When in Hokkaido, follow the lovely scent of lavender
(WorldNews Japan)

It’s lavender season in Japan now and thousands of tourists are descending on places like Furano in Hokkaido prefecture, known for its sprawling lavender fields like the one in Farm Tomita, with spectacular views of Mount Tokachi. It´s a breathtaking view, one that is a visual feast for the eyes. Lavender aside, poppies, lilies and sunflowers also grow lushly in the Nakafurano area. There´s good reason why this kind of natural beauty is ingrained in the culture - the Japanese take the lavender season seriously because it is a multimillion-dollar industry. I decided to take a detour on a recent trip to my favourite Japanese city, Hokkaido, the northern-most of the country´s...