This is the second installment of Domingo's month-long collaboration project with towns in Hokkaido, and this time we're focusing on Memuro Town!
Over four weeks, we'll be bringing you information on how to enjoy the town and its special local products.

The specialty product from Memuro we're introducing today is Irodori Farm's <“2052” Essential Oil (Todomatsu Fir)>.

What is “2052” Essential Oil (Todomatsu Fir)?

This is an essential oil extracted from Todomatsu fir trees grown in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido.

The “2052” Todomatsu fir essential oil is 100% naturally derived.
Extracted from the needles and branches of Todomatsu firs growing in Tokachi, Hokkaido, its fragrance is characterized by a fresh and gentle quality that evokes a lush green forest.
It can be used to soothe your body and mind in relaxing spaces like saunas, living rooms, and bedrooms.

Irodori Farm: Crafting a Fresh and Gentle Aroma

The creator of “2052” is Mr. Tobita of Irodori Farm.

Originally from Obihiro, Mr. Tobita spent his life there until high school before moving to Tokyo for university, where he lived for 10 years.
In 2014, he returned to his hometown of Obihiro and began working in sales for his father's company. He often drove around various parts of Hokkaido, mainly in the eastern region. This led him to rediscover the charm of his native Tokachi, a place he had known until he was a high school student, and he began to think about starting a farm rooted in this land if he had the chance.

Then, in the spring of 2018, he finally started his own farm in Memuro Town, located in the center of the Tokachi Plain.
He was drawn to and purchased a farm and house where someone who had moved from Kyoto had been cultivating herbs and haskap berries for 23 years, and he decided to start organic farming.
Although Mr. Tobita initially had no plans to grow herbs, he became completely captivated after trying the herbal tea made by the previous owner. While large-scale agriculture is the norm in Memuro, Mr. Tobita chose to cultivate herbs and fruit trees using organic methods, and began producing organic herbal teas and herb salts.

While cultivating herbs and producing herbal teas and salts, Mr. Tobita became fascinated by the power of scent and decided he wanted to explore various projects centered around “organic aromas.”

“As I wondered what scent was unique to Hokkaido, I arrived at the Todomatsu fir, a tree native to the region. I am strongly committed to spreading the appeal of organic, plant-derived fragrances, rather than artificial ones.”

The Meaning Behind “2052”

One of the reasons Mr. Tobita moved to Memuro was the scenery and climate created by the Hidaka Mountains.
He fell in love with the beautiful view of the fields against the mountain range and the “Tokachi-bare,” the famously clear skies of the region, which has an overwhelming number of sunny days because the Hidaka Mountains block the clouds.

“To show my gratitude, I named the product after the 2,052-meter elevation of Mt. Poroshiri, the highest peak in the Hidaka Mountains.”

The raw materials for “2052” are the branches and needles of the Todomatsu fir.
The trunk of the Todomatsu fir is often used for building materials, while the branches and needles are frequently left behind in the mountains.
Mr. Tobita himself extracts this 100% Hokkaido-Tokachi essential oil from those very branches and needles.

Furthermore, as an evergreen conifer, the Todomatsu fir does not wither in winter. This means production can continue even during the winter months when herb cultivation is not possible, making it well-suited for a farmer who also manages field crops.

How to Use “2052” Essential Oil (Todomatsu Fir)

There are many ways to enjoy essential oils: put a drop on a handkerchief to carry with you, add a few drops to your bath, or use it in an aroma diffuser or reed diffuser to enjoy the fragrance.

Among them, the most recommended use is, surprisingly, in a “sauna”!

“I recommend using it for Löyly in the sauna. You add ‘2052’ to water, pour it over the sauna stones, and enjoy the aroma from the rising steam. The components of the essential oil have a forest bathing effect that relaxes the mind and body and purifies the air. You can feel this not only through your nose but also through your skin.”

This is the top recommendation from Mr. Tobita, who is a big fan of hot springs and saunas himself.
At the Hokkaido Hotel in Obihiro, they apparently have a sauna day about three times a month where you can enjoy the scent of Todomatsu fir.
Experiencing the aroma with your whole body in the Hokkaido Hotel's sauna is also highly recommended.

“I love the sky, the climate, the scenery, and the hot springs and saunas of this place so much that I have no desire to live anywhere else in Japan.”
Be sure to check out “2052,” created by Mr. Tobita with his passion for “organic” and “aroma,” on their website!