I like Furano. The town is an agricultural hub with a purpose beyond feeding and watering tourists (although local businesses are very pleased to do that). The resort also works for me although the first time I went up the gondola (all the way to the top, my first mistake), I fell in the powder and spent a good 10 minutes getting upright-ish. Mustn't grumble...

I am originally Canadian and skied BC a lot; the beauty here reminds me of there. I also lived in the US and skied Colorado a lot. I guess the friendliness and community feel of towns that are towns all year whether or not we ski here reminds me of there.

In Australia, I live in the Snowy Mountains and really the back country experience reminds me of there. Not that the snow or terrain are even remotely similar, but the sense of being in nature, at peace, with a huge epic either behind you, ahead of you, or up to your neck right now, feels similar.

I am about to ski my 11th winter here. The Furano discoveries I've made in those seasons are the chocolate shop in Kitanomine (a whole shop of chocolate), the cross-country / skating tracks at the base of Kitanomine, best OM shope about 12km out of town towards Asahikawa (sells everything on earth and then some), and the double espresso at the Marche in Furano town. It's a strong long black although possibly better.

Just on the basics, children 12 and younger ski for free at Furano resort and my kids look way older than they are and have never been hassled getting their passes.

I advise the first time you come, tour with a pro, the next time organise your own accom but do guided day trips, and the next time DIY the whole thing and hire a car with a GPS. They all have GPS's but make sure you can input telephone numbers before you drive off the lot.

xx