Furano area

A dispersed farming and resort area in central Hokkaido that fills with lavender each July at Farm Tomita, with patchwork canola and sunflower fields through summer, and with international skiers in winter. Neighboring Biei adds the Blue Pond, the rolling Patchwork Road, and Shirahige Falls. The town itself is small, but the scattered cheese factory, wine factory, and Ningle Terrace artisan village give visitors enough to fill a day even off-season. Tokachidake and Fukiage open-air rotenburo sit a short drive up the mountain.