31.7.11

2011 Bellybutton Festival - Yokoso Furano Area

There is Yokoso Furano Area on the 2nd day of the festival.
Visitors can try some cultural experiences.

Shogi, Japanese chess is popular among people of various ages.




Face painting is also available by a local volunteer.


Most of the people ask to be painted on their hand.


The artist put the guest's name in hiragana on the side of the painting :D





30.7.11

2011 Bellybutton Festival - Yukata dressing

A yukata dressing experience area is open on the second day of the festival.


Some yukata dressing sets are also sold there.


Two Irish girls are trying a yukata on.


They are interested to know how to wear the yukata.



The kimono dressing instructors help them to wear the yukata properly.


The instructor adjusts the obi sash tidy.




And then, two Mikaeri Bijin in ukiyo-e style are completed!!


Wow :D








29.7.11

43rd Bellybutton Festival on 28, 29 July

The bellybutton dance starts from 7:00 pm each day.

Before the dance, there are lots of programmes of attraction held in the event area.

Calligraphy performance by local high school club.



Taiko drumming.





The event is being broadcast live by Hokkaido local TV.


There are also some stalls.



Cotton candy in Chopper plastic bag.



Character goods.






Team International "Debeso" is going to dance tonight again :D

28.7.11

43rd Bellybutton Festival 28, 29 July

Adults and kids.




Men and women.




We are going to have a ball!!





From all over the world.






We're in the international team, having lots of fun!

27.7.11

Lake Kanayama lavender fields

Lake Kanayama is a man-made lake formed by a dam, lies 40 km south of Furano, or within 1 hour drive by car.




There are also some expanses of lavender fields lying beside the lake.



Some activities such as canoeing, windsurfing, fishing and so on
are available on the lake.



The quiet dominates over all around.



There's nothing like a little peace and quiet :D



People can hardly find feel of commercialism.


There is also a campsite close to the lake.
How about passing a day in silent majesty?




26.7.11

Another Thai TV shooting, Part 2

The weather was not so perfect but they managed their schedule in some lavender fields on 15 July.






Suay mark ka! (They are very beautiful!)





They try a lavender flavoured ice cream.
Aroi ka? (Is it delicious?)



We hope lots of Thai people come to Furano and enjoy the coolness of summer being out in nature :D

Fin











25.7.11

Another Thai TV shooting, part 1

Now Furano seems popular among the Thais!!
Another TV crew arrived to make a video.


They filmed a private museum of a Japanese painting artist in Kamifurano, about 5 minutes ride by car on the way to Tokachi-dake Hot Springs from JR Kamifurano station.


Do you know what Japanese-style painting is?
It's the only style to be described by its nationality.



The pigments are different. They are made from stones such as native stone, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, crystal, gold foil and platinum foil (quite valuable) and use animal gelatine as glue.
The canvas is also different. It is made of Japanese paper called Washi.


The museum provides the automatic tour guide system in English, Chinese and Korean.
You will learn how the artist created the paintings.

For your information, a restaurant is in an annex to the museum, offering dishes with an abundance of local produce.
It would also be lovely to have some cake and coffee for tea time, viewing Daisetsuzan mountain range through the restaurant's windows :D


To be continued.











24.7.11

Weather report

No clouds could be seen this morning, but the sky was overcast at 4 pm.
Weather forecast says it will rain lightly from this evening until tomorrow morning.

taken by FTA team on 23 July 2011


The famous lavender fields in and around Furano are crowded with tourists today as usual. 


taken by FTA team on 23 July 2011


The summer holiday started yesterday in most of schools in Japan.

taken by FTA team on 18 July 2011


We hope those who visited the flower fields could have a great time viewing flowers :D







23.7.11

Inspection tour from China

Chinese media people visited Furano from Shahghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou on 11 July 2011.




They stopped by lavender fields, shops and restaurants in and around Furano in order to introduce the Chinese to fascinations of Hokkaido.



We hope more and more Chinese know about this area and spend time in Furano :D

22.7.11

Fireworks events around Furano

 Sun 24 July 2011 
 Kamifurano Lavender & Fireworks Festival
                              Place : Hinode Park
                              Time : 9:00 pm ~



Sat 30 July 2011
Nakafurano Lavender & Fireworks Festival
                              Place : Choei Lavender Gardens
                    Time : 8:10 pm ~



Sun 31 July 2011
Lake Kanayama Festival

                           Place : Lake Kanayama Campsite (Minamifurano)
                  Time : 8:00 pm ~







21.7.11

Weather report

It's a bright and clear day, and the temperatures are really agreeable, ranging from 11 to 26 degrees :D
A picture of beautiful rainbow colour flower fields in this area made the front page of today's local newspaper, saying until the end of July is the best time to view lavender flowers here.




This is another lavender field in Kitanomine where many accommodations are located.

The weather forecast says the following 6 days will be good like today.

So come and enjoy Furano!!

There's no better time than now!





20.7.11

Thai TV shooting, Part 5

A Thai TV crew took a jam making class in Rokugo area, a highland, 20 km to the east of JR Furano station.


There are 2 classes a day, and it will take about 1 hour to make jam. This place offers its wholesome produce having its own farm, making 35 kinds of jam and letting visitors taste them in the adjoining shop.



There is a museum of a Japanese anime creator on the grounds of the shop, showing his famous anime characters on cels.





Kawaii ♡ ♡

Even adults (including me) are excited finding characters goods there :D


This TV programme has been broadcasted on television in Thai.
You can watch a part of their stay in Furano & Biei area by this website.
http://www.holidayjapan.tv/past_program/

Fin


19.7.11

Free tickets for the Furano Ropeway

Free tickets for the Furano Ropeway Cable car
for international guests.

※Show your passport to staff at the Furano Ropeway ticket counter
to receive your free cable car ticket.
■Period 4th June - 16th October 2011■
  June 4th・5th・11th・12th・18th・19th (Sat & Sun Weekend Only )
■Open 8am-4pm■
 6am-7pm: 16th July - 21nd August
 Time Every 20min (Eg:8:00/8:20/8:40/9:00)
■Furano Ropeway■
Nakagoryo Furano city Tel:0167-22-1111 Mapcode:919 552 448
It takes 15 minutes by car from JR Furano Station.
Please use‘Kururu Pass’and‘Lavender-Go',
then get off at‘New Furano Prince Hotel’
針對來自海外的旅客,富良野纜車免費券

※領取免費券時請出示護照。
■運行期間■
2011年6月4日・5日・11日・12日・18日・19日 (只有周六・日)
  從6月25日~10月16日.毎天運行 早上8點~下午4點
■7月16日~8月21日■
早上6點~下午7點 毎隔20分鐘運行。(例:8:00/8:20/8:40/9:00)
■富良野纜車■
富良野市中御料 Tel 0167-22-1111 / Mapcode: 919 552 448
從JR富良野站開車15分鐘 請使用「KURURU巴士」
富良野巴士「薰衣草號」,在新富良野王子飯店下車

17.7.11

Flower & traffic report

Tomorrow, the 18th of July is Marine Day (Umi no Hi), one of the national holidays in Japan. Even though schools give a summer vacation from next week, even though it rains, this weekend is the busiest time of the year in Furano, because of lavender flowers!!

These photos were taken by FTA team on the 15th of July 2011.

There are traffic jams on route 38 and streets around flower gardens.
Restaurants are also busy this afternoon, there are lots of cars parked around them.

These jams will clear up tomorrow evening.

Drive safely and have a good weekend :D

15.7.11

G'Day Japan

The latest G'Day Japan from Australia published June 2011 uploaded on-line!

http://gdayjapan.com.au/

You can see primary information about Furano there .

http://gdayjapan.com.au/gdayjapan/blog/2010/09/23/furano/

14.7.11

Thai TV shooting, part 4

A Thai TV crew visited a glass blowing studio in Rokugo area. Rokugo is a highland, 20 km to the east of JR Furano station.


A glassblower helped them to make a diamond dust - ice crystal glass.

It was bloody hot in this studio :(



 
The process was almost finished. They would get a unique glass. But they had to wait at least one day. The glass would harden as it lost heat.

Souvenir shops immediately adjoin the studio. You can find any and every handblown glassware there :D

To be continued :D