Hostel Tomar

Rooms and decor

Walk into Hostel Tomar and you immediately feel this isn't the old kind of hostel, bare and crammed with bunk beds. It's a new place that opened in 2019, designed by a younger Japanese owner who'd stayed in hostels abroad. The look is simple — light wood, grey-and-beige fabrics, an open common area that pulls in plenty of natural light. Rooms come in several types: 4-bed and 8-bed dorms (gender-split in some seasons), private doubles, and family rooms for 3 to 4 people. The dorm beds are individual curtained pods, each with a power outlet, reading light, USB port and a small lockable locker, so privacy runs well above the usual hostel. Mattresses are soft, the linens are clean, and the sound insulation is decent. The private doubles are small but well laid out, with two singles or a double bed, a locker and a small mirror. Bathrooms are shared but very clean — plenty of reviews praise the housekeeping, with cleaning done daily and showers and toilets that feel hotel-grade rather than packed hostel. If you've ever been on the fence about hostel quality, this place will change your mind.

Food and amenities

The heart of Hostel Tomar is its common area and the owner's service. The shared kitchen is fully kitted out — stove, pots, pans, plates, bowls and cutlery, a coffee maker, a microwave and a big shared fridge — so anyone can grab ingredients from the nearby Frano Marche market and cook. The lounge has sofas, work tables, books and board games, and free fast Wi-Fi runs throughout. There's a coin laundry on the ground floor, handy for backpackers on long trips. But what really earns the 9.0 score is the owner and staff, who speak English and pay close attention — they help book lavender tours, plan ski trips, recommend restaurants, share bus times and sometimes arrange a ride to the slopes. Reviews call this the standout, and it's why many people come back. There's no onsen on site, so for a soak you'll head to a public onsen in town (several near JR station, around $4 to $7) or use one at another hotel. Breakfast isn't included either, so you'll eat out or cook in the shared kitchen.

Location and getting there

Hostel Tomar sits near JR Furano station, exactly a 5-minute walk away. That's the most convenient base for anyone traveling by train — it's about 30 minutes by rail to Biei, around 1 hour to Asahikawa, and another 1.5 hours on to Sapporo, so a lot of Hokkaido is within reach from here. Within a 2-to-10-minute walk you'll find convenience stores (Seicomart, Lawson), local restaurants, the Frano Marche market (fresh Hokkaido produce and souvenirs), public onsen and a craft-beer bar — very handy. The Kitanomine ski area is about 5 minutes away by car; in winter a direct bus runs from JR Furano station to the slopes, or the owner can help arrange a transfer. Tomita Farm, the summer highlight, is roughly 15 minutes by car — if you don't drive, take the train to Naka-Furano station and walk, or use the summer Twinkle Bus. From Asahikawa Airport (AKJ), ride the bus to JR Asahikawa, then take the train down to JR Furano, about 1.5 hours total. For travelers without a car, this location is the most balanced choice.

Things to know before booking

To help you decide, here's the honest version. First, there's no onsen and no buffet on site — if you want a soak and a hotel-style breakfast you'll have to add them yourself. Public onsen nearby run around $4 to $7, and breakfast comes from a convenience store or your own cooking in the shared kitchen. If you're not used to the hostel format, that may feel inconvenient; consider Hotel Edel Warme, which bundles an onsen and breakfast from around $69 instead. Second, there's the distance to the slopes — Kitanomine is about 5 minutes away by car, not ski-in/ski-out, so multi-day skiers will be catching a bus or taxi daily. Alpine Backpackers sits closer to the slopes. Third, there's family fit: the vibe here leans toward backpackers and solo travelers, and although family rooms are available, families with young kids may not be as comfortable as at a full-service hotel.

Our take

After reading through a lot of real guest reviews, Hostel Tomar sells "new, clean, close to the station and a lovely owner" and delivers on every count. If the trip in your head is backpacking through Furano — stepping off the train and walking 5 minutes to your hostel, sleeping in a clean curtained dorm bed, having the owner help plan your days and recommend spots, and chatting with travelers from around the world in the shared kitchen — this is about as good a fit as it gets. It suits backpackers, solo travelers, budget-minded couples and anyone who wants to meet other guests. But if you want an onsen and buffet on site, need to walk to the slopes, or are traveling as a family with young kids, this may not be the answer — look at Hotel Edel Warme (same price, with onsen and buffet) or Alpine Backpackers (closer to the slopes) instead. Overall we give it 9.0/10, the highest of any hostel in Furano, and the one that travelers from Asia and the West keep talking about.