Furano, Japan

Furano located somewhat debatably in the precise geographical center of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, is an amalgamation of several quaint farming towns around a minor municipal center. Furano is famous for its remarkably light and dry powder snow, beautiful fields of lavender, entirely domestic vineyards, and its unique Hokkai-Heso Matsuri the Hokkaido Belly Button Festival. Furano is known as Heso no Machi (the Belly Button Town) due to its central location. Furano's inland location (almost 100 km -- about as far inland as Japan gets) and high elevation result in a continental climate, the reason behind Furano's successful ski hill and wine industries. There is a very large temperature variation, so a light jacket is recommended even in the summer. Summer midday temperatures may exceed 30 degrees C, and midwinters will drop below -30. Furano has very heavy snowfall in the winter. The population is approximately 26,000, including the incorporated communities in the outskirts. The population of the main municipal area is said to be about 16,000. Don't expect to meet a large number of English speakers outside of the major hotel and tourist areas. There has been a substantial increase in foreign skiers and snowboarders, particularly from Australia, in recent seasons. At least 2,000 Australians are visited Furano in the 06/07 winter. Furano seems set to enjoy the same skiing success that Niseko has. Famous for its lavender fields, delicious melons, excellent skiing and the late-July Heso Matsuri (; Navel Festival). If you've been pining for a place where you can strip off your shirt and have a scary traditional mask painted onto your torso before you go revelling, you've come to the right festival. Tobiiri odori (‘jump right in' dancing is part of the fun; as with sumô, it helps to be heavy. In case you're scratching your head trying to figure out the connection between this town and belly buttons, it's because Furano is in the geographical centre of Hokkaidô: the middle.