From Furano to Noboribetsu Onsen by car, the expressway section (Shimukappu IC to Noboribetsu-Higashi IC) takes about 1 hour 48 minutes, after about 50 km on Route 237 to reach it. From Biei by train, the three trains via Asahikawa and Sapporo add up to about 3 hours 10 minutes on board, before transfer waits and the bus or taxi up to the onsen town.
Going from the Furano and Biei farmland to Noboribetsu Onsen means crossing the middle of Hokkaido, from the hills to the Pacific side. By car, the expressway does most of the work, but you have to reach it first. By rail, you change at least twice. Either way it is a transfer day, so plan one stop, not a full programme.
The times, distances and tolls below come from official pages and NEXCO East's route search, checked on 3 October 2026. They are for planning; confirm your own date before you book.
The choices at a glance
| Route | How it works | Expressway or rail time | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car from Furano | Route 237 south to Shimukappu IC, then the Doto and Do-O expressways | About 1 hr 48 min, Shimukappu IC → Noboribetsu-Higashi IC | Staying in Furano, or Biei if you go via Furano |
| Car from Biei via Asahikawa | North to Asahikawa-Takasu IC, then the Do-O Expressway all the way | About 2 hr 21 min, Asahikawa-Takasu IC → Noboribetsu-Higashi IC | Staying north of Biei, or when Route 237 is not your road that day |
| Rail from Biei via Asahikawa | Local train to Asahikawa, limited express to Sapporo, limited express to Noboribetsu, then bus or taxi | About 3 hr 10 min on trains from Biei, excluding transfer waits and the final bus or taxi | Travelling without a car (from Furano, also compare the Takikawa route below) |
By car from Furano: via Shimukappu IC
Furano City's access page puts the town about 50 km from Shimukappu IC on Route 237. From there, NEXCO East's Drive Plaza gives Shimukappu IC to Noboribetsu-Higashi IC as about 1 hour 48 minutes and 145.5 km, on the Doto Expressway and then the Do-O Expressway. The standard-car toll was ¥2,650 with ETC or ¥3,790 without — we searched for a 10:00 departure, and its congestion-adjusted time for that slot was the same.
At the other end, the Noboribetsu tourism association puts the onsen town about 6 km from Noboribetsu-Higashi IC.
So the figures cover three pieces: about 50 km of ordinary road, the expressway, and about 6 km into the onsen town. They are not a door-to-door time. Add your hotel in Furano, fuel, breaks and any stop, and search your real addresses in a route planner.
By car from Biei: two ways to the expressway
From Biei you can go either way, and it is worth comparing both for your actual hotel.
- Via Asahikawa. The Biei tourism association puts Asahikawa about 26 km and 40 minutes away on Route 237. Drive Plaza gives Asahikawa-Takasu IC to Noboribetsu-Higashi IC as about 2 hours 21 minutes and 224.5 km, with a standard-car toll of ¥4,510 by ETC or ¥6,440 without (same search date and time). That 26 km is to Asahikawa itself; Asahikawa-Takasu IC lies beyond the city centre, so depending on where you start, the drive to the interchange may be longer.
- Via Furano. The same tourism association puts Furano about 34 km and 40 minutes from Biei on Route 237. From Furano, follow the Shimukappu route above.
The Furano route uses less expressway and a lower toll; the Asahikawa route keeps you on the expressway for longer. Which one is quicker depends on where in Biei you start, so let a route planner decide between your two addresses.
By rail: via Sapporo to Noboribetsu
There is no direct train. One option is a chain via Asahikawa — three trains and a road connection:
- Biei → Asahikawa on the JR Furano Line: about 32 minutes by regular train, per the Biei tourism association. From Furano, Furano City gives about an hour to Asahikawa on the same line.
- Asahikawa → Sapporo by limited express: about 90 minutes, per the Biei tourism association.
- Sapporo → Noboribetsu Station by limited express (Hokuto or Suzuran): about 1 hour 10 minutes, per the Noboribetsu tourism association.
- Noboribetsu Station → the onsen town by local bus or taxi — see the last stretch below.
Adding those train times from Biei gives about 3 hours 10 minutes on board, before transfer waits and the final bus or taxi; it is a Biei figure, not a Furano one. From Furano, Furano City also shows a route via Takikawa to Sapporo, so compare it with the Asahikawa chain in the current timetable. Connections decide the real total, so build the day from the actual timetable for your date.
Seats: since 14 March 2026, limited expresses in Hokkaido run as all-reserved-seat trains. Reserve if you want a guaranteed seat; JR Hokkaido's seat-unspecified ticket is the alternative, with conditions on its official notice.
The last stretch to the onsen town
Noboribetsu Station is on the coast; the onsen town is about 8 km inland. On rail, plan the Donan Bus connection or a taxi before you leave Furano or Biei. Our Otaru to Noboribetsu guide covers that local bus in detail — journey times, the cash-only fare and the reservation-only direct bus from Sapporo, which suits you if you would rather break the trip in the city.
Plan the day backwards from dinner
A ryokan dinner usually has a fixed sitting, and check-in has a deadline. Confirm both when you book, then work backwards:
- Dinner time and check-in deadline at your Noboribetsu hotel.
- The drive or the train chain above, plus the last stretch.
- Breaks, fuel and one stop at most.
- Checkout in Furano or Biei.
If the arrival only works with no slack, the direct leg is the wrong day for it. Our 7-day itinerary puts a Sapporo night between the two for that reason — it splits the long transfer into a driving day and a rail day, and lets you return the car in the city.
In winter, do not reuse these times as they stand. Check road and rail conditions on the day; JR Hokkaido publishes live operation information, and our winter transport guide covers the questions a snowy day adds.
Common questions
How long does it take to drive from Furano to Noboribetsu Onsen? The expressway section from Shimukappu IC to Noboribetsu-Higashi IC is about 1 hour 48 minutes (145.5 km) on NEXCO East's Drive Plaza, searched on 3 October 2026. Furano is about 50 km from Shimukappu IC by Route 237, and the onsen town about 6 km from Noboribetsu-Higashi IC; add both, plus your stops.
How long from Biei? Compare two routes: via Asahikawa-Takasu IC (expressway about 2 hours 21 minutes) or via Furano and Shimukappu IC (Biei to Furano about 34 km and 40 minutes, then the route above). The better one depends on your exact start.
Is there a direct train from Furano or Biei to Noboribetsu? No. One option is to change at Asahikawa and Sapporo; from Furano, the route via Takikawa to Sapporo is another to compare in the current timetable. Either way, finish by bus or taxi from Noboribetsu Station.
What are the expressway tolls? For a standard car on our search date: Shimukappu IC to Noboribetsu-Higashi IC ¥2,650 with ETC (¥3,790 without), and Asahikawa-Takasu IC to Noboribetsu-Higashi IC ¥4,510 with ETC (¥6,440 without).
Can I do it as a day trip? Not realistically. With the drive or the train chain each way, an onsen visit becomes mostly travel. Stay the night.
Where this fits in a longer trip
Before this leg, our Furano and Biei guide helps you choose the base and the stops. For the wider week, compare the 7-day itinerary and the driving-time planning guide.
Sources checked 3 October 2026: NEXCO East's Drive Plaza (expressway times, distances and tolls for a standard car, 10:00 departure), Furano City's access page, the Biei tourism association, the Noboribetsu International Tourism and Convention Association and JR Hokkaido's all-reserved-seat notice. Route recommendations are our editorial planning judgement, not a journey we timed on the ground.
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Northern Land Hokkaido Team — Sapporo, Japan