Furano Taxis

While Furano is a mountain town where things operate at a slightly slower pace, there are reliable taxi services available to get you between Furano Town, the hills base areas of Kitanomine and Shin Furano, as well as the major hotels.

Whether you are heading to a dinner reservation in town or catching a morning shuttle to the slopes, here is everything you need to know about using taxis in the Furano area.

Ride Hailing Apps

Ride hailing apps are now functional in Furano:

GO App

Japan's most popular taxi app. It works similarly to Uber and allows you to call local taxis. You can register international credit cards and phone numbers.

It is definitely worth downloading as it often has the largest fleet of connected drivers across Hokkaido. Find out more >

Uber

As of late 2025, Uber is available in Furano. It acts as a digital dispatcher for local licensed taxis, allowing you to book and pay via the app. Find out more >

Using Ride-Hailing Apps in Furano

While Uber and GO offer the convenience of GPS-pinning and cashless payment, they are subject to local fleet availability. Because these apps function as "digital dispatchers" for the same small pool of local taxi drivers, there are a few practical realities to know.

• Average Wait Times: In the center or Kitanomine, expect a wait of 10–20 minutes. During peak ski hours (8:30 AM – 10:00 AM) or dinner time (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM), this can stretch to 30 minutes or more.
• The "No Cars Available" Message: Don't panic if the app says no cars are available. This often just means the local drivers are currently busy with other passengers. Wait 5 minutes and refresh the search; a car usually becomes free as soon as a local trip is completed.
• Advance Bookings (AI Reservations): The GO app allows you to schedule a ride in advance (usually for a small extra fee). If you have a train to catch or a strict dinner reservation, we highly recommend booking your taxi at least one hour in advance via the app.
• The "Double Dispatch" Fee: When you book via an app, your final fare will usually include a Dispatch Fee (around ¥200–¥400) on top of the metered fare. This is a standard charge for the convenience of having the taxi come to your specific location.

Local Taxi Companies

There are two primary taxi operators in Furano. Both are reliable and familiar with the local hotels, pensions, and ski areas.

Furano Taxi

The largest operator in the area. They offer standard sedans and "Jumbo Taxis" (9-seaters) for larger groups.

• Phone: +81 167-22-5001 (from an international mobile phone) / 0167-22-5001 (from a Japanese landline or mobile phone)
• Hours: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM

Chuo Hire

A dependable local alternative often found stationed around the train station.

Phone: +81 167-22-2800 (from an international mobile phone) / 0167-22-2800 (from a Japanese landline or mobile phone)

Taxi Rank Locations

If you aren't using an app or calling ahead, you can find taxis waiting at these designated ranks:

Furano Town

Directly outside the main exit of JR Furano Station. Taxis usually time their arrival with the train schedule.

Kitanomine

During the winter season, a taxi rank is active at the Kitanomine Gondola base between 09:00 and 17:00. Major hotels like Hotel Naturwald can also call for a taxi.

Shin Furano

Taxis are almost often available at the Main Entrance/Lobby of the Shin Furano Prince Hotel.

Estimated Fares

• Furano Station to Kitanomine: Approx. ¥1,500 – ¥2,000
• Furano Station to Shin Furano Prince Hotel: Approx. ¥2,300 – ¥3,000
• Late Night/Winter Surcharge: Expect a 20% increase between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, or during heavy snow conditions.