Farm Tomita, famous for its lavender, is a representative flower field in the Furano area of Hokkaido. Summer in Furano is synonymous with lavender, and lavender is synonymous with Farm Tomita, so famous that it attracts many tourists from both within Japan and overseas. At Farm Tomita, lavender and a variety of other flowers bloom in full bloom, 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 go, when the lavender is in full bloom, and other highlights and ways to enjoy the farm, so that even first-time visitors can easily understand.

Lavender and other seasonal flowers bloom in abundance.

Farm Tomita is located in Nakafurano Town, which borders Furano City, the central city of the Furano area. The scenery of the lavender fields dyed purple and the soft lavender aroma floating in the air are refreshing. In addition to admiring the flower fields, souvenirs such as lavender potpourri and lavender soft-serve ice cream are also popular. First, we will briefly introduce what Farm Tomita, famous for its lavender fields, is like.

The best time to see the lavender is from late June to early August, with July being the best season. However, Farm Tomita also grows many other flowers besides lavender, so you can enjoy the colorful scenery even if you visit outside of the peak lavender season. You can usually enjoy the colorful flower fields from late April to early October.

From Farm Tomita's official website

You can get to Farm Tomita by car, bus, or train. When the lavender is in full bloom, the parking lots and trains are crowded. On weekends and consecutive holidays in July, it is not uncommon for nearby roads to become congested with cars and buses waiting for a parking spot. It is best to visit with plenty of time to spare. We recommend the seasonal JR special train "Furano-Biei Norokko." There is also a special station close to Farm Tomita where only this train stops, making it very convenient.

By car

Parking is free. There are no time limits. It's nice to be able to take your time and visit without worrying about fees or time. On the other hand, the parking lot is often crowded during the season when the lavender is in full bloom, and there may be a line of people waiting for a parking spot on weekends.

If you are coming by bus

You can take the Furano Bus "Rapid Lavender" or any sightseeing bus such as a tour bus.

If you are coming by train

Use the JR Furano Line. Nakafurano Station is the standard, but on weekends and in summer, a special Lavender Farm Station is opened near Farm Tomita. However, please note that only the special Furano-Biei Norokko train stops at the special station. This train is convenient for sightseeing in Furano and Biei, so if you are planning to visit on an operating day, you should definitely use it. Both reserved and unreserved seats are available.

Lavender ice cream sold at the facility

Admission to Farm Tomita is free! Parking is also free, so it doesn't cost anything to just visit and look at the flowers. At Farm Tomita, the costs of caring for the flowers and maintaining the facility are covered not by the admission fee, but by the profits from the souvenirs and snacks sold within the facility. In exchange for admiring the beautiful flower fields for free, why not buy some souvenirs and enjoy some sweets and meals?

Each flower garden has different types of flowers and the best viewing times.

We will introduce all 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 are completely covered in purple, as well as flower fields with beautiful colorful hues. Among the many flower fields, we will introduce the fields that are attracting attention for their lavender and flower fields where you can enjoy colorful flowers.

Farm Tomita has several fields of purple lavender. The blooming period varies slightly depending on the lavender variety, with the earliest blooming varieties blooming in late June and the latest blooming varieties remaining until early August. Since each field has a different variety, the best time to visit the lavender fields also changes depending on the time of year you visit. Here is a brief introduction to the characteristics and differences of each field.

Happy Field

This field is located almost in the center of Farm Tomita, and is probably the one that most visitors to Farm Tomita see. Four varieties of lavender are cultivated in Kou's field, and each variety has a different peak season. Although lavender is purple, each variety has a different hue, and when the four varieties of lavender are lined up, they look like a purple gradation.

Traditional Lavender Fields

The Traditional Lavender Field is the origin of Farm Tomita, and the field that made Furano famous for lavender. In 1976, the scenery here was featured in a Japanese National Railways calendar, which drew a lot of attention, and tourists began to visit in droves. Looking down from the bottom of the field that spreads across the slope, you can see a beautiful purple carpet and blue sky, and looking down from the top of the slope, you can see the rural landscape of the Furano Basin and the Tokachi Mountain Range. If you're lucky, you can even see a train passing through the rural landscape.

Lavender field in the forest

A lavender field surrounded by trees. Two varieties are cultivated; looking from the bottom of the field, on the left is the variety "Noshihayazaki" which can be seen from late June to mid-July, and on the right is the variety "Okamurasaki" which can be seen from early July to early August. If you visit from early to mid-July, both will be at their best!

Late-blooming lavandin field

This is the field where Farm Tomita cultivates "Lavandin," the latest-blooming variety of lavender. While most lavender is in full bloom from early to mid-July, this is best seen from late July onwards. This is a great field for those who can't take time off in July but can in August.

Lavender fields are not the only flower fields at Farm Tomita. Various flowers bloom from spring to autumn. We will introduce the characteristics of four of the flower fields and the best seasons to see them.

Flower People's Field

Located right in front of Farm Tomita's main entrance, this flower field is easily visible to many people. It is characterized by the fact that you can enjoy a variety of flowers for a long period of time, from spring to autumn. Violas and moss phlox bloom in the spring, and flowers such as salvia and marigolds bloom from early summer to early autumn. Lavandin (lavender) can also be seen from late July to mid-August.

Colorful Fields

This flower field is representative of Farm Tomita and is often used in image photographs, so many people may have seen it. The gradation of seven colors of flowers, including purple lavender, pink gypsophila, and white baby's breath, decorates the gentle hills. If you visit Farm Tomita, this is a flower field you definitely want to visit.

Forest Colored Fields

This flower field spreads across the mountain slope surrounded by a coniferous forest, where you can enjoy colorful flowers such as lavender and poppies. In July, the best time to see the flowers, the forest behind the flower field turns a deep green, making the colorful flowers stand out even more. The flower field stretches out on a long, narrow slope, and the view from the top of the field is refreshing! You can see the forest and colorful fields below you, and the Tokachi mountain range in the distance.

Mountain Fields

Among the many flower fields at Farm Tomita, this is one located at the back, and it feels like a hideaway that has suddenly appeared in the middle of the forest. In a space surrounded by green trees, colorful flowers, mainly poppies, in colors such as red, white, and pink, spread all over the place.

At Potpourri House, you can enjoy light meals on the terrace while looking out at the flower fields and the Tokachi mountain range.

Within the grounds of Farm Tomita, there are numerous buildings, or "houses," such as souvenir shops and cafes. There is a lot to see, including a wide variety of lavender products that you will want to pick up and buy, sweets that make use of the subtle scent of lavender, and meals made with ingredients from Furano! They are also great places to take a break from touring the flower fields. Here are a few of the many houses.

There are many original products that use lavender. There are many items that allow you to enjoy the refreshing scent of lavender, such as lavender oil, distilled water, air fresheners, candles, perfumes, colognes, soaps, skin care and cosmetics, bath salts and bath products, and dried flowers. There are several stores that sell them, but we will introduce three of them.

Flower People's House

The large triangular roof building stands out.

This welcome house is located near the main entrance of Farm Tomita, overlooking the Hanabito fields. The shop on the first floor sells a variety of original Farm Tomita products, including potpourri. On the second floor, you can enjoy videos introducing lavender cultivation in Japan and the history of Farm Tomita, as well as a free experience of making scented bookmarks from lavender oil. You can learn about the history of lavender while you shop.

Dry Flower House

The arrangements inside the building are designed to evoke the image of spring in Hokkaido.

Located next to Hanabitoya, this facility displays dried flower arrangements. When you enter the building, you will be overwhelmed by the numerous dried flower arrangements that cover the entire building! Everywhere you look is picturesque. There are also photo spots so you can take a memorable photo here. Various arrangements, such as wreaths made with dried lavender flowers, are also sold.

Distillery House

There is an information board in front of the factory that explains the distillation process, making it easy to understand.

This distillery is used to extract essential oil from lavender, and tourists are welcome to come and observe. Around July, when the lavender is harvested, you can watch the staff use a distiller to extract amber-colored essential oil from the purple lavender. In the summer, lavender oil and lavender distilled water extracted during the distillation process are also available for purchase.

There is also a building where you can enjoy cut Furano melons.

There is an information board in front of the factory that explains the distillation process, making it easy to understand.

There are also premises where you can enjoy sweets such as lavender soft serve ice cream, melon soft serve ice cream, and melon bread, as well as curry made with Hokkaido vegetables, buttered potatoes, and gratin and gnocchi made by famous restaurants. Depending on the season, cafe menus and sweets are offered at nearly 10 premises. Here we will introduce the three main premises.

Mori no Ya

The lavender soft serve ice cream at Farm Tomita is a must!

A spectacular spot that is only open when the lavender is in full bloom

This building has an observation deck right in front of the colorful fields, and sells lavender soft serve ice cream and lavender ramune. If you climb up the stairs to the deck, you can get a panoramic view of the colorful fields! It's a spectacular spot that you'll definitely want to take photos of. There is a forest behind the building, and there are many shady areas, so it's a great place to take a break on a hot day.

Cafe Lune

A set of wintered May Queen potatoes from Kamifurano and curry

Kami-Furano wintered potato gnocchi with cream sauce

This is the best place for those who want to have a relaxing meal! This is a light-filled glass cafe adjacent to Hanabitoya. You can enjoy a variety of dishes that make use of ingredients and lavender from the Furano region, including a menu overseen by the owner chef of "valore," a famous natural food restaurant in Biei Town. In winter, the glass cafe is closed and operates as "Hanabitoya Lune" inside Hanabitoya.

Potpourri House

Seasonal Hokkaido vegetable curry

Wintered Danshaku potatoes from Kamifurano with butter

If you want to enjoy the view of the flower fields and a meal at the same time, this is the place to go! This log house is located near the traditional lavender fields, and has a terrace with a panoramic view of the flower fields, as well as a shop and cafe selling Farm Tomita's original products. You can enjoy spicy curry made with seasonal Hokkaido vegetables, potato butter and croquettes made with overwintered Danshaku potatoes, gnocchi supervised by Valore, lavender soft serve ice cream, and more while admiring the view.

Flower People's Field in May

At Farm Tomita, you can enjoy the colorful flower fields from spring to autumn. Not only do the flowers bloom differently depending on the season, but the surrounding scenery also changes, with some areas showing lingering snow and others showing autumn leaves. Also, the lavender blooms in full bloom, so there are a lot of visitors, so here are some tips for taking your time to enjoy the view. We will briefly introduce them below.

Various flowers bloom in the spring-colored fields from mid-May to late June.

At Farm Tomita, spring flowers usually begin to bloom around Golden Week. Many flowers, including Iceland poppies, are in full bloom from spring to early summer, and the colorful scenery continues until mid-June, when the lavender takes on a colorful appearance. Furthermore, snow remains on the Tokachi mountain range that towers over the rural landscape until late May, so on sunny days you can enjoy picturesque views of the flower fields.

This is the season when the lavender changes color and reaches its peak, and Farm Tomita is the busiest time of the year. The best season for viewing lavender is around mid-July, when both early-blooming and late-blooming varieties are in full bloom.

There may be traffic jams while waiting for parking spaces.

It gets very busy, and on weekends the line for parking can stretch out on the road. If you get stuck in traffic waiting for a parking spot, it's hard to move, and it can affect your driving or travel plans. If you want to avoid waiting for a parking spot and enjoy your time, it's best to visit early in the morning.

The Furano-Biei Norokko train is also recommended.

The special train "Furano-Biei Norokko" on the JR Furano Line will also be running, so it is easy to access from the nearest special station, "Lavender Farm" Station, and is recommended. This is a popular train, so if you want to be sure to get a seat, make sure to reserve a seat.

The autumn colours of the fields bloom from early June to early October.

The purple color of the lavender can no longer be seen, but colorful flowers such as begonias, marigolds, and salvia shine against the autumn sky until mid-October. In October, the leaves of the surrounding trees also change from green to yellow and orange, creating a beautiful contrast with the autumn leaves. From mid-October onwards, the peaks of the Tokachi mountain range, which can be seen in the distance, can also be covered in white snow. Farm Tomita tends to attract attention for its lavender, but the deepening autumn scenery around October is also a good place to visit.

Farm Tomita is a mecca for lavender tourism in the Furano region. It gets very busy with tourists around July when the lavender is in full bloom. However, Farm Tomita's charm is that you can enjoy the colorful flower fields from spring to autumn, not just during the lavender season. The flowers you can see change depending on the season you visit, so even if you return, you can enjoy a different atmosphere from the last time you visited. It's also fun to look for original lavender souvenirs, and the sweets and cafe menu are excellent. If you're traveling to the Furano area, be sure to stop by.

(Photo courtesy of Farm Tomita)

Farm Tomita

■Location: Nakafurano Town Base Line North 15 ■ Business hours: 9:00-17:00 *Opening hours vary depending on the season, so please check the official website for details. ■ Closed: None ■ Admission fee: Free Click here for details and maps of "Farm Tomita"