When people think of Hokkaido, many picture its beautiful scenery and gardens, and Tokachi, in particular, is an area where many of Hokkaido's most representative gardens are concentrated. Every year, many flower and garden lovers visit Tokachi.

The long winter is finally over, and spring has arrived in Tokachi! There is still some snow remaining in the garden because it is located away from the city center, but it will be gone soon. Now that April has begun, we are working at full speed to prepare for the opening.

Here, I'd like to introduce you to "Shichiku Garden," famous for its approximately 2500 varieties of flowers that bloom one after another.

In winter, we leave things to the forces of nature and quietly await spring.

When I visited Shichiku Garden on March 20th, there was still so much snow. It was hard to imagine that so many beautiful flowers would be in bloom just a month later, as the whole area was covered in a thick layer of snow.

Shichiku Garden is designed to allow visitors to enjoy the garden in its natural state throughout the year. Even as the snowy season approaches, they don't put up any special winter coverings.

Once the garden season ends, we plant bulbs in preparation for next spring until just before the snow falls, and then we leave it to nature to wait for the snow to melt.

Spring, when the flowers bloom, is just around the corner!

When I visited on April 9th, a lot of the snow had melted and the ground was visible. Staff members were also seen clearing fallen leaves from the garden in preparation for the opening.

Crocuses and other flowers were starting to bloom little by little.

Because crocuses bloom and finish blooming relatively quickly, the gardeners intentionally cover the areas where the flowers bloom with snow that remains on the ground each year, so that people can enjoy them for a longer period of time.

The garden is so vibrant as it welcomes spring!

Shichiku Garden usually opens in mid-April. A staff member told me that it's amazing how the flowers always bloom just in time for the opening, no matter how late the snow melts each year.

In early spring, daffodils and tulips bloom in abundance, creating a truly vibrant welcome for visitors. Spring in our flower-filled garden is just around the corner.

Please come and visit Grandma Shichiku, who created this flower garden just like in this picture book!

[Shichiku Garden]

107 Nishi 4-sen, Mieicho, Obihiro City
TEL +0155-60-2377-XNUMX
Opening period: April 15th to November 30th
Opening hours: 8 hours to 18 hours
Admission fee: 800 yen for adults (700 yen for groups)
200 yen for elementary and junior high school students (150 yen for groups)
* An annual pass is also available (1,000 yen for adults, 200 yen for children) which allows unlimited entry during the season.

There are many other gardens in Tokachi besides these!

Rokka no Mori

The forest of wildflowers, which recreates the scenery depicted on Rokkatei's wrapping paper, offers different views in each of the four seasons.

The photo shows a forest scene in May. The riverbanks are covered with yellow marsh marigolds, creating a picturesque scene. Scattered throughout the forest are buildings that have been relocated from old farmhouses, where you can admire the unfinished works of Naoyuki Sakamoto.

Unique souvenirs that you can show off to others, such as mechanical pencils with wrapping paper patterns, are also popular.

[Rokka no Mori]

249-6, Tokiwa Nishi 3-sen, Nakasatsunai Village
TEL +0155-63-1000-XNUMX
Opening period: April 27th to November 18th
Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from June 1st to August 31st, and until 4:00 PM in October)
Admission fee: 800 yen for adults (600 yen for groups)
500 yen for elementary and junior high school students (300 yen for groups)

Manabe Garden

Within its vast 2-tsubo (approximately 4,000 square meters) grounds, you'll find both a Japanese garden and a European garden, allowing you to enjoy both styles of gardens at once.

Known as Japan's first conifer garden, it boasts a large collection of rare coniferous trees. Despite being only a 15-minute drive from Obihiro Station, it offers a wonderful opportunity to experience nature.

The garden features waterfalls and streams, creating a truly relaxing space that makes you want to take a deep breath.

[Manabe Garden]

6-banchi, Higashi 2-sen, Inada-cho, Obihiro City
TEL +0155-48-2120-XNUMX
Opening period: April 25th to November 29th
Opening hours: 8:00 AM to sunset (last entry during summer is 6:00 PM)
Admission fee: 800 yen for adults
200 yen for elementary and junior high school students

Tokachi Millennium Forest

This garden, praised in England as "the most beautiful garden," is situated at the foot of the Hidaka Mountains and boasts an overwhelming scale of 400 hectares. With its breathtaking views from the hilltop and the beauty of the Tokachi region's wildflowers, it's a garden you'll want to explore at your leisure.

They also keep goats in the garden, so you can see their adorable faces up close. Activities such as Segway rides are also popular.

[Tokachi Millennium Forest]

Shimizu-cho Hane-Minami 10-sen
TEL +0156-63-3400-XNUMX
Opening period: April 28th to November 21th
Opening hours: April 28th to June 30th, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
　　　　　March 7-May 1 8:31-9:00
　　　　　March 9-May 1 10:21-9:30
Admission fee: 1,000 yen for adults (800 yen for groups and people with disabilities)
500 yen for elementary and junior high school students (400 yen for groups and people with disabilities)

十勝ヒルズ

This garden stands on a hill overlooking the city of Obihiro. Vegetables and herbs are cultivated within the grounds, and visitors can enjoy viewing their leaves and flowers, making it a garden where you can experience the "agriculture and food" of Tokachi.

A restaurant run by a Hungarian chef is also popular, offering dishes made with fresh vegetables and herbs harvested on the premises.

[Tokachi Hills]

13-5 Nisshin, Makubetsu-cho
TEL +0155-56-1111-XNUMX
Opening period: Late April to late October
Opening hours: 9 hours to 18 hours
Admission fee: 800 yen for adults (600 yen for people with disabilities)
400 yen for junior and senior high school students (200 yen for people with disabilities)
Children under elementary school age are free.

As you can see, Tokachi has many wonderful gardens, each with its own unique charm. This spring and summer, spend a relaxing time surrounded by flowers in the nature-filled Tokachi!

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