Going to Furano and Biei by JR 2025 (Train Timetable and Pass) - Hokkaido, Japan

Norokko Train and Lavender Express Train are popular for sightseeing in Furano and Biei especially in summer. Furano Biei Norokko Train will terminate in FY2026 after operated for 26 years.



Furano Lavender Express Train

Limited Express Furano Lavender Express connects Sapporo and Furano. The train offers WI-FI for all seats and vehicles. 

Operating Period: 7-8 June, 14 June - 11 August, 

August: 16-17, 23-24, 30-31 

Sep: 6-7, 13-15, 20-23

*Operating dates and cars are subject to change without notice.

Lavender train 261 series 5000

Train Timetable

Sapporo -> Takikawa -> Furano

Sapporo

Iwamizawa

Takikawa

Ashibetsu

Furano

7:41

8:18

8:44

9:10

9:42


Furano -> Takikawa -> Sapporo

Furano

Ashibetsu

Takikawa

Iwamizawa

Sappro

16:54

17:23

17:48

18:14

18:52


*Operation time and vehicale used are subject to change without notice.


Available rail passes:

Sapporo-Furano Area Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass, Japan Rail Pass


*You can get a ticket at the JR Information Desk, JR Ticket Counter (Midori-no-Madoguchi) or a reserved seat ticket vending machine.

*JR-EAST Train Reservation cannot be used.



Furano Biei Norokko Train




Train Timetable

 

Asahikawa

Biei

Mimagyu

Kamifurano

Lavender field

Nakafurano

Furano

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No. 1

10:00

10:30

10:53

11:05

11:13

11:20

11:40

10:53

11:06

11:15

11:22

No. 3

-

13:08

13:19

13:32

13:43

13:49

13:59

13:19

13:36

13:45

13:50

No. 5

-

15:13

15:24

15:36

15:44

15:51

16:04

15:24

15:37

15:46

15:55


Operating Period

No.1 

14 Jun - 11 Aug

Aug: 16-17, 23-24, 30-31

Sep: 6-7, 13-15, 20, 22-23


No.3 & 5

7-8, 14 Jun - 11 Aug

Aug: 16-17, 23-24, 30-31

Sep: 6-7, 13-15, 20, 22-23



 

Furano

Nakafurano

Lavender Field

Kamifurano

Bibaushi

Biei

Asahikawa

 

Dep.

Arr.

Arr.

Arr.

Arr.

Arr.

Dep.

Arr.

No.2-1

11:53

12:10

12:16

12:23

12:39

12:51

-

No.2-2

12:06

12:23

12:29

12:36

12:49

13:00

No. 4

14:07

14:24

14:29

14:38

14:51

15:02

No. 6

16:14

16:32

16:42

16:51

17:07

17:19

17:20

17:46


Operating Period

No.2-1

14 Jun - 11 Aug

Aug: 16-17, 23-24, 30-31

Sep: 6-7, 13-15, 20, 22-23


No.2-2

7-8 Jun, 21 Sep


No. 4, 6

7-8, 14 Jun - 11 Aug

Aug: 16-17, 23-24, 30-31

Sep: 6-7, 13-15, 20, 22-23


*
Operation time and vehicale used are subject to change without notice.

Vehicles: 3 cars (1 reserved seat, 2 unreserved seats)

j

k

l

 

 


For Asahikawa, Biei

Locomotive

Non-reserved seat

Non-reserved seat

Reserved Seats


For Furano



Furano Biei Mankitsu Norokko Train


Asahikawa

Biei

Bibaushi

Kamifurano

Lavender Field

Nakafurano

Furano

Dep.

Arr.

Dep.

Arr.

Arr.

Dep.

Arr.

Dep.

Arr.

Dep.

Arr.

9:14

9:42

10:02

10:13

10:25

10:45

10:52

10:54

10:58

11:18

11:36


Operating Period: 7-8 June, 21 September

Fare (One Way, half price for children 6-11)

Furano ~ Lavender field                    320 yen

Furano - Biei                                     800 yen

Furano - Asahikawa                         1,380 yen

Reserved seat charge                       840 yen  (one-way, half price for age 6-11)



Operating section

[No.1 / No.6]
Asahikawa - Biei - Bibaushi - Kami-Furano - Lavender-Farm - Naka-Furano - Furano

[No.2 / No.3 / No.4 / No.5]
Biei - Bibaushi - Kami-Furano -Lavender-Farm - Naka-Furano - Furano

Available rail passes: Sapporo-Furano Area Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass, Japan Rail Pass


*All seats are reserved from August 16 to September 23. A reserved seat ticket is required in addition to a basic fare ticket for boarding.

*You can get a ticket at the JR Information Desk, JR Ticket Counter (Midori-no-Madoguchi) or a reserved seat ticket vending machine.

*JR-EAST Train Reservation cannot be used.

Operated by the different diesel locomotive in design in August and September!

Points of this year

The train runs slowly when pass highlight spots so you can see view from window




① Biei Station-Bibaushi Station (Beautiful hill scenery in Biei Town)
② Bibaushi Station-Kamifurano Station 
③ Lavender Field Station-Nakafurano Station (Lavender Fields)
④ Nakafurano Station-Furano Station (Rural Scenery)'
If you would like to purchase a reserved seat ticket for this train, please purchase it
at the Midori counter or Ekinet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No.1

O

O

O

O

 

No.3

O

O

O

-

 

No.5

O

O

O

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O

O

O

O

No.2

 

O

O

O

O

No.4

 

-

O

O

O

No.6


If you would like to purchase a reserved seat ticket for this train, please purchase it at

the Midori no Madoguchi or Ekinet.


Reference: JR Hokkaido Website

Translated by: Blue Moon

(If any of my translation is wrong, please let me know. Thank you.)

Post a Comment

19 Comments

  1. Very Helpful.Thanks for this blog Pear さん。ありがとうございます。

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, just a question regarding Furano Biei Free Pass. I would like to know if I could use that ticket to go to Minami-Nagayama Station for the Asahikawa Ramen Village. I mean it's only ¥300 if I can't use the pass but wanted to see if it was possible since it's located in Asahikawa.

    Thank you in advance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! In my opinion, coverage area of Furano Biei Free Pass is Asahikawa Station, not include Minami-Nagayama Station but Hokkaido Rail Pass covers Minami-Nagayama Station.

      Delete
  3. Thank you for the article! For the lavender express schedule, is there a translation mistake? The bottom row says departure from Furano and back to Furano (instead of Sapporo). Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right! Thank you for letting me know.

      Delete
  4. Hi, thank you for your wonderful blog. I want to ask, can i ride norokko train by JR pass? Or i should buy a ticket at counter? Thank you before

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! Hokkaido Rail Pass and Japan Rail Pass cover the fare of Norokko Train.

      Delete
  5. Hi, thanks for your great info. I'm trying to look for the "Furano Biei Free Ticket" and the "Lavender Free Pass" information from the JR Hokkaido website but without luck, could you please share their official website links please? Also, would you know the difference between "Furano Biei Free Ticket" and the "Sapporo Furano Area Pass"? If I arrive by plane in Ashikawa Airport and want to see Biei/Furano then will leave from New Chitose Airport, which pass would you recommend? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! Please see my reply as below:

      1. Furano Biei Free Ticket and the Lavender Free Pass Website (available in Japanese) Website

      2. Furano Biei Free Ticket VS Sapporo Furano Area Pass

      Furano Biei Free Ticket
      - Non-reserved seats on round-trip limited express trains from Sapporo Station to the free area ( Sapporo -Asahikawa-Furano-Biei)
      - Areas not include New Chitose Airport.
      - 7,400 yen

      Sapporo Furano Area Pass
      - Unlimited rides in the designated area (New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Otaru, Furano, Biei and Asahikawa)
      - 9,000 yen (sales outside Japan), 9,500 yen (sales in Japan)

      3. If comparing the pass among Furano Biei Free Ticket, Lavender Free Pass and Sapporo Furano Area Pass, Sapporo Furano Area Pass should be fit with your itinerary.

      Delete
  6. Hi, do you by any chance know if the train operates at the end of october?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! Norokko Train operates for specific period (June-September). After that, it will be local train.

      Delete
  7. do you have any tips on the local train if i am going to biei using a JR pass during november?! thankyou!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! JR local train (Furano Line) run once per hour. Furano / Biei trip is covered by Japan Rail Pass and Hokkaido Rail Pass. Winter in Hokkaido begins in November, there will be snow.

      Delete
  8. thankyou! to reply the previous comment, i will be going to biei on november, the google map and JR Hokkaido pass recommended routes do not show the train and stations! i will be going from sapporo station, do you have any suggestions for the routes and timetable?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi, I find your guide really helpful! Just want to check whether you have the translated timetable for bus in Biei?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! Thank you for your comment. I translated only Biei View Bus Tour.

      Delete
  10. Hi, if I want to take the Furano-Biei Norokko train from Bibaushi station to Lavender Farm station, where should I purchase the tickets from?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! Please purchase ticket at JR ticket counter.

      Delete