The next day, we headed to Furano, specifically to visit the famous Farm Tomita. Since it was still early June, the lavender was not yet in full bloom. Luckily, a small patch was already flowering, so at least we didn't leave empty-handed. And with the weather being rather hot, a scoop of lavender ice cream was just what we needed. When in Furano, ice cream is practically a travel essential!
After a simple lunch in Biei, we took a local bus to the famous Blue Pond. Unlike the spectacular scenery you might expect from a major tourist attraction, the pond's charm lies in its quiet, almost magical atmosphere. The still water and its distinctive blue colour created a serene and peaceful setting. We would have liked to explore the nearby waterfalls as well, but time was not on our side. Perhaps next time.
That night, we stayed in Asahikawa before continuing our journey north the following morning.
The next day was a long train journey from Asahikawa to Wakkanai, Japan's northernmost railway station. It was one of those journeys where having a good book—or something to keep you occupied—comes in handy. The scenery was lovely, but there were only so many hours I could spend staring out of the train window!
After arriving and checking into our accommodation, we joined a local sightseeing tour around Wakkanai, which covered the breakwater dome, Wakkanai Park, including a visit to Cape Soya, Japan's northernmost point. Standing at the edge of the country felt rather special. There was something satisfying about travelling so far north, almost as if we had reached the end of the map.
Wakkanai itself was a quiet town, with very little hustle and bustle. There seemed to be relatively few people around, which suited us just fine. After days of travelling between popular attractions, the peaceful atmosphere was a welcome change. We ended the day with a local dinner in town before calling it a night. Wakkanai might not have the excitement of a big city, but sometimes, a little peace and quiet is exactly what a trip needs.
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