In this second installment of Domingo's month-long collaboration with towns in Hokkaido, we take a closer look at the town of Memuro!
For the second installment of this month-long collaboration project, Domingo will be in Memuro Town, Hokkaido, for four weeks, providing you with information on how to enjoy the town and its specialties.

This time, we introduce "2052" essential oil (Abies sachalinensis) by Irodori Farm as one of the special products of Memuro Town.

What is "2052" essential oil (Abies sachalinensis)?

It is an essential oil extracted from Abies sachalinensis grown in Tokachi, Hokkaido.

The Abies sachalinensis essential oil in "2052" is 100% naturally derived.
The fragrance extracted from the leaves and branches of Abies sachalinensis grown in Tokachi, Hokkaido, has a freshness and softness that reminds us of a lush forest.
It can be used in saunas, living rooms, bedrooms, and other spaces where you want to spend time relaxing and regulating your body and mind.

Irodori Farm" creates fresh and soft aroma

Mr. Tobita of Irodori Farm produces this "2052.

Originally from Obihiro, he lived in Obihiro until high school and moved to Tokyo when he entered university, living in Tokyo for 10 years.
In 2014, he returned to his hometown of Obihiro to work as a sales representative for his father's company, and often drove all over Hokkaido, especially in the eastern part of the country. He realized the charm of his hometown of Tokachi, where he had spent his high school years, and decided that if given the chance, he would like to work in agriculture, which is rooted in this land.

Finally, in the spring of 2018, he started a new farming business here in the town of Blomuro, located in the center of the Tokachi Plain.
He was attracted to the farmland and house where a Kyoto immigrant had been growing herbs and haskap for 23 years, and decided to start organic farming.
Mr. Tobita did not initially intend to grow herbs, but after drinking herb tea made by the former owner, he was completely captivated by it. While large-scale farming is the norm in the town of Brimuro, Mr. Tobita chose to grow herbs and fruit trees organically and began producing organic herbal tea and herbal salts.

While growing herbs and producing and selling herbal tea and herbal salts, Tobita became fascinated by "aroma" and decided that he would like to work on various projects centered on "organic aroma.

He began to think about what kind of fragrance would be unique to Hokkaido, and came up with "Abies sachalinensis," which grows wild in Hokkaido. I have a strong desire to promote organic fragrances derived from plants, rather than artificially created fragrances."

The Idea Behind "2052

One of the reasons Mr. Tobita moved to the town of Brimuro was the scenery and climate created by the Hidaka Mountains.
He fell in love with the beauty of the fields and mountains, as well as the "Tokachi Sunny" days, when the Hidaka Mountains keep the clouds at bay, resulting in an overwhelming number of sunny days.

To show his appreciation, he named the product after Mount Porosiri, the highest peak in the Hidaka Mountains at 2,052 meters above sea level."

The raw materials for "2052" are the branches and leaves of Abies sachalinensis.
The trunk of Abies sachalinensis is often used as building material, while the branches and leaves are often discarded in the mountains.
Mr. Tobita himself extracts the branches and leaves of Abies sachalinensis, making it a 100% Hokkaido Tokachi-produced essential oil.

As an evergreen coniferous tree, Abies sachalinensis does not die during the winter, so it can be produced even during the winter months when herbs cannot be cultivated, making it ideal for farmers who work in the fields.

How to use "2052" essential oil (Abies sachalinensis)

There are many ways to enjoy essential oil, such as putting it on a handkerchief, putting a few drops in the bath, or using it in an aroma diffuser or reed diffuser.

One of the best ways to enjoy essential oils is to use them in the sauna!

We recommend using "2052" in the sauna during the sauna's "Lowryu". Dissolve "2052" in water, pour it over sauna stones, and enjoy the aroma of the steam rising from the stones. The essential oil ingredients have the effect of relaxing the mind and body through forest bathing and purifying the air, which can be felt not only through the nose but also through the skin."

This is Tobita's favorite way to enjoy hot springs and saunas.
The sauna at the Hokkaido Hotel in Obihiro City has sauna days about three times a month where visitors can enjoy the scent of Abies sachalinensis.
I recommend trying the sauna at the Hokkaido Hotel and enjoying the fragrance with your whole body.

I love the sky, the climate, the scenery, the hot springs, and the sauna so much that I have no intention of living anywhere else in Japan.
Mr. Tobita is so particular about "organic" and "fragrance" that he has created "2052," which you should definitely check out at Nishito and other places!