Hokkaido is the northern island that makes up Japan and includes all the little islands around as well. It’s a huge area but has only been developed by the Japanese in the last 100 years, so its cities are very modern. However, the huge area which was previously left to the hunter-gatherer tribes known as Ainu is still very unspoilt and wild, with the exception of the areas used for agriculture. Here you will be able to see beautiful colourful patchwork patterns across the landscape stretching as far as the eye can see. When you get closer you will realise that these colourful stripes and squares are actually lavender and other plants and flowers such as poppies, rape blossoms and tulips.
The Japanese first started growing lavender in Hokkaido in the mid-1900s when lavender was in high demand and could fetch a good price. However, as cheaper seeds came into circulation, demand dropped but the fields were kept because of their beauty and popularity with the tourists.
The two main growing areas are Furano and Biei which are only 45 minutes by car or an hour by train apart, so you can easily visit the two areas in a day or two. The best season to view flowers is from June to September with the peak for lavender being July and August; so if you want to make sure you get the best vistas, these are the months to visit. Don’t worry if you can’t make exactly these months though as there are flowers outside this specific season too and it is still a beautiful area to visit with lots of other attractions.
In Furano there are two main places you should visit. The first is Flower Land Kamifurano where you can see lavender as well as other flowers, as well as take in the spectacular views over the Tokachi Mountains. You can take a fun ride on a tractor-pulled cart and make some beautiful pressed flowers to take home with you as a souvenir.
The other place is Farm Tomita which has many stunning flower fields to see and a lot of little shops selling all sorts of lavender products. You should also try the delicious soft-serve ice cream in one of the cafés dotted about. They also have a second farm you can visit which has an incredible 14 hectares of fields which you can view by taking a 15 minute ride on the special Lavender bus.
If you choose to take the Norokko train to Biei, there are two great areas to drive or cycle around called the Patchwork Road, where you can see lots of colourful patchwork fields, and also the Panorama Road which offers truly spectacular views. They have several places you should stop, including the Hokusei Hill Observatory for some amazing views, and Zerebu Hill which is a lovely flower farm you can explore by foot or by cart.
There are two other flower farms worth visiting called Shikisai Hill and Kanno Farm and also an exhibition hall called Takushinkan with an impressive collection of landscape photography from all over Japan but focusing on the Biei area.
If you ever get bored of the flower fields – which is highly unlikely – this area of Hokkaido is also famous for its hot springs which is a lovely way to relax after a busy day. There are a whole host of other activities you can try too, such as white water rafting, cherry picking, horse riding, and hot air balloon rides. Plus if you visit in the peak month of July, there are some really fun festivals such as the Belly Button Festival (thus named because Furano is in the centre of Hokkaido) which involves dancing, fireworks and music as well as great food and drink on offer.
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