I think I have been to the lavender farm in Furano almost every year during my stay in Hokkaido. I like the relaxing smell of the lavender. There were studies that it has calming effects, which could be used to relieve preoperative stress and anxiety disorders.

Lavender plants dislike high humidity but they grow well in Japan’s cooler areas like Hokkaido where it has been cultivated for more than half a century. However, the demand for lavender declined due to arrival of cheaper, imported lavender, Farm Tomita revived the diminishing lavender cultivation in the Furano region and pioneered lavender tourism in the area.

Farm Tomita is now considered as a holy land for lavender where people visit from around the world. Its beautiful lavender fields with the Tokachi mountain as the backdrop is breathtaking. The entrance to the farm is free and there are cafes and shops that sell various lavender products. I love the lavender soft cream!

The majority of lavender usually starts blooming in late June and reaches its peak from around mid July to early August. This really depends on the variety of the lavender, such that the Noushi Hayazaki and Youtei fully bloom during early July to mid-July, and the Okamurazaki bloom from mid-July to late July. Less numerous, later flowering varieties of lavender remain in bloom into mid August. So the lavender season is quite long in Hokkaido,