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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Fukaura
深浦町
Spend a half‑day for Blue Pond and onsen; add a night at Furofushi Onsen Hotel if you want a full onsen experience.
Fukaura is a coastal town on the Sea of Japan, known for the Blue Pond in the 12 Lakes area and the iron‑spring Furofushi Onsen. The town is served by the JR Gono Line and the Resort Shirakami tourist train, making it easy to visit as a day‑trip from Aomori or Akita, but staying overnight lets you enjoy the onsen after the day‑trippers leave.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 深浦町
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (heavy snow, limited transport)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Onsen day‑pass | ¥1,000 |
| Sea‑fish bowl (local specialty) | ¥800–¥1,200 |
| Taxi 5 km (3.1 mi)Taxi 3.1 mi (5 km) | ¥2,500–¥3,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AOJ · Aomori Airport
- Bus about 1 h to Fukaura
Typical fares
- JR Gono Line Aomori → Fukaura
- about ¥2,500, 1 h 30 min (check)
- Resort Shirakami round‑trip
- about ¥3,000, 2 h total (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
JR Gono Line (18 stations) with express stops at Juniko, Wespa‑Tsubakiyama, Fukaura; Resort Shirakami tourist train stops year‑round at the same stations. Taxis available but limited; walking is best for Blue Pond (≈30 min from station).
See and do
Known for
- Blue Pond (12 Lakes)
- Furofushi Onsen
- Shirakami‑Sanchi scenery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Pond (Jūniko) | JR Gono Line to Juniko, then local bus or taxi ~15 min | ≈1 h total |
| Shirakami‑Sanchi UNESCO forest | JR Gono Line to Fukaura, then bus to trailheads | ≈1.5 h |
Sleep
- Furofushi Onsen Hotel
- Japanese‑style rooms, onsen access, meals focus on local sea fish
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the onsen? | 温泉はどこですか？onsen wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Express trains stop only at a few stations; check timetables for local services.
- Senjojiki station is seasonal – only in summer.
- Winter snow can suspend some road access to the 12 Lakes area.
Generally safe; watch for icy sidewalks in winter and limited night transport.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Fukaura yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Blue Pond (12 Lakes)
- Furofushi Onsen
- Shirakami‑Sanchi scenery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Fukaura: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Fukaura, revision 4963386 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4963386
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/fukaura). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.