Furano
Jul 16th, 2006 by Ad Blankestijn
A few days ago, a heatwave announced the end of the rainy season in Japan. Time to head to cooler climes, such as Hokkaido. Popular among the Japanese themselves are the lavender fields of Furano in the center of the large island. Furano derives from the Ainu word “furanui,” fragrant flame, but that probably refers to the Tokachi Volcano towering above it. One of the most popular places for viewing the lavender fields is Farm Tomita, where you have the Tokachi and Daisetsuzan mountains as a spectacular backdrop.
(Lavender field in Furano - photo Ad Blankestijn)
In summer the train from Asahikawa on the Furano line also stops at Lavender Batake Station, from which it is only a 5-min walk. Furano and neighboring town Biei are also famous thanks to the photography of Maeda Shinzo, who made it his lifework to record the changing scenery of this area. There is a small museum, Takushinkan, dedicated to him in Biei (in an old school building, 10 km from Biei St, 15 min by taxi or 2 hrs on a rented bicycle).
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