Japanese cherry blossom © naitokz

Furano is the most famous of all the ski resorts in Japan, however it is still relatively undiscovered by foreign tourists. Furano is known for its light, powdery snow, of which up to 29 feet (9m) falls each year, and equally for its amazing weather, with more sunny days than any other resort on Hokkaido.

The Furano Ski Area is divided into two areas: the Kitanomine zone, open from mid-December to late March; and the Furano zone open from late November to early May. Both areas have a range of accommodation, restaurants, and après ski options, and are just minutes away from the town of Furano by shuttle.

The town of Furano offers many cultural attractions, including many shrines and temples along with theatres, spas, shopping markets and locally-produced cheese, wine and ice milk. Visitors should be sure to catch a performance of the Furano Traditional Chinese Lion Dance at the Furano City Lifelong Learning Center.

The slopes in the Furano Ski Area offer good skiing opportunities for all levels: 20 percent of the area is rated advanced, 40 percent intermediate, and 40 percent (mainly around the base of the mountains) for beginners. Night skiing is available until 9pm. There is a well-serviced lift system that extends as far as 1.8 miles (3km) up the slopes in the Kitanomine zone. Furano has two ski schools with an international booking centre.