Surrender to serenity
WHAT is your idea of a holiday? If you find throwing on an old pair of jeans and a sweater appealing, read on to know more about the rustic charm that awaits early autumn travellers in Hokkaido, Japan.
The purple lavenders that carpet the vast land of Hokkaido has been a popular tourist attraction for the locals and foreigners.
The scent from these fragrant flowers have been so popular that they have been processed into potpourri and herbal tea used for perfume and aromatherapy
Of farms and gardens
Once you have set foot in Hokkaido, so much await the adventurer in you. Places to visit include the Farm Tomita, Furano Jam Garden, Highland Furano and the Flower Land Kamifurano.
Farm Tomita offers a lovely walkabout, from the Hanabito Field to the Forest House, to the traditional lavender garden and distillery workshop.
Kyohsai Farm’s Furano Jam Garden located approximately 20km away from the city centre of Furano, Hokkaido, is nestled deep in the woods of Rokugou Village. Since its founding in 1974, Kyohsai Farm has been delivering authentic, wholesome food products to the world. A unique experience awaits here.
Sunflower Garden
Come see the biggest sunflower garden in Hokkaido where a million sunflowers bloom in the open fields that are 20.8sq km. Early August is one of the best times to make a visit. Be sure to participate in the Sunflower Festival held from midJuly through late August if you get the opportunity.
Hokkaido Garden Road
Hokkaido Garden Road is a 200km route between Asahikawa and Tokachi via Furano. Here, seven beautiful tourist gardens beckon the visitor.
Visiting each garden is a must as each has a unique style and charm, developed solely from the owners’ passion for flora. The seven gardens are Ueno Farm, Windy Garden, Tokachi Millennium Forest, Manabe Garden, Tokachi Hills, Shichiku Garden and Rokka-no Mori.
Hokkaido Garden Road is a splendid sight where nature’s beauty abounds. But it’s not just the sights that are worth the effort, fun activities and delicious local food are infused into the journey.
A variety of wildlife teems within the confines of the Tokachi Millennium Forest woods, meadows, streams and ponds.
A Japanese larch forest is currently being restored while another is being developed with mixed seedlings.
The end product: a strong and healthy forest that conserves and maintains the forest as a natural habitat for a variety of animals and plants. It will be a nature lover’s paradise once Tokachi’s forest is restored to its original state.
Take in a guided forest tour or get off the beaten path and take a tour of a different kind where catching fish and aquatic insect larvae are in the itinerary.
Along the Garden Path, make pit stops at the many facilities that offer opportunities to experience farming such as cow milking, goat and sheep petting, butter churning and strawberry picking. For the more adventurous, yield freely to horseback riding and whitewater rafting after visits to the Hokkaido Folk Arts and Crafts Village.
Visit the Hokkaido Booth within the Japan Pavilion located in Booths No.1137-1148 (Hall 1), PWTC. For details, look out for the advertisement in this StarSpecial.