Friday, March 30, 2018

Higashikawa-cho to Nakafurano

Our next destination was Nakafurano. This time, we decided to stay on a farm and we chose Guesthouse Akane-yado (16 to 17 Jun)   Nakafurano Beberui, Nakafurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido Prefecture 071-0711, Japan    Phone:  +81167444177 Email:     akaneyado2005@ybb.ne.jp
Free WiFi is available in all areas. Free private parking is possible on site. We stayed for 1 night and lodging was ¥11,000. We chose half board with breakfast and dinner and meals came to  ¥3,600.

We checked into the Akane-yado Farmstay after a long drive from Asahidake. The drive there was very scenic, passing through Biei and Furano.

Akane-yado is located within a vast area of farmlands of all kinds of crops, mainly grains, particularly rice. The usual way of navigating through GPS which is based on the reference of the destination's telephone was not very useful. It was later that we found out that the Akane-yoda has a 'Mapcode'. It will be best to obtain the map-code if you are driving there. However it was serendipity when we got lost there. While asking for directions, we drove through rolling plains of many shades of green-fields at various stages of maturity. Some were just ploughed, others had seedlings and yet some were bearing grains. It was a treat, getting lost in the area of minor roads.

It is a very cosy and comfortable stay at the property. We arrived and were quickly checked-in and given the tour of the facility and the house-rules. The living lounge was a very comfortable place for all the guests to mingle with jazz and new-age music in the background. The music was a very nice touch, we felt. The other guest-accessible areas are the dining room, the indoor patio and the outdoor deck just outside the house. The beverages are provided in the pantry area and some premium beverages and alcoholic drinks in the fridge and bar are chargeable. The rule is to register your consumption as you help yourself. Trust is the word. We find that very prevalent all across Hokkaido.

We arranged for our dinner and breakfast to be catered and we found both meals to be very well thought of and delicious.

We have stayed in many home-stays and we find this to be one of the best managed and clean. Bath and toilet facilities are shared commons. The rooms are basic but comfortable and very clean. When the rules are observed by all guests, the stay is made so comfortable and pleasant. Especially in the farm environment. Do observe the rules about venturing into farmlands and properties belonging to the farmers. They are making a livelihood and it is important not to disrupt their work. Also, it is not polite to step into their farms without proper preparation. We may introduce parasites and organisms that may not be good for the plants. The Japanese take their farming very seriously. Same with the agricultural economies like Australia and New Zealand.Show less

Room Tip: You'd have a choice of tatami room or regular bed.

These are views of the farm from our lodging.










Nakafurano-cho is located almost in the center of Hokkaido and is known for its farm produce in Hokkaido and lavender sightseeing birthplace Farm Tomita, Saika no Sato Sasaki Farm which is dotted with lavender fields. It's the most popular destination for tourists and every Singaporean who have been to Hokkaido would have stayed their longest here. 
A short stop at the Furano Cheese Factory 





Farm Tomita 15 Nakafurano Kisen Kita, Nakafurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido Prefecture 071-0704, Japan +81 167-39-3939  is the landmark site in the region and no trip to Furano is complete without a visit thereA touristy spot. Go for the lavender ice-cream. The crowds is a bug-bear. We went in middle June and the flower are not in bloom yet. A better time will be in July. Then the Lavender will be in bloom.








Blue Pond (Aoiike)  Shirogane, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido 071-0235, Japan GPS the phone number 0166-94-3355   The Blue Pond is named after is deep blue color which it owes to natural minerals dissolved in the water. The pond is part of an erosion control system that was built to prevent damage to Biei in case of an eruption by nearby Mount Tokachidake. It takes 5-10 minutes to walk through the forest to the pond. 




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