Experience serene country life and rustic pleasures in Nakafurano, a picturesque town of colorful fields and farms surrounded by mountains. Walk among fresh lavender blooms, observe blue-colored waterfalls and ski across rugged terrain.
An excellent introduction to the town's pastoral pleasures is Farm Tomita, home to one of the largest lavender fields in Japan. Come in mid-July, the best time to see the plants blooming. Visit the farm's distillery to watch the extraction of lavender essential oil.
For more floral displays, tour Nakafurano Flower Park, a lavender garden filled with seasonal flowers. Enjoy a stroll through Nakafurano Shinrin Park, noted for its cherry blossoms and tulips in the spring and red leaves during the fall.
Ride the chair lift over purple fields of lavender at Choei Lavender Farm. During the winter, this hillside park becomes the Hokuseiyama Ski Area, popular with skiers and snowboarders.
Approximately 8 miles (13 kilometers) south of the town is Furano Ski Resort, one of the most popular in the country. Take your pick of more than 20 trails spread across terrain for every level of skier and snowboarder. Come back to the area in the summer for tree trekking in the forest and to ride the Furano Ropeway, a cable car that soars to an altitude of 2,953-feet (900 meters).
Explore other attractions that are within a short drive of Nakafurano. Observe the cascades of the Shirahige Falls, where the water is tinged with blue. Nearby is the Shirogane Blue Pond, a human-made body of water.
Head above Nakafurano on a cable car to the Sea of Clouds Terrace. During early mornings from May to October, you can look down on a blanket of clouds as far as the eye can see.
To experience Nakafurano's colorful countryside, water features and other scenic splendors, travel to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The town is easily reached by car, bus or train from Sapporo, the island's largest city.
