Farm Tomita, famous for its lavender, is a representative flower garden in the Furano area of Hokkaido. Furano is famous for its lavender in summer, and Farm Tomita is so famous for its lavender that it attracts many tourists from Japan and abroad. At Farm Tomita, lavender is the main flower, and a variety of other flowers bloom in profusion, colorfully decorating the flower fields that spread across the gentle slopes.

In this article, we will introduce in detail what Farm Tomita is like, when to visit, when the best time to see the lavender, and other highlights and ways to enjoy the area, so that even first-time visitors can easily understand what it is like.

Lavender and other seasonal flowers are in full bloom!

Farm Tomita is located in Nakafurano Town, which borders Furano City, the central city in the Furano area. The scenery of the lavender fields, which turn purple all over, and the aroma of lavender wafting softly in the air are refreshing. In addition to flower viewing, souvenirs such as lavender potpourri and lavender soft serve ice cream are also popular. First, let us briefly introduce Farm Tomita, famous for its lavender fields.

The best time to see lavender is from late June to early August. July is the best season. However, since many other flowers are grown in Farm Tomita, visitors can enjoy the colorful scenery even if they visit outside of the best season for lavender. Visitors can enjoy the colors of the flower fields from late April to early October every year.

From Farm Tomita official website

You can get to Farm Tomita by car, bus, or train. Parking lots and trains are crowded when the lavender season is in full bloom, and it is not unusual to see traffic jams on weekends and consecutive holidays in July as cars and buses wait for a parking space to become available. It is best to allow plenty of time for your visit. We recommend the Furano-Biei Norokko-go, a seasonal JR train service. There is a temporary station near Farm Tomita where only this train stops, so it is very convenient.

If you visit by car

Parking is free. There is no time limit. It is a great way to relax and enjoy your visit without worrying about fees or time. On the other hand, the parking lot is often crowded when the lavenders are at their best, and on weekends there are often lines waiting to park.

By bus

Take the Furano Bus "Kaisoku Lavender-go" or a sightseeing bus such as various tours.

By train

Take the JR Furano Line. Basically, use Nakafurano Station, but on weekends and in summer, a temporary lavender field station is opened near Farm Tomita. Please note, however, that only the Furano-Biei Norokko-go, a temporary train, stops at the temporary station. This train is convenient for sightseeing in Furano and Biei, so if you plan to visit on the day of operation, you should definitely use this train. Both reserved and non-reserved seats are available.

Lavender ice cream sold at the facility

Farm Tomita has no entrance fee! Parking is also free, so if you just want to visit and see the flowers, you don't have to pay anything at all. At Farm Tomita, the cost of caring for the flowers and maintaining the facility is covered not by the admission fee, but by the revenue from souvenirs and refreshments sold inside the facility. In exchange for free admission to the beautiful flower garden, visitors are encouraged to buy souvenirs and enjoy sweets and meals.

(The types of flowers and the best time to see them differ from field to field.

Here are some of the highlights of Farm Tomita! The main attraction is of course the flower fields. Farm Tomita's flower fields are diverse, including lavender fields that turn purple all over, as well as flower fields with beautiful colorful shades. Among the many flower fields, we will introduce a field where lavender is the focus of attention and a flower field where you can enjoy colorful flowers.

Farm Tomita has several lavender fields where the entire field is purple. Lavender blooms at slightly different times depending on the variety, with the earliest variety blooming in late June and the latest variety blooming until early August. Since each field has different varieties of lavender, the best time to visit a lavender field also depends on the time of year you visit. The following is a brief introduction to the characteristics and differences for each field.

Kumi no Hatake (fields of Kumi)

This field is located almost in the center of Farm Tomita and is probably the field that most visitors to Farm Tomita will see. Four varieties of lavender are grown in the Kumi no Hatake, and the best time to see them is different for each variety. Also, even though lavender is purple, each variety has a different hue, and when the four varieties of lavender are lined up, they look like a gradation of purple.

Traditional Lavender Field

Traditional Lavender Field is the origin of Farm Tomita and the field that made Furano famous for lavender. 1976, when the scenery of this field was introduced in the calendar of Japan National Railways, it attracted a great deal of attention and tourists began to visit one after another. From the bottom of the fields spread out on the slope, a beautiful view of the purple carpet and blue sky can be seen, and from the top of the slope, a panoramic view of the countryside of the Furano Basin and the Tokachi Mountain Range can be seen. If your timing is good, you can even see a train passing through the countryside.

Forest Lavender Field

Surrounded by trees, two varieties of lavender are cultivated: "Nohasayazaki," which can be seen from late June to mid-July on the left side of the field, and "Okamurazaki," which can be seen from early July to early August on the right!

Late-blooming lavandin field

This is a field where "Lavandin," the most late-blooming variety of lavender in Farm Tomita, is cultivated. While most lavenders are at their best in early to mid-July, this field is at its best in late July or later, making it a great field for those who cannot take a vacation in July but can visit in August.

Lavender fields are not the only flower fields in Farm Tomita. A variety of flowers bloom from spring to fall. Here we introduce the characteristics of four of the many flower fields and the best time to visit them.

Hanahito no Hatake

Located right in front of the main entrance of Farm Tomita, this flower garden is easily seen by many visitors. It features a variety of flowers that can be viewed over a long period of time from spring to fall. Violas and shibazakura bloom in spring, and flowers such as salvia and marigolds bloom from early summer to early fall. lavandin (lavender) can also be seen from late July to mid-August.

Field of Colors

This is Farm Tomita's representative flower field, and many people have probably seen it before, as it is often used in image photographs. The gradation of seven colors of flowers, including purple lavender, pink komachi grass, and white cassia, adorn the sloping hills. If you visit Farm Tomita, this is definitely a must-see flower garden.

Field of Color in the Forest

Visitors can enjoy colorful flowers such as lavender and poppies in this flower garden spreading out on a mountain slope surrounded by a conifer forest. In July, when the flowers are at their best, the forest that forms the backdrop for the flower garden turns a deep green, making the colorful hues of the flowers stand out considerably. The flower garden stretches long and narrow on the slope, and the view from the top of the flower garden is exhilarating! The fields of forests and colors spread out below, and the Tokachi Mountain Range can be seen in the distance.

Field of Mountain Colors

This is one of the flower gardens located at the far end of Farm Tomita's many flower gardens. It is a flower garden with a sense of seclusion, as if it had suddenly appeared in the middle of a mountain forest. Surrounded by green trees, the field is filled with colorful flowers, mainly poppies, in red, white, and pink.

At the Potpourri House, you can enjoy a light meal on the terrace while viewing the flower garden and the Tokachi Mountain Range.

There are many "houses," such as souvenir stores and cafes, scattered throughout the grounds of Farm Tomita. There are many things to see and do, such as lavender products that you will want to pick up and buy, sweets that make use of the subtle aroma of lavender, and meals using Furano ingredients! It is also the best place to take a break from touring the flower fields. Here are a few of them.

There are many original products that make use of lavender. Lavender oil, distilled water, air fresheners, candles, perfumes, cologne, soap, skin care and cosmetic products, bath salts, bath products, dried flowers, and other items to enjoy the fresh scent of lavender. There are several shops that sell these products, but we will introduce three of them here.

Hanabito no ie (House of flower people)

The large triangular-roofed building stands out prominently.

The store on the first floor sells potpourri and other original Farm Tomita products, while on the second floor you can enjoy a video introducing the history of lavender cultivation in Japan and Farm Tomita, Visitors can also try their hand at making their own scented bookmarks from lavender oil free of charge. Visitors can learn about the history of lavender while shopping.

Dried Flower House

Arrangements inside the building are designed to resemble spring in Hokkaido

Located next to the Hanabito no Sha, this facility displays dried flower arrangements. Once inside the building, visitors are sure to be overwhelmed by the many dried flower arrangements that cover the entire building! Everywhere you look is picturesque. There is also a photo spot, so you can take a memorable picture here. Various arrangements of dried lavender flowers, including wreaths, are also available for sale.

Distillery

There is an information board in front of the plant explaining the distillation process, which is easy to understand.

This distillation plant for extracting essential oils from lavender is open to tourists for a casual tour. Around July, when the lavender is harvested, visitors can watch the staff extract amber-colored essential oil from purple lavender using a distillation machine. In summer, lavender oil and lavender distilled water, which is extracted during distillation, are available for sale.

There is also a barn where you can enjoy cut Furano melons and other delicacies.

In front of the factory, there is a sign explaining the distillation process, which is easy to understand.

There is also a café where visitors can enjoy lavender soft serve ice cream, melon soft serve ice cream, melon bread, and other sweets, as well as Hokkaido vegetable curry, potato butter, gratin and gnocchi prepared under the supervision of a famous restaurant. Depending on the season, nearly 10 locations offer café menus and sweets. Here we introduce three of the main locations.

Mori no Sha

Lavender soft serve ice cream is a must at Farm Tomita!

A spectacular spot open only when the lavender is at its best!

Lavender soft serve ice cream and lavender ramune are sold at the building with an observation deck located right in front of the field of colors. Visitors can take the stairs up to the deck and enjoy a panoramic view of the fields! It is a spectacular spot where you will definitely want to take pictures. The woods behind the building provide plenty of shade, making it the perfect place to take a break on a hot day.

Cafe Renai

Winter made-in-Kamifurano gratin and curry set

Gnocchi with Echigo-Tsumari Baron potatoes from Kamifurano with cream sauce

This is the best place for those who want to dine in a relaxed atmosphere! Located next to Hanahinoya, this café has a glass structure that lets the light shine through. The menu is supervised by the owner-chef of the famous natural cuisine restaurant "valore" in Biei-cho, and you can enjoy a variety of dishes that make the most of ingredients from the Furano region and lavender. The glass-walled café is closed during the winter and is open as "Hanahinoya Rune" inside Hanahinoya.

Potpourri House

Hokkaido Seasonal Vegetable Curry

Kamifurano winter baron potatoes with potato butter

If you want to enjoy the view of the flower garden and a meal at the same time, this is the place to go! Located near the traditional lavender fields, this log house has a store selling Farm Tomita's original products, a café, and a terrace overlooking the flower fields. You can enjoy spicy curry using seasonal Hokkaido vegetables, potato butter and croquettes made from overwintered baron potatoes, gnocchi supervised by valore, lavender soft serve ice cream, and more while enjoying the view.

Hanahito's field in May

Farm Tomita offers a colorful landscape of flower fields from spring to autumn. In addition to different flowers blooming at different times of the year, the surrounding landscape also differs from season to season, with lingering snow and autumn leaves to be enjoyed. In addition, since the number of visitors increases considerably when the lavender season is in full bloom, there are some tips for a relaxing visit. The following is a brief introduction.

The fields of spring color bloom from mid-May to late June with a variety of flowers

At Farm Tomita, spring flowers usually begin to bloom around Golden Week each year. Many flowers, including Icelandic poppies, are at their best from spring to early summer, and the colorful scenery continues until mid-June, when the lavenders begin to change color. In addition, until late May, the Tokachi Mountain range, which rises above the countryside, is covered with lingering snow, so on a clear day, you can enjoy the picturesque scenery as well as the flower fields.

This is the season when the lavenders are at their most beautiful as they change color, and Farm Tomita is the busiest place in the year. The best time to view lavender is around mid-July, when both early and late-blooming varieties of lavender are at their best.

Traffic jams can form as people wait for a parking space.

The crowds are quite large, and on weekends, the lines waiting for a parking space can stretch on and on. If you get stuck in a traffic jam waiting for a parking space, you will not be able to move easily, and your driving or travel itinerary will be affected. If you want to avoid waiting in line for a parking space and enjoy your visit at a leisurely pace, it is best to visit early in the morning.

The Furano-Biei Norokko-go is also recommended.

The Furano-Biei Norokko-go, a temporary train service on the JR Furano Line, is also recommended as it is easy to access from the nearest temporary station "Lavender Field" station. This is a popular train, so if you want to be sure of a seat, secure a reserved seat. Reserved seats go on sale at 10:00 a.m. one month prior to the boarding date.

Autumn fields of color bloom from early June to early October

In October, the leaves of the surrounding trees change their color from green to yellow and orange, creating a wonderful contrast with the autumn leaves. In mid-October, the peaks of the Tokachi Mountain range in the distance are sometimes covered in white snow. Although lavender tends to be the focus of attention at Farm Tomita, the deepening autumn scenery around October is also a good time to visit.

Farm Tomita is like a sacred place for lavender tourism in the Furano region. Around July, when the lavender is at its best, the area is quite crowded with tourists. However, the charm of Farm Tomita is not limited to the lavender season, as visitors can enjoy the colorful scenery of the flower fields from spring to autumn. The flowers that can be seen change depending on the season, so visitors can enjoy a different atmosphere even when revisiting the farm. Visitors can also enjoy looking for souvenirs of original products that make use of lavender, and the sweets and café menus are also excellent. If you are planning a trip to the Furano area, be sure to visit.

(Photo courtesy of Farm Tomita)

Farm Tomita

Location: Nakafurano-machi, Keisen-kita 15
Business hours: 9:00-17:00
*Business hours vary depending on the season, so please check the official website for details.
Closed: No holidays
■Admission fee: Free
For details and map information of Farm Tomita, click here.

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