Furano

The driver arrived at the airport early and proactively messaged us to tell us where to pick us up and his license plate number, so we didn't have to look for him at all. He was incredibly efficient in helping us with our large luggage, drove smoothly and quickly, didn't take any detours, and arrived at the hotel on time. He didn't say a single unnecessary word throughout the entire trip. It was a fantastic experience, and I'll definitely book with this company again next time!

Visiting in mid-July, every attraction was crowded. Shikisai-no-oka boasts a variety of flowers; visiting around midday, although hot, the sunlight was perfect for photos. I recommend walking in without a tow truck. The souvenir selection here was the most abundant of the day, though it's a pity we didn't have time to explore more. The time spent at Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls was just right. Remember to buy a soda ice cream and take a photo by the pond before it melts, then enjoy it while admiring the blue lake. The afternoon sunlight wasn't as strong, so the photos didn't have high contrast. At Farm Tomita, be sure to try the cantaloupe and pineapple bread. Lavender products are generally similar, but the shop near the cantaloupe bread has some unique souvenirs. The lavender fields weren't as dense or as purple as they appeared, perhaps due to the reduced sunlight, but strolling through the fields was still very pleasant. The guide's explanations in Chinese were quite good; having a general idea of the destination before getting off the bus made the visit easier. Also, be sure to cooperate with time management. Finally, we returned to Sapporo Station close to 7 pm.

Since I arrived at New Chitose Airport after 7 PM, which was past the ticket exchange counter's opening hours, I went to Sapporo Station early the next morning to exchange my ticket. The staff were very friendly and helpful, reserving seats for me, and the efficiency was much higher than other ticket exchange counters. Using this JR Pass saved me a lot of money going to Asahikawa and Furano, and I even got to ride the Furano local train, which retired this September. A must-buy for Furano!

The snow scenery along the way was beautiful, and the tour guide's explanations were informative and interesting, also providing many restaurant recommendations. Snowmobiling was really fun, and the scenery was more beautiful than I could have imagined!