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Shikisai-no-Oka: Hokkaido Panoramic Flower Garden

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Roll-chan, a figure made of hay bales, Welcomes us into Shikisai-no-Oka

Located in the rural town of Biei in Hokkaido, Shikisai-no-Oka attracts many people with its beautiful scenery of panoramic flower gardens. It is a paradise of seasonal blossoms from spring through to fall, in which several dozen different species of flowers and grasses flourish.

Why not enjoy the beautiful fragrance of the blossoms amid spectacular panoramic scenery?

How to Get to Shikisai-no-Oka

If you’re coming from Sapporo and using public transportation, take the JR Hakodate Main Line Limited Express to Asahikawa Station which is about one and a half hours ride. Then transfer onto the JR Furano Line which is about 45 minutes ride to Mibaushi Station. From Mibaushi Station, it is about a 25 minutes walk to Shikisai-no-Oka. If you want to take a taxi, it is recommended to get off at Biei Station and take a taxi (around 12 minutes ride).

If you’re driving by car from Sapporo, take the Doo Expressway (toll) and get off at Takigawa IC. It takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes to reach Shikisai-no-Oka.

The entrance fee is ¥500 for visitors over 15 and ¥300 for those under 15.

Shikisai-no-Oka

Shikisai no Oka simply means the Hills of Seasonal Colors

Kyuhoshi

Shikisai-no-Oka is a big flower garden or park in the Furano area with about 15 hectares of a wide range of seasonal flowers. The Green Season (from late April to late October or from spring to autumn), you can enjoy colourful stripes of flowers that are drawn over the hills.

Be sure to walk in the flower-filled fields. Given that the field is 15 hectares large, expect to do a fair amount of walking.

The Shikisai-no-oka Norokko (tractor bus) is a very popular ride that takes a slow run every 15 minutes or so through the most impressive course in the vast Shikisai-no-Oka Park, which is filled with the rich fragrance of flowers and offers spectacular views of the hills, Mt. Daisetsu, and the flower garden. It stops once during the ride for taking photographs against a background of breathtaking flowers.

  • It costs 500 yen for high school students and older,
  • it costs 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and
  • it is free for elementary school students and younger.
Shikisai-no-Oka in 2019

If you want to get around at your own pace on your own or in a small group; you can rent a buggy or a cart. The buggy costs ¥500 for a single-seater on 1km circuit of the Shirakaba-batake (white birch garden). The 4-seater cart costs ¥2000 for a 15 minutes session to reach some of the best photo spots and explore around the park.

Shikisai-no-Oka in October

In the Winter Season (from early December to early April the following year), the flower garden turns to a world of silvery snow and there are many activities to be enjoyed. That’s the time when many winter sports enthusiasts enjoy their time doing various winter activities especially riding on the snowmobile and snow rafting.


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Credits to:

https://www.shikisainooka.jp/en/
https://livejapan.com/en/in-hokkaido/in-pref-hokkaido/in-furano_biei_sounkyo/article-a1000325/
https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1876/
https://www.kyuhoshi.com/shikisai-no-oka-in-biei/

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Farm Tomita: Vast Lavender Flower Fields in Hokkaido

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Farm Tomita, located in the heart of Hokkaido in Nakafurano, Hokkaido, Japan, is home to Hokkaido’s lavender fields. Farm Tomita is one of Hokkaido’s largest tourist attraction site that brings in over 1 million people annually from all over Japan and the world.

How to Get to Farm Tomita

If you’re flying in to Hokkaido and driving to Farm Tomita; it is about 45 minutes drive from Asahikawa Airport on the National Highway and 2.5 hours from the New Chitose Airport on the Doto Expressway (exit at the Shimkappu IC). Then, if you’re driving from Sapporo city, it is about 2.5 hours drive on the Doo Expressway (exit at the Mikasa IC).

By train, the nearest stations are the Lavender Farm Station and Nakafurano Station. Lavender Farm Station on the JR Furano Line is a 7 minutes walk to Farm Tomita. Nakafurano Station on the JR Furano Line is about a 25 minutes walk or 5 minutes by taxi to Farm Tomita.

“Nakafurano” is the closest bus stop; it is served by Furano Bus.

Visit the Farm Tomita website for detailed access guide.

Farm Tomita

Lavender blooms from late June to early August. During this time the flowers in the garden will be in bloom and a colorful sight can be experienced.

The peak period for lavender fields in Hokkaido is mid to late July. Don’t miss this period if you plan to view the sight of a hill covered in a purple carpet.

Here’s a throwback to Farm Tomita in the autumn in October 2019.

Farm Tomita is about 20 hectares with 12 flower fields.

There is the “traditional lavender field”, which is a slope completely covered in lavender. Besides lavender, there is a field with multicoloured flowers and the flowers grow in a slight curve.

At the entrance of the farm is the Hanabito Field. From early summer to autumn, red and yellow flowers such as marigold and silver cock’s comb start to fill the fields.

Hanabito Field
Hanabito Field

The different fields are: Hanabito Field, Sakiwai Field, Autumn Field, Spring Field, Traditional Lavender Field, Lavandin Field, Lavender Forest Field, White Birch Forest, Hilltop Field, Forest Field, Irodori Field, and Mother’s Garden.

There are also different houses near and around the various fields: Hanabito House, Dried Flower House, Sakiwai House, Sakiwai Trail Petit Shop, Distillery Workshop, Perfume Workshop, Proche House, Potpourri House, Arbre House, Gallery Fleur, Poppy House, Forest House, Flower House, and Rapport House.

Visit the Farm Tomita website for a farm guide and introduction to the flower fields.

Autumn Field

Hanabito House

Hanabito House welcomes you to Farm Tomita. Out front is Hanabito Garden. Out back is Hanabito Field.

Marie, the gift shop on the ground floor, offers gifts produced by Farm Tomita. Café René, next to Hanabito House, is open in summer. René, on the ground floor of the house, operates in autumn. Petit René, attached to Café René, operates between the Golden Week holidays and autumn, offering soft-serve ice cream and drinks. 

Tadao Tomita Museum, on the upper floor, introduces the history of Farm Tomita’s founder. On the same floor are the scent testing room where you can compare the fragrances of different types of lavenders, and displays of distillation apparatuses.

Hanabito House – Scent Experience Room
Hanabito House – Tadao Tomita Museum

Dried Flower House

The house boasts one of the largest display areas of dried flower arrangements in Japan. 

Dried Flower House

Lavender Ice Cream

At Farm Tomita, try the lavender ice cream, made out of Furano’s local vegetables. The sweets, made of natural lavender extract have a wonderful fresh scent.  Have a taste of it while exploring.



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Credits to:

https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/farm/
https://livejapan.com/en/in-hokkaido/in-pref-hokkaido/in-furano_biei_sounkyo/article-a1000089/
https://matcha-jp.com/en/10641
https://www.mystays.com/en-us/attractions-farm-tomita-hokkaido-japan/
https://digjapan.travel/en/blog/id=11636

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