On our last day in Hokkaido we explored the Biei and Furano districts. These districts are in the centre of Hokkaido and are known for their rolling hills, flowers and farmlands. In the winter, Furano turns into an international resort with skiers and snowboarders visiting from all over the world. While in the summer, visitors come for the breathtaking landscapes, flowers and produce.
We started off early in the morning and drove along Patchwork Road and Panorama Road (not actually roads, but regions) in Biei to find a few of the celebrity/named trees and viewpoints. It started off cloudy and overcast, but as the day progressed the sun came out to unveil the most spectacular scenery.
We started off early in the morning and drove along Patchwork Road and Panorama Road (not actually roads, but regions) in Biei to find a few of the celebrity/named trees and viewpoints. It started off cloudy and overcast, but as the day progressed the sun came out to unveil the most spectacular scenery.
The Seven Star Tree
Parents with Child Trees
The Tree of Ken & Mary
Hokusei No Oka
Christmas Tree
This region has some of the most spectacular scenery and fortunately for us, many of the flowers were in bloom.
Blue Pond
This pond is very popular due to its teal green colour. There was an eeriness about this pond, but it was also beautiful.
Shirahige Waterfall
This waterfall is a short drive from the Blue Pond. Visitors get a breathtaking view of the waterfall from the bridge.
Farm Tomita
This is one of the most famous lavender and flower farms in Hokkaido. It was lavender season, so the lavender was in full bloom and there were at least two huge fields of lavender that we saw. The snack shops, in keeping with the lavender theme offered an array of lavender eats like lavender ice cream and lavender cheese cake.
Farm Tomita's Lavender Shops
There were a few of these shops around the farm selling an array of lavender products, from lavender soap and personal care products, to lavender essential oils. Definitely a lavender lover's paradise!
Tomita Melon House
Located next to Tomita Farm, this shop sells melons and an array of melon snacks like melon ice cream, melon smoothies, melon juice, melon slices and even melon cakes and sweets. The melons from this farm are not only sold locally, but also exported all around the world.
Flower Farms
We visited a few flower farms and we just blown away by the sea of colour.......many flowers and different varieties. Absolutely beautiful!
In a few weeks it will be even more colourful when many of the flowers come into full bloom.
Melon Farm
Just in time for melon season (June/July)! We took a drive along Furano Melon Road, a road through the farmlands where many of the Hokkaido melon farms can be found. We stopped at one of the farms to see how these musk melons are actually grown. These prized melons, which are often given as gifts in Japan, are grown in greenhouses under controlled conditions. This ensures the sweetest of melons.
Shikotsuko Daiichi Hotel
On our last night in Hokkaido we stayed at this hotel in Chitose, closer to the airport.
We had a room with a private onsen, which was lovely as we could soak in it after a long day of touring.
Kaiseki Dinner: the package that we booked with the hotel included a Kaiseki dinner (multi-course Japanese dinner) and breakfast. Dinner was great and we enjoyed all the different dishes that were served to us.
Breakfast: for breakfast we had a traditional Japanese breakfast that included rice, miso soup, pickles, sashimi and cooked salmon.
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