The outdoor recreational spot with the Rose Garden in Chippubetsu was established in 1999. About 3,000 roses in different colors and 300 varieties are planted in the 5.4 hectare garden park. The roses are in full bloom from early July until early September.

The irises or ayame in Japanese go full bloom every July, the month of the Memuro Iris Festival. Although it was a small event as compared to the massive flower parks in Hokkaido, the festival boasts a number of irises in different types and colors.

In Hokkaido, a sunflower field is considered the largest planted area in Japan. The 23.1 hectares Himawari no Sato is located in Hokuryu town, southwest of Asahikawa City. The residents of Hokuryu started cultivating sunflowers in 1979. With its fertile land and favorable weather, about 1.5 million of 30 types of sunflowers grow in Himawari no Sato annually, The first sunflower festival was held in 1987.

Zerubu no Oka is open from late April to late October. Colorful seasonal flowers are planted on the hill including lavender, pansy and sunflower. It is a smaller version and less famous than Shikisai no Oka but what sets it apart are the mountain backdrops of Asahidake and Tokachidake Mountain Range.

Flower Land Kamifurano is located across Furano against Tokachidake pique. Actually, it is more famous for the lavender in April but we went there in June when lupine blossoms were at its peak.

Shikisai no Oka means the “Hills of Seasonal Colors”, a good description of its rainbow fields of seasonal flowers. The impressive landscapes of Shikisai no Oka is about 7 hectares making it the biggest flower park in Furano.

Farm Tomita is 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.

The park is located in Kamiyubetsu, Yubetsu town in the northern part of Kitami city along Oketo National Route (National Route 242). The tulip garden was started in 1957 and was only designated as the Tulip Park by the town’s government in 1988. Measuring about 7 hectares, rows of different colored tulips were looking like rainbow fields. Admission fee is worth 500 yen.

Canola flower called nanohana in Japanese is one of the spring flowers in bright yellow color. The plant was developed from rapeseed cultivars of Brassica napusa and Brassica rapa by Canadian researchers from the University of Manitoba as a substitute to rapeseed plant in the early 1970s. The name itself was an abbreviation of Canada as “Can” and “OLA ” meaning “Oil, low acid”.

Eastern Hokkaido is amazingly gorgeous with its breathtaking flower parks and gardens. One of the flowers that can be frequently seen in the ground is the moss or creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) called shibazakura in Japanese. Its simple flowers are not only pretty but remarkably plentiful, densely populating the field. There are 2 parks in Hokkaido dedicated for shibazakura: Higashimokoto and Takinoue.

Hokkaido is a must-see place for nature lovers. I can say that I was really lucky to have lived in this part of Japan. Hokkaido is famous for its harsh and snowy winters, thus it’s a perfect spot for skiing and snow festivals. However, Hokkaido has still a lot to offer during spring, summer and autumn. May it be the tulips in spring, or the lavender fields in summer, or the cosmos in autumn, Hokkaido will surely be a beautiful destination with its floral landscape.