White Gold Hot Springs

I'd give it four stars for courtesy. This is a family-friendly trip; those who prefer more Instagram-worthy experiences can skip it. While the flower season hasn't officially started yet, some of the itinerary arrangements were a real shame. Our guide, James, was incredibly funny and humorous, which largely saved the trip. Those hoping for peak bloom at Shikisai-no-Oka should visit after July; while some flowers are in bloom now, it's not worth the trip (by the way, admission is free from October to June). This itinerary could easily include Farm Tomita at the beginning, perhaps even allocating 1.5 hours (lunch + flower viewing), as the flowers are much better there. But perhaps the travel agency had its own considerations… The first stop, the Herb Garden, was simply a rest stop. I personally wouldn't recommend buying anything or eating ice cream there; some items were more expensive than elsewhere, and the lavender ice cream didn't have a lavender flavor. The Green Pool and Whitebeard Waterfall, located in the afternoon, were quite suitable for taking photos—the sunlight wasn't too strong, and the scenery was beautiful. The final lighting ceremony at the Elf Terrace, while a highlight of the tour, was worth it depending on personal preference. Incidentally, some souvenir shops weren't necessarily cheaper than at the airport, which is understandable given the tourist area's higher prices. If budget is a concern, perhaps it's better to just buy everything at the airport duty-free shop. 😅