I always associate Hokkaido with Winter and several times before, I always visit Hokkaido in winter. But this year I came during summer at the end of June, when flowers began to bloom as temperatures warmed to the peak of summer.
I also did not expect my trip this time to be truly "flowery", literally and figuratively. Every time we visit the parks in Hokkaido, my friends and I are truly fascinated by the flower beds that are very, very beautiful in bloom ...
So, where can we enjoy the feeling of flowering on the flower beds in Hokkaido? This is it..
ECORIN VILLAGE
One of Eco-rin Village's main attractions is alpaca, livestock and sheep dog shows, but for me Ecorin is more than that. This area is very wide with various parks. Just behind the Eco-Rin Village Welcome Center, we can find the Garden terrace of Hanano-Makiba, and the largest tomato plant area in the world next to the Eco-Rin Village.
Galaxy Ginga Gardens which is the largest park in this area is on the east side. This park is divided into many small parks with different themes. At least we will need at least half a day to enjoy Ecorin Village.
Eco-rin Village
277-4 Makiba, Eniwa-shi, Hokkaidō 061-1421
Opening Hours: around 10 AM - 5 PM
Admission Fee:
Animal Farm & Galaxy Ginga Gardens: 1200 yen (adult), 600 yen (children age 1-15 )
Sheep dog show time: 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM
HINODE LAVENDER GARDEN
Even though we came at the beginning of the blooming of lavender, this area was very, very pretty. From the observatory area we can see the surrounding hills, the flower area around the "white gate", the stretch of lavender that is starting to bloom, Kamifurano city and the Tokachi mountain side.
Hinode Lavender Garden
２７ 号 Higashi 1 Senkita, Kamifurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido 071-0521
Lavender blooming time: June - August
Best blooming time: mid July
Kamifurano Lavender & Fireworks Festival: mid July
LAVENDER PICKING AT NAKAFURANO HOKUSEI SKI AREA
When I knew I was coming to the lavender garden, I only thought of taking photos because taking lavender flowers carelessly would not be allowed. Well, in Nakafurano Hokusei Ski Area, we can pick lavender and bring home our harvested lavender :)
In winter, this area is a ski area so to go to the top, visitors can use the ski lift (yeay). When picking lavender flowers we are spoiled with views of the lavender expanse in the hills, lovely!
Nakafurano Hokusei Ski Area
1-11 Miyamachi, Nakafurano-chō, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaidō 071-0714
Opening Hours: 9 AM - 4.30 PM
Admission Fee: 1,300 yen (ski lift up & down, lavender picking & free sweets / drinks)