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, the train makes stops at Nakafurano, Lavender Farm, Kamifurano, Bibaushi, Biei, and Asahikawa. Lavender Farm station is the closest stop to the popular Farm Tomita.
Train Features
Photo by: PIXTA/ KUZUHA Seats come in wooden benches.
The train is especially unique because of its front diesel locomotive coach decorated in bright green with a varied combination of white, pink, yellow, lavender, dark green or red-orange strips, blending perfectly with the chromatic scenery. It consists of three dark brown-colored coaches (apart from the locomotive head portion). Cars 1 and 2 are for non-reserved seats, and Car 3 is for reserved seats. Seats come in wooden benches. On one side of the train is a row of box seats of two benches facing each other with a table in between. The other is a long flank of individual wooden benches facing the windows. The benches have adjustable backrests for facing either the windows or the aisle. Train models may vary, with some coaches having window railings or some with glass windows removed. Either way, it provides you with a reminiscent feel of the vintage era.
Despite the period-style atmosphere, the train offers free WIFI service (for reserved seats), electrical outlets, a designated wheelchair space, and audio guide in Japanese, English and Chinese. Like most special-themed trains in Japan, passengers are gifted with a memorial picture card of the train as a souvenir.
