Farm Tomita in Nakafurano: Rolling Hills Wrapped in Lavender Fragrance

Farm Tomita, in Nakafurano Town, Sorachi District, Hokkaido, began with the settlement of the land in 1903 and has grown lavender in earnest since 1958, making it the oldest sightseeing lavender garden in Japan. At full bloom in July, fields of flowers in every colour spread across the whole hillside, and the "Irodori Field," where bands of graded colour run one after another alongside purple lavender, captivates every visitor. The scene of flower fields set against the Tokachidake mountain range is widely known as a view that symbolises summer in Hokkaido.

Highlights

• Lavender Fields: Peak bloom in early–mid July; purple carpet rolls over the hills
• Colorful Fields: Seven flower varieties planted in vivid strips across the landscape
• Forest Color Field: Charming flower garden nestled among trees
• Lavender Products: Lavender oil, potpourri, gelato, and more

A Pioneer of Lavender Cultivation

Farm Tomita is a farm that has walked alongside the history of lavender cultivation in Hokkaido. Lavender, once grown extensively as a raw material for perfume, faced a crisis when it was pushed aside by imported fragrance materials. Even so, the Tomita family kept growing it, and when the lavender fields were featured in a Japanese National Railways calendar in 1976, their beauty came to be known throughout Japan. Flower fields that had almost died out now shine as one of Hokkaido's leading sightseeing destinations.

Following the chronology on the official website conveys just how hard that road was. Lavender cultivation in Nakafurano began in 1952. Tomita Tadao encountered the lavender fields of the pioneer Ueda Yoshikazu in the summer when he was 21, and in 1958 he began serious cultivation with his wife Sachiko on a 10-are plot. That first field is the "Traditional Lavender Field" that still remains within the garden today. Cultivation peaked in 1970, when the Furano region as a whole had more than 230 hectares and about 250 farming households growing lavender, and Hokkaido's lavender oil production reached 5 tonnes.

However, with advances in synthetic fragrances and the rise of cheap imported perfume materials, purchase prices fell, and in 1973 the fragrance companies stopped buying. Lavender all but disappeared from the hills of Furano. The turning point was the 1976 National Railways calendar. Learning how to make potpourri and sachets from the travellers who began to visit, the family started selling from their front porch in 1977. In 1980 they succeeded in extracting oil by their own distillation, and in 1984 they released their original perfume "Furano." In 1990 they were awarded the title of "Chevalier de la Lavande de Haute-Provence" by an organisation of lavender growers in the south of France, and at the competition held at the same time their essential oil "Okamurasaki" took first place. In 2022 they were also granted the title of "Lavender Commander."

Flower Fields That Change Their Face with the Seasons

Farm Tomita's appeal does not stop at lavender. In the "Irodori Field," seven colours of flowers — lavender, poppies, baby's breath and more — are planted in bands across the slope of the hill, drawing rainbow-like stripes. With early- and late-flowering lavender fields and other plantings arranged so that different flowers bloom in succession through the seasons, the scenery differs according to when you visit. Time spent walking through the flower fields enveloped in fragrance is something special.

More than ten flower fields are scattered around the grounds — the "Hanabito Field," "Sachi no Hatake," "Traditional Lavender Field," "Spring Irodori Field," "Autumn Irodori Field," "Forest Irodori Field," "Mountain Irodori Field," "Late-Blooming Lavandin Field" and "Birch Forest" — and simply walking with the names as your guide brings you to wonderfully varied scenery. In 1999 the farm succeeded in bringing lavender into flower during the winter, and in the "Green House" greenhouse you can see lavender in bloom whatever the season.

Between the flower fields stand buildings such as the "Hanabito no Ie," "Perfume House," "Potpourri House," "Dried Flower House" and "Distillation House," where you can see the processing steps and how products are made. The "Dried Flower House," opened in 2003, is a space decorated with plant materials from all over the world. In 2021 a "Fragrance Experience Room" opened on the second floor of the Hanabito no Ie, and in 2024 the "Exhibition Room on the History of Japanese Lavender and Farm Tomita" opened on the same floor, so there is no shortage of things to see even on a rainy day.

Lavender Food and Souvenirs

The grounds are well provided with cafés and shops on a lavender theme. The vivid purple "lavender soft-serve ice cream" is a speciality with a delicate fragrance, perfect for a hot summer. At the distillation facility you can watch essential oil being extracted from lavender, and souvenirs such as potpourri, oils and dried flowers are available. Melons and dairy products enjoyed while looking out over the flower fields are another pleasure very much of Hokkaido.

Food

• Lavender Soft Cream: Light purple, fragrant ice cream
• Melons: Furano and Yubari melons available for purchase

Best Season and Access

The lavender flowering period is usually from July to around mid-August, and this is the busiest time of the year (the state of the blooms shifts from year to year). For access, it is about 7 minutes on foot from Lavender Batake Station on the JR Furano Line (a temporary station open only in summer). From Nakafurano Station, which is open all year round, it is about 2.0 km, about 25 minutes on foot or about 5 minutes by car. By car, head along National Route 237 from Asahikawa or central Furano. Because the surrounding roads are congested at the height of the season, an early-morning visit is recommended. As you will be walking around extensive grounds, wear comfortable shoes and take precautions against the sun.

Farm Tomita is open all year round, so you can visit even outside the flowering season. If you come by bus, the nearest stop is the "Furano Bus" Nakafurano stop, about 1 hour 25 minutes from in front of Asahikawa Station, about 48 minutes from Asahikawa Airport and about 12 minutes from in front of Furano Station. From Nakafurano it is about 25 minutes on foot, or about 5 minutes by taxi (Nakafurano Hire, tel. 0167-44-2331). From the Sapporo direction, one route is to take the Hokkaido Chuo Bus Kosoku Furano-go to Furano Bus Terminal, about 2 hours 30 minutes, and then change to a JR train or a bus from Furano Station.

One more place worth going out of your way for is "Lavender East," which opened in 2008. About 4 km east of Farm Tomita towards the Tokachidake mountain range (about 7 minutes by car), it spreads across the Higashinaka district of Kamifurano Town and is one of the largest lavender fields in Japan. It is a production field for fragrance crops, created on land that was once rice paddies, with the Tokachidake range to the east and the Yubari Mountains — Furano Nishidake and Ashibetsudake — to the south. This area is also the birthplace of lavender cultivation in the Furano region. Flowering runs from late June to mid-July, with the best viewing from early to mid-July, and it is open only during the flowering period (in 2026, 20 June to 20 July, 9:30–16:30). Please check the opening period on the official website before visiting.

Practical Information

• Best viewing period / best season: The lavender flowering period is usually from July to around mid-August. At the "Distillation House" in the grounds you can watch essential oil being distilled during the flowering period from July to mid-August. Because the state of the blooms shifts from year to year, please check the official flowering information.
• Access: The address is Kisen Kita 15-go, Nakafurano Town, Sorachi District, Hokkaido 071-0704 (tel. 0167-39-3939). About 7–8 minutes on foot from "Lavender Batake Station" on the JR Furano Line (a temporary station open only in summer); from "Nakafurano Station," which is open all year round, about 2.0 km, about 25 minutes on foot or about 5 minutes by car. The 2026 operating days of the Furano-Biei Norokko train, which stops at Lavender Batake Station, are 6 and 7 June, 13 June to 11 August, Saturdays and Sundays from 15 August to 13 September, and 19 to 23 September. By car it is about 45 minutes from Asahikawa Airport via National Route 237, about 2 hours 30 minutes from New Chitose Airport via the Doto Expressway Shimukappu IC, and about 2 hours 30 minutes from central Sapporo via the Do-o Expressway Mikasa IC. By bus, the Furano Bus "Rapid Lavender-go" takes about 1 hour 25 minutes between Asahikawa Station and Nakafurano, about 48 minutes between Asahikawa Airport and Nakafurano, and about 12 minutes between Furano Station and Nakafurano.
• Parking: The Nakafurano municipal Kita 15-go car park will charge a fee for a limited period from 13 June to 23 August 2026 (open 24 hours; 104 spaces for ordinary cars and 18 for buses; 500 yen per visit for an ordinary car, 2,000 yen per visit for a bus). Payment is cashless only (credit cards, electronic money, transport IC cards and QR code payments); cash cannot be used. Parking on the road and in the bus-only car park is prohibited. At busy times, visitors are also advised to park at public facilities such as the town hall or the Flower Park and travel to the sightseeing facilities on foot or by bicycle.
• Clothing and equipment: Wear comfortable shoes, as you will be walking around extensive grounds. There is little shade, so bring a hat, sunscreen and drinks as protection against the heat.

*The flower fields are farmland. Please do not enter the fields or pick the flowers; view them from the designated paths.*

*The surrounding roads are extremely congested during the flowering season. Allow plenty of time.*

Tips

Peak lavender season is roughly 2 weeks around July 10. Visit at opening time to beat the crowds. Admission is free.

*(Sources: Farm Tomita official website, "The History of Farm Tomita," "Access," "Lavender Batake Station (Norokko Train)" https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/ ; Nakafurano Town official website, "Farm Tomita," "On the Introduction of Charges at the Municipal Kita 15-go Car Park" https://www.town.nakafurano.lg.jp/ ; confirmed 29 July 2026)*