From One to Another

Tokyo ---> Furano.

9 million people ----> 25,000 people.

882 rail stations ---> 1 rail station.

urban noise ---> snow quietly falling.


The trip from Tokyo to Furano (in Northern Japan) was incredible. We flew from Tokyo to Sapporo, then took two trains to Furano.

When we boarded the first train at the airport outside of Sapporo, it was a modern station with escalators. The train was spacious and comfortable.

We laughed when we arrived at the town where we changed trains (Takikawa). Here is how we navigated the snowy platform with 4 suitcases.



And what a cute one-car train we took from Takikawa to Furano, about a one hour trip. There were about 15 other local people on the train with us.



We rented a small house through a property management agency in Furano that is about two blocks from the ski area and surrounded by small locally owned restaurants. We had planned to take a taxi to the house when we arrived. We were very pleasantly surprised when the property management agent was at the station to pick us up! And, even better, he stopped at the grocery store on the way to the house so we could pick up groceries. After giving us restaurant recommendations and a thorough orientation to the house, we settled in for the night to get ready for skiing the next day.



I fell in love with Furano after reading about it on the internet from home. I love it even more now. First class skiing and lots of light powder snow, in a small town atmosphere. I am really happy here :)
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