A Nissan Skyline ad from the 70’s featured an aspirational American couple, Ken and Mary, which became so popular with the Japanese. The couple inspired this Country House accommodation for tourists in Biei: You can inquire about room availability for your Biei/ Furano visit here: Pension Ken & Mary. And just outside this Country House…
Month: October 2018
Rainbow-coloured Shikisai Hills: Hokkaido
Shikisai Hills has an Alpaca Farm and rainbow-coloured flower fields!! Except… the blooms were just hinting at what they will become as they were still in the process of growing. In the fullness of time, these hills would look like a multi-colored carpet bursting with color! In certain seasons of our lives, we’ve already planted…
Kamifurano Lunch Stop by Miyamatoge Art Park: Hokkaidoo
We had a barbecue lunch by Miyamatoge Art Park. We didn’t have time to go inside the museum but just went to the adjacent Yakiniku restaurant. The view is beautiful, the photo can’t quite capture the natural beauty of this poetic landscape. I liked the sausage for the yakiniku but the other meats were a little…
Shirahige Falls, Biei, Hokkaido
A very short drive away from the Biei Blue Pond is the Shirahige Falls. The flowing water to the beautiful turquoise waters below resembles a “White Beard” and that is the meaning of its name, “Shirahige.” The waterfall descends from 600 meters above sea level. We can view this pretty waterfall from Shirogane (Blue River)…
The Philippines Through The Eyes of a Japanese: Yoshida Nobara
Yoshida Nobara is a Japanese illustrator and graphic designer from Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu. She earned a degree in Scenography, Space, and Design at Musahino Art University (Tokyo) and then worked at RISSIINC Creative Studio. In 2017 when her husband came to the Philippines for work, Nobara-san left behind her comfort zone…
Lavender Farm Tomita, Hokkaido
Ever since I saw in Provence how the lavender is hailed for its medicinal, culinary, decorative, aromatherapy, domestic application uses, my esteem for this plant has blossomed. It’s been my longtime dream to come to the Lavender Farm Tomita in Furano City, (Hokkaido Island) and wade in a purple sea of flowers. So much excitement…
Mac OSX Mountain Lion Screensaver: Biei Blue Pond, Hokkaido
In 1988, the tallest volcano in the Tokachi Volcanic Group from Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaidō in Japan— Mount Tokachi— erupted. In order to protect the nearby town of Biei from mudflows, Biei River was treated. This process accidentally put colloidal aluminium hydroxide in the water which then caused the water to turn this gorgeous hue of blue. So grateful that despite…
Do You Know Your Hymns?
Thank you Ruth for sharing this medicine of the day 🙂
Hokkaido: Chateau Furano
Not far from the Furano Cheese Factory is Chateau Furano in Hokkaido. They use local ingredients for their wine production. A visit to the factory allows you to learn about how they make their wines with a walk-through to the wine cellar/ aging warehouse. Free wine samples are available. There is also a gift shop…
Hokkaido: Furano Cheese Factory
Furano Cheese Factory (富良野チーズ工房, Furano Cheese Kōbō) has an open window for guests to see how the Japanese Camembert cheese is made. Squid ink cheese and other cheese samples welcome you. Informative displays and vintage dairy memorabilia are on display. Interactive displays are available for guests to explore: Educational workshops are also available. Besides the…
BUTTERFLY IN THE SPRING 