Blue Pond

Unfortunately, the lavender season was over, and most of the flowers had been harvested. However, Shikisai-no-Oka still offered a wide and pleasant view. The Blue Pond and the waterfall were beautiful, but it was quite crowded due to the Japanese holidays. Luckily, Farm Tomita had some late-blooming lavender, so even though it was already autumn in Japan, at least we could see some lavender.

I looked for KKday and Klook. This travel agency is the only day trip tour with Cantonese options. The elderly can't understand Mandarin. Having Cantonese really invests a lot! I would also like to commend Joe, the leader, who took care of the needs of different group members in four languages and reminded the elderly of the location of the toilets at the attraction. The itinerary was also well planned, leaving early to avoid the crowds and staying plenty of time for us to look at the flowers and take pictures (the lavender was already in harvest on August 1st, but the other flowers were beautiful) and get back to town a little early for other activities. The extra half a honeydew melon was sweet and delicious (Ya Joe would also hilariously make sure each table was sweet before paying), and sincerely recommend this trip to everyone!

It was difficult to find a tour departing from Asahikawa Airport, but I finally found one. I was able to visit the main spots in Furano and Biei in one day, and I was soothed by the beautiful scenery. The guide and driver were both kind and introduced me to the sights, recommended food and souvenirs, which made sightseeing very efficient. I would like to use this service again if I have the opportunity.

Visiting in mid-July, every attraction was crowded. Shikisai-no-oka boasts a variety of flowers; visiting around midday, although hot, the sunlight was perfect for photos. I recommend walking in without a tow truck. The souvenir selection here was the most abundant of the day, though it's a pity we didn't have time to explore more. The time spent at Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls was just right. Remember to buy a soda ice cream and take a photo by the pond before it melts, then enjoy it while admiring the blue lake. The afternoon sunlight wasn't as strong, so the photos didn't have high contrast. At Farm Tomita, be sure to try the cantaloupe and pineapple bread. Lavender products are generally similar, but the shop near the cantaloupe bread has some unique souvenirs. The lavender fields weren't as dense or as purple as they appeared, perhaps due to the reduced sunlight, but strolling through the fields was still very pleasant. The guide's explanations in Chinese were quite good; having a general idea of the destination before getting off the bus made the visit easier. Also, be sure to cooperate with time management. Finally, we returned to Sapporo Station close to 7 pm.