates to choose from than Bear Monte.
- Cons
- There’s an uphill walk to the ropeway, and the type of restaurant and dinner time vary depending on the reservation plan.
JR Inn Asahikawa
Directly connected to JR Asahikawa Station and Aeon Mall · DAY 1–2 consecutive nights recommended
- price
- 2 people per room approx. ¥11,000–26,000 / 1 night
- breakfast
- 06:30–10:00 Buffet · Adult ¥1,800
- Dinner
- No dinner · Use of the station, Aeon Mall, and Sanroku restaurants
- parking
- Aeon Mall parking lot · 24 hours ¥800
- Advantages
- It’s easiest to access the airport train and rental car office, and large public baths, shopping, and meals are available in the building.
- Cons
- Low-price rooms are small and entering and exiting the Aeon Mall parking lot can be crowded on weekends.
OMO7 Asahikawa by Hoshino Resorts
North of Kaimono Koen, approximately 13 minutes walk from Asahikawa Station according to official standards.
- price
- 2 people per room approx. ¥12,000–32,000 / 1 night
- breakfast
- 06:00–10:00 Buffet · Adult ¥2,500
- Dinner
- No regular dinner · Use of cafes & bars and nearby restaurants
- parking
- Affiliated Times Parking Lot · 24 hours ¥1,000
- Advantages
- Modern rooms, sauna, zoo, local restaurant information program, and good access to Sanroku restaurants.
- Cons
- Since it isn’t directly connected to the station, it’s convenient to take a taxi if you have large luggage or rain. For parking, you need to check additional conditions each time you leave the car.
Rate standards · Approximate range of 2 people per room per night, available as of September 2026. Prices vary greatly depending on fall foliage weekend, room class, half board included, and cancellation conditions. Especially for ryokans, be sure to check whether meals are included in the seemingly room price.
BUDGET GUIDE
Estimated cost per person
Accommodation is the cost per person per room for two people, and transportation is based on a round-trip JR ride between New Chitose and Asahikawa and 48-hour rental car, fuel, and parking for two people. Airline, highway tolls, and shopping are excluded. Rental car costs vary depending on the vehicle type and liability coverage.
GOOD
Advantages of this schedule
- Cover long distances by train rather than driving on arrival day
- Connecting Biei and Furano in a one-day course
- Because we sleep at the bottom of the mountain the day before Asahidake, we can respond to the first operation.
CHECK
Things to know
- The peak autumn foliage of Asahidake and Biei plains are not on the same day.
- There’s a possibility of the first snow or freeze in the mountains from the end of September.
- For international flights on the last day, the schedule may need to be shortened unless the flight departs in the evening.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Check again before departure.
New Chitose Airport · JR Asahikawa ↗JR Hokkaido · Kamui · Lilac Train ↗Biei Tourism Association · Tourism · Road Information ↗Furano Tourism Association · Seasonal operation information ↗Asahiyama Zoo · Operating hours ↗Asahidake Ropeway · Operation · Fee ↗Asahidake Visitor Center · Access and Safety ↗PHOTO CREDITS · Asahidake Main: YAMAP Public Climbing Record · Asahidake Autumn Foliage: Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway Official Gallery · Blue Pond: SUBARU Official Fan Community · Shichichae Hill: Japan Activity · Santoka: Vocus Travel Record · Junpei: Miil · Kumagera: Ameblo Travel Record · Bearmonte Restaurant: 茶渋のひざくりげ · Accommodation images are images provided by each hotel or accommodation introduction page.
English edition of our Korean guide. Times and prices retain the source review date; they are not live booking quotes. Check eligibility for visitor fares and plan international flights separately.