Hill of Shikisai Hokkaido Japan August 2012
After exploring numerous options, we decided to spend our summer vacation in Hokkaido (北海道), the second largest island in Japan. Visiting Hokkaido in summer is really nice as it does not get as hot and humid as in Hong Kong. With its unspoiled nature, Hokkaido is a great place to visit for different types of activities. We first arrived in the capital of Hokkaido in Sapporo (札幌) which is one of Japan's youngest major cities. Sapporo is well known for its ramen, beer, and the annual snow festival held in February. We visited the beautiful Furano (富良野) and Biei (美瑛) cities, known for their pleasant and picturesque rural landscapes. The lavender fields are in bloom everywhere in summer. We visited the gorgeous Tomita Farm where the fields are surrounded by seemingly endless patchwork of color, so beautifully arranged and expertly manicured. We were also impressed by the lavender flavored ice cream and pudding found at the cafe, along with plenty of other japanese lunch options. The Hill of Shikisai (四季彩の丘) covers the top of a hill located in the southern part of Biei. The rolling hills show off the natural beauty of the Biei landscape and was my favorite spot for photos. We also ride the tractor around the fields so we don't have to walk under the hot summer sun. During winter, Furano will turn into a popular downhill and cross country skiing resort. Next, we visited the renowned Asahi Brewery. Asahi is one of the top alcohol brands in Japan, next to Sapporo Beer and Suntory. We joined the beer factory tour followed by a free beer tasting session.
