Furano

It's hard to tell [especially if you can't read Japanese =p], but the hill reads "Furano", written in arranged flowers.

I loved the way that the rice fields would look as we drove by them; driving by them fast would make the water in between the rows reflect the hills behind them.









Various pictures taken at the Lavender Farm.

The sign of which I can't read - either the most center point or the highest point in Hokkaido.




The building in front of the landmark above.
On my last weekend with my first hostfamily, my host mother, along with her friends [ who were also Connie's and Leah's hostfamilies] drove us three east of Sapporo to Furano, a city famous for growing lavender.

We went to the flower gardens where they grew fields and fields of lavender, along with many other types of flowers. It was very beautiful and very warm that day. Melon vendors were set up all over, along with stands for lavender flavored ice cream, soda and other treats.

We then went to a cheese factory that I guess was semi-famous in the area. I don't remember the name of it, but I remember sampling a piece of black cheese that was the consistancy of semi-firm butter. It tasted.. well.. very interesting.

Then we drove further east to a building that was painted to look like a Greek or Roman temple of some sort. We didn't go inside, but out back was a marker, marking the fact that we were in the very center of Hokkaido, I believe.. either that, or it was saying that the hill behind the marker was the highest point in Hokkaido.. I can't remember ^_^" .. maybe it was both??

I wish I had taken more pictures and bought more souvenirs, but at the time, my feet had become very sore from walking everyday and the 85°F+ weather made me somewhat uncomfortable. =(

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