The internet’s favourite coordinated couple, Tsuyoshi and Tomi Seki of bonpon511, trade city streets for Furano’s rolling hills.
Some couples finish each other’s sentences. Tsuyoshi and Tomi Seki match each other’s outfits, with several hundred thousand followers to show for it. Known collectively as bonpon511, the Sendai couple have spent a decade posting their matching looks on Instagram. The draw is their knack for putting together coordinated ensembles — gingham, stripes and primary colours are their go-to — as well as the heartwarming romance of these sweethearts married since 1980.
It started, as these things tend to, with their daughter, who put a photo of her parents online and watched it find an audience. She convinced them to put up their own Instagram account, and have become fashion icons of the ‘silver generation’, the term Japan and China use for their elderly.
In a story published by The Guardian in 2018, Tomi said that retirement’s real gift was time. “Now we’re on our own and finally have the time to do all the things we didn’t have the time to do when we were raising a family and working,” she said. “We want to show that retirement can be a lot of fun, especially if you find something you enjoy doing together.”
This summer, they swapped the city for central Hokkaido, checking into Fenix Furano for their first visit to the region. Over two days they explored Furano and neighbouring Biei, dressed, naturally, to match the season.
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You’re known for your coordinated outfits. How did you dress for a Furano summer?
We always choose our outfits to suit the places we visit. For Furano, we picked coordinated looks that echoed the fresh, green summer scenery. Pon usually settles on an outfit first, and Bon builds his around hers. Whether it is something casual for the park or a little more polished for a museum, the destination tends to decide the palette.
This was your first time in Furano. What were your first impressions?
We had been to Hakodate, Sapporo, and Otaru before, but never Furano. While much of Japan was in the thick of the humid rainy season, Furano welcomed us with clear skies. The air was dry and cool, and the green hills against the blue made everything feel calm.
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How did you spend your days in Furano?
We stayed at Fenix Furano for two nights and explored Furano and nearby Biei by rental car. Getting around was easy, with barely any traffic, so we could take the trip at our own pace. We are early risers who like to walk first thing wherever we are, so mornings were spent on foot, watching the town wake up.
What stood out about your stay at Fenix Furano?
The property sits close to central Furano, so restaurants and shops were within easy reach. The ski slopes are right out front, too, which had us picturing what a fine base it would make during winter.
We stayed in the three-bedroom premier suite, which would suit a family or a group of friends. With a full kitchen and a washing machine, it is built for longer stays, and we found ourselves wishing we had time to cook with local produce.
What set the trip apart was the care The Luxe Nomad put into it from the very start. The flights, the rental car, the welcome at the hotel: every detail was handled, so we could travel with our minds at ease. The team sorted our restaurant reservations, and everyone greeted us with a smile.
Was there a moment that will stay with you?
Furano has been on our list for years. We took a hot air balloon ride at the foot of the hills, something we had wanted to do since we were children and rose just high enough to see the fields laid out below. Seeing them from above is something we will hold onto for the rest of our lives.
For anyone planning a Furano summer, what would you recommend?
The flower fields first, above all Farm Tomita, where the colour runs right to the horizon. There is plenty to do outdoors too, from hot air balloon rides to rafting, which makes it enjoyable for families and friends alike.
Biei is close by, so set aside time for the Blue Pond and Shikisai no Oka. And for dinner, we loved the jingisukan at Hokkaido Jingisukan MASAJIN near Furano Station.
If this trip had a theme song, what would it be?
For us, Furano has always meant From the Northern Country (Kita no Kuni Kara) — the Japanese drama filmed here. Its theme song played in our heads for the whole trip, and we were thrilled to finally stand in the real filming locations.
Planning a Furano summer of your own? Start here:
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PSA: Early bird access for Winter 2026/27 is now open with exclusive rates for peak dates.