insights from frontier Japan

Yakumo's city flower, the sunflower, is in full bloom

White flowers are in full bloom on the tall, thin stems of “ezonyu” flowers (bear’s angelica) on the northern Japan Sea coast of Hokkaido. Locals have formed a group to enjoy the plant as food.

Hydrangeas, a yearly summertime sight, are in full bloom at Matsumae Park in southern Hokkaido.

Lavender fields in the Furano area are in full bloom and welcome tourists with a fresh scent. Since the thaw came early this year, the flowering date was about 1 week earlier than usual. At the tourist farm “Farm Tomita” in Nakafurano Town, the purple lavenders strike a vivid contrast with the other pink and orange flowers.

In July, Hokkaido's famous summer lavender flowers have become perfect for viewing in many locations, and some lavender fields were crowded with tourists including the popular tourist farm “Farm Tomita” ( https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/ ) in the Furano region, which has 20 hectares of lavender fields.

Kuroda Farm in the town of Otofuke in eastern Hokkaido, where buckwheat flowers are in full bloom, is now open to the public from July 13.

Roses are beginning to bloom one after another at “Tokachi Hills”, a tourist garden in eastern Hokkaido's Makubetsu Town. Some of the rose types have a honey or pear fragrance, so the garden is filled with a sweet aroma.

This is the prime season to view cotton grass in the high moor around the Kagaminuma Marsh on the hillside of Mt. Niseko Annupuri in Central Hokkaido's Kutchan Town.

Water lilies are in full bloom at the pond of Hachironuma Park in southern Hokkaido's Hokuto City. Vibrant pink blossoms and green leaves adorn the pond surface. Blooming began in early June, as usual. Visitors can enjoy them until August.