New Furano Prince Hotel

Rooms and decor

The first thing you notice walking into the New Furano Prince Hotel is how genuinely large the resort is — a high, open lobby with views out to the forest and the ski slope. The 407-plus rooms are spread through the main building, which opened in 1988 and was last renovated in 2017. There are Western-style rooms with sprung beds, Japanese tatami-and-futon rooms, and mixed rooms that suit a family of 3 to 4. The decor runs simple in the Prince chain's house style — grey-and-brown fabrics, pale walls, function-first furniture, nothing showy but clean and easy to use. Room sizes are around the Japanese standard, not as roomy as the newer condo-hotels, but each has a bathroom with a small tub, a fridge and a green-tea tray. Many reviews praise the cleanliness and the attentive housekeeping, with soft beds and good sound insulation, though a few note the rooms are smaller than expected and the furniture looks dated in places. Some rooms face the Ningle Terrace forest with its warm lantern light at night; others look out to the range and the slope.

Food and amenities

The heart of what makes this place a Furano icon is Ningle Terrace, the craft village in the forest behind the hotel. Fifteen small wooden cabins are scattered along a boardwalk through the pines, each one a local artist's shop turning out handmade work — ceramics, glassware, leather goods, scented candles, cloth dolls and handmade notebooks. After dark the yellow lanterns wash over the huts and pines and it's hard to stop taking photos; visitors come to wander here in the evening until 21:00. The in-resort Furano Onsen has outdoor and indoor baths split by gender, with the outdoor pool looking out onto trees and snow — quiet, clear water, and reviewers say it never feels crowded, a place many return to each evening after skiing. On the food side there are 6 restaurants covering every taste: a big international buffet, a kaiseki room, tatami dining, teppan, a steakhouse, and Soh's Bar, Atsushi Sou's cafe designed like a forest cabin, with a low-key feel and good coffee. The resort also runs a ski school, gear rental, a souvenir shop, a free shuttle into town and a mid-slope cafe to break up the day.

Location and getting there

The New Furano Prince sits in the Furano Ski Resort zone on the Furano Ropeway side, with the slope right against the door for true ski-in/ski-out — walk out with your gear and you're on the ropeway, a dream spot for anyone here to ski or board hard for days. Furano has two ski zones: Kitanomine (where Fenix Furano sits) and Furano (the Prince side); the two link by lift up on the mountain, and an All Mountain Pass covers both. The town centre and JR Furano station are about 10 minutes away by car. There are no restaurants or convenience stores around the hotel, so to eat out you'll need a taxi or the resort's scheduled free shuttle into town. Driving from Asahikawa (AKJ) airport takes roughly 1 hour, or about 2 hours from Sapporo (CTS). For summer lavender, Farm Tomita is about 15 minutes by car — not as close as La Vista Furano Hills, but not far enough to be a problem. If you're combining a winter ski trip with lavender, you can do both from here with a car.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, the age of the building and rooms — even after the 2017 renovation, some rooms still feel like an older Japanese hotel, smaller than newer properties, with plain furniture that can read as dull if you're expecting luxury. If newness and space matter most, Fenix Furano fits better. Second, the distance from town: about 10 minutes from the centre and the JR station, with no restaurants or convenience stores nearby, so you lean on the resort's own outlets or wait for the free shuttle to get out — not ideal if you like exploring a town on foot. Third, the crowds: because the resort is large and draws plenty of Prince-chain tour groups, in high season the onsen, the buffet and Ningle Terrace can get busy with queues, so anyone after quiet and privacy may not love it. If you want a calmer feel, look at Hotel Munin Furano or Furano La Terre instead.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, the New Furano Prince Hotel sells ski-in/ski-out, Ningle Terrace and an in-resort onsen with full confidence. If your trip in your head is skiing all day without travelling, coming back to soak in the onsen and eat at a buffet in the resort, then strolling Ningle Terrace in the forest at night under the warm lanterns, this is a tidy fit for ski families and forest-loving adventurers — best for anyone who wants everything in one place without going anywhere. But if you're after a newer building, condo-hotel-sized rooms, or a quiet boutique mood, the dated building and the bustle of a big resort may not be the answer; look at Fenix Furano (luxe ski-in) or Hotel Munin Furano (quiet boutique). Overall we give it 8.5/10 for an all-in-one ski resort that has it all and stands as an icon of Furano.