insights from frontier Japan

An event to view sunflowers grown for use as green fertilizer was held for the first time in two years, between October 2 and 10, at Kuroda Farm in the town of Otofuke in the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido. “I hope it gives people a chance to get out for the first time in a while, and refresh themselves,” said the farm’s owner, Kuroda Hiromitsu.

The harvesting of carrots has begun in earnest in the town of Otofuke in the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido, which boasts the most prolific production in Hokkaido.

The harvesting of winter wheat that was sown in autumn has begun in earnest in the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido, which is one of Japan’s most prolific wheat producing regions.

‘Tokapuchi 400’, a cycle route with an excellent riding environment from which the magnificent natural landscapes of the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido can be enjoyed, has been selected as one of Japan’s National Cycle Routes. It is the first route in Hokkaido to be selected as such.

‘Sairinka’, an event in which nighttime snowfields are colored with light and sound, began at Tokachigaoka Park in Tokachigawa Onsen (in the town of Otofuke next to Obihiro in eastern Hokkaido) on January 23. Due to the spread of coronavirus infections, visitors are obliged to undergo temperature checks at the entrance, and the scale of the event has been reduced, with some parts cancelled.

A ‘horse chase’ aimed at overcoming the lack of winter exercise of farm horses began at the National Livestock Breeding Center Tokachi Farm in the town of Otofuke in the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido on January 18.

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.