The Yuni Garden is a huge English garden. Various flowers were blooming in late June when we visited. Worthy to spend a few hours there for those who love gardens and flowers.
After a brief overnight stay in Yubari, drove to Obihiro and stayed in our favourite Tokachigawa onsen with ensuite rotenburo again.
90-year old soba shop in Obihiro
Tokachigawa onsen park
stayed in one of our favourite onsen ryokans
overlooking Tokachigawa from our balcony
sunset
Tokachi plain from observatory
Biei+Furano
Minami-Furano
stopped by serene Kanayama-ko while driving en route to Furano.
Kanayama-ko
Tomita Farm
flowers were blooming such as Iris, Dahlia, Gazania, Poppy and early Lavender indoor flower beds etc.
Iris
Dahlia
Gazania
early Lavender species
Marguerite
Tokachi range in the distance
Poppy
Senbou-toge, Flowerland
Stopped by Senbou-toge for panoramic view of Tokachi plain, and to our surprise Wisteria (Fuji) was blooming in the resting area. Wild Lupins were blooming here and there on the road side and Flowerland.
Wisteria (Fuji)
wild Lupins
Shikisai-no-oka, Biei Patchwork Road
Dropped by Shikisai-no-oka as usual and had quick lunch there. Re-visited some famous trees in that area before visiting the Philosophical Tree. We did not realize this would be our last encounter 🙁
First visit to Awaji for Tulips after Hanami in Kyoto. Drove across the 4km Akashi Kaikyo bridge to Awaji.
AKASHI KAIKYO NATIONAL GOVERNMENT PARK (淡路島国営明石海峡公園)
While tulip was the main theme, sakura and other Spring flowers were nicely planted and arranged in the park. We spent around 5 hours, including a brief lunch.
After returning from Hida-Takayama, visited the Rose Garden in Kani, which was more than 1hr from Nagoya by train and shuttle bus. This rose garden was huge – apart from 30,000 rose bushes, it also had many Spring flowers such as Poppy, Daisy, Camelia etc.
After visiting the Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park, drove to Abashiri-ko for onsen resort, while stopping by Saroma-ko, Notoro-ko en route. Each of these lakes are huge and almost indiscernible from the sea. On the next day, visited Kussharo-ko, Mashu-ko and Onneto while heading to Tokachigawa onsen.
Saroma-ko
Coral grass habitat in Notoro-ko
sunset view from Abashiri-ko onsen hotel
Abashiri-ko
Kussharo-ko
Mashu-ko
4th visit – lucky to have clear views
Onneto – 2nd visit
View from Tokachigawa onsen hotel
Tomita Farm
There were not many flowers blooming in Tomita Farm in end May, except for some poppies. The Hoshi Hayazaki (deep purple early blossom) Lavender grown in a small house was always an attraction, same for the dried flowers in the shop.
Hoshi Hayazaki lavender with fragrance
lots of dried flowers sets in shop
Daisetsuzan in Spring
Out of the several times we had visited Biei, this is the 1st time when Daisetsuzan could be seen so clearly in blue sky and not covered by clouds/mists. In fact, when we passed by Minami-Furano, it rained quite heavily. We also dropped by the blue bond before checking in an onsen hotel in Furano. Though it is beautiful, it is overrated in my opinion if compared with the lakes in Hokkaido East.
view from Senbo toge
Daisetsuzan in the distance
blue pond
view from Shiki-no-oka
Sapporo Moerenuma Park
This is another huge park in the north-eastern corner of the city. This park is a fusion of art and nature. Bicycles can be rented from the entrance.
The Sapporo Lilac Festival lasted from mid to late May. There were 2 venues but we went to the one in Odori Park only. During the weekends, there were live music performances, food stalls and wine bars offering fresh food and drinks. There were many people on that Sunday morning, all having a good time welcoming the arrival of Spring.
Visited Hokkaido in May for the 2nd time for Shibazakura and Tulips before end May. We were lucky to catch the Lilac Festival in Sapporo on the last day before we left.
Shikotsu-ko
4th stay in onsen ryokan there right after landing and before embarking on long road trip. Clear views of mountains surrounding the lake this time.
Tulips in Takino-Suzuran Park
This park is in the southern outskirts of Sapporo. The park is huge and we only covered the central area where the tulips were grown, and pansies from locals for exhibition. Weather was in low 20C for few days – warmer than normal, thus some tulips had pelted.
2nd visit since May 2006. Stopped by before arriving at Asahikawa for an overnight stay.
Shibazakura in Takinoue Park
Visited Shibazakura 10 years ago in Higashi-Motoko Park. The Takinoue Park is to the north east of Asahikawa, almost reaching Monbetsu. Unlike the Higashi-Motoko Park which was privately managed, this is operated by the Takinoue Machi Government. Size is about 100,000 square metre, according to its official website. The Shibazakura here has more pink and violet whereas the other in white and pink.
Kamiyubetsu is less than 100km from Takinoue. Based on its historical reports I had decided to visit before end May and that proved to be a correct call. Spoke to a staff and she mentioned that some tulips had started to pelt prior to our arrival due to warmer weather for several days. The tulip park was huge and we spent probably 3hrs including lunch.
