Farm Tomita
Also written: ファーム富田 · 富田农场
One of Japan's largest lavender fields, offering a vibrant sea of purple blooms in summer.
An Illustrated Japan / Hokkaido / Famous Views
About this place
Farm Tomita in Nakafurano traces back to 1903 when Tokuma Tomita cleared land under the Hokkaido Uncultivated Land Disposal Act. His grandson Tadao Tomita met lavender pioneer Miichi Ueda in 1953 and started 10 ares of perfume lavender in 1958 with his wife, eventually expanding to 1.2 hectares, while Furano as a region grew to over 230 ha and 250 growers producing 5 tons of oil at peak. Cheap synthetic fragrances after trade liberalization around 1972 crashed prices, leaving Tomita almost the last grower by 1973. A Japanese National Railways calendar in May 1976 featuring his field brought photographers, then drama ‘Kita no Kuni kara’ made it national icon. Today 15 ha contains four varieties – Yotei, Hanamoiwa, Noushi Hayazaki (most fragrant) and Okamurasaki – whose blooming overlaps late June to mid-August for deep purple. Okamurasaki essential oil won first prize at the 1990 Lavender Fragrance Fair in France, earning the Knights of Provence lavender knighthood. Arrive 8:30-9:30 before buses crowd the parking; the greenhouse grows lavender year-round so you can smell it even in snow season. Beyond lavender, Hanabito fields relay flowers from crocus in April to salvia in mid-October. The Potpourri House sells perfume ‘FURANO’ and ‘Soup Lavender’ soap made under its own cosmetics license since the 1980s, plus Furano melon juice melon bread and lavender ramune. From JR Naka-Furano Station walk 25 minutes or from Asahikawa Airport 40 minutes by car. Entry free.
