{
  "id": "farm-tomita",
  "name": "Farm Tomita",
  "area": "Nakafurano, Hokkaido",
  "status": "recommended",
  "priority": "essential",
  "tags": [
    "Flowers",
    "Scenery",
    "Walking",
    "Food"
  ],
  "summary": "A strong summer choice for lavender, multicolored flower fields and mountain views. Aim provisionally for early-to-mid July; main-farm late-blooming lavandin offers a separate early-August possibility. [S1][S3][S4][S5]",
  "why_go": "The Traditional Lavender Field combines historic lavender cultivation with hillside views over Furano valley toward the Tokachi Mountains. Irodori Field adds seven-colored flower bands rather than lavender alone. Best for flower lovers, photographers and leisurely walkers. [S3][S4]",
  "season": {
    "late_june": "Early lavender varieties normally begin coloring; this is not reliably full purple coverage. Traditional Lavender Field lists flowering from late June, while Irodori's published season begins in July. [S1][S3][S4]",
    "july": "The operator gives early-to-mid July as the usual lavender peak, followed by progressive harvesting. Irodori's best viewing is listed as mid-to-late July, so the farm's different displays do not peak simultaneously. [S1][S4]",
    "early_august": "Do not expect the classic lavender slopes at July intensity. Harvest normally finishes around early-to-mid August. However, the main farm's Lavandin Field lists best viewing in late July-early August and flowering into mid-August. [S1][S5]",
    "best_window": "Recommendation: prioritize early-to-mid July for lavender, with a flexible mid-July visit for overlapping flower displays. These are typical patterns, not guaranteed 2027 bloom dates. [S1][S4]"
  },
  "visit_duration": "Planning estimate: 1.5-2.5 hours for several fields, photographs and refreshments; longer for extensive photography. Excludes driving and parking queues.",
  "drive_from_furano": "Approximately 15-20 minutes from central Furano in normal summer traffic, excluding parking and walking. This planning estimate draws on the operator's 15-minute taxi indication and tourism association's approximately 10 km distance. Lavender-season traffic can be very heavy; provisionally add 30-60 minutes of contingency, potentially more. [S6][S7]",
  "best_time_of_day": "Recommendation: arrive at confirmed opening on a weekday. The published summer schedule starts at 08:30; entry before opening is prohibited. No official hour-by-hour congestion forecast was found. [S1][S2]",
  "visit_plan": [
    "Park in the designated passenger-car area and orient yourself at Hanabito House. [S1][S2]",
    "Visit Traditional Lavender Field first; optionally walk uphill for valley and mountain views. [S3]",
    "Continue to Irodori Field for contrasting flower bands; in early August, prioritize checking Lavandin Field instead. [S4][S5]",
    "Finish with lavender soft-serve and Hanabito House's lavender-history and scent displays. [S2][S9]"
  ],
  "practicalities": [
    {
      "label": "Hours and season",
      "text": "The operator's seasonal schedule, year unspecified, lists 08:30-17:30 from late June through mid-August, subject to change. The FAQ directs visitors to this schedule and prohibits after-hours entry. Summer 2027 hours remain unconfirmed. [S1][S2]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Costs",
      "text": "The currently published FAQ, dated June 19, 2025, states admission and parking are free. Lavender soft-serve is listed at JPY 450 cone or JPY 400 cup, year unspecified. These are not confirmed 2027 prices. [S1][S9]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Parking and access",
      "text": "Approximately 500 passenger-car and 30 bus spaces, plus several accessible spaces. Approach using Farm Tomita signs from Route 237. Do not park on public roads or in bus-only spaces. Parking is limited to business hours. [S1][S6][S7]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Facilities and accessibility",
      "text": "Hanabito House has toilets, an accessible toilet, shops and summer cafe facilities. Limited wheelchairs, strollers and walking sticks are loaned free, first-come. Traditional Field involves a slope; complete step-free access and upper-floor lift provision were not verified. [S1][S2][S3]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Reservations",
      "text": "Visits during opening hours require no reservation, including groups. Cafe seating and mobility-equipment loans cannot be reserved. [S1]"
    }
  ],
  "recommendations": [
    "Use your long stay flexibly: check the operator's flower diary before selecting the day. [S1]",
    "Treat weekday opening-time arrival as crowd avoidance, not a guarantee; leave the following appointment flexible. [S7]",
    "Take the optional Traditional Field uphill walk when mountain visibility is good. [S3]",
    "Buy refreshments onsite rather than planning a picnic: outside food and beverages are prohibited. [S8]",
    "Keep Lavender East separate in navigation and expectations: it is approximately 4 km away. Its published 2026 opening was June 20-July 20, 09:30-16:30, not the main farm's season or a 2027 commitment. [S6][S10]"
  ],
  "weather_plan": "In showers, shorten the field walk and use Hanabito House's history and scent displays; for persistent rain, reschedule the outdoor visit. Carry a light rain layer, protect against sun and buy drinks onsite during hot weather. [S2][S7][S8]",
  "safety_and_etiquette": [
    "Stay on designated paths: entering planted rows can damage plants and transfer soil pathogens. Do not pick flowers or fruit. [S8]",
    "Drones, tripods, commercial photography and blocking narrow paths are prohibited. [S8]",
    "Pets and overnight vehicle stays are prohibited. Japanese rules specify a smoke-free farm. Adjacent Tomita Melon House is unaffiliated; its purchases and rubbish must not be brought into the farm. [S8]"
  ],
  "pair_with": [
    "Hinode Park",
    "Furano Marche"
  ],
  "skip_if": "Downgrade if you dislike busy, managed flower attractions, or only want peak purple slopes but cannot visit before August. Early August is a different flower experience, not automatically a wasted visit. [S1][S5]",
  "recheck_for_2027": [
    "Confirm summer hours, entry rules, admission and parking charges.",
    "Check field-specific bloom photographs and harvest progress shortly before visiting.",
    "Check cafe openings and mobility-equipment availability.",
    "If adding Lavender East, verify its separate 2027 dates."
  ],
  "confidence_notes": [
    "No 2027-specific schedule was located. Seasonal tables describe typical flowering, not guaranteed standing crops after harvesting.",
    "Official tourism warns of heavy lavender-season traffic; the suggested buffer and weekday timing are recommendations, not measured queues. [S7]",
    "Hours conflict: the tourism listing gives 18:00 closing in July-August, whereas the operator lists 17:30 for late June-mid-August. Use the operator and recheck. [S2][S11]",
    "Smoking conflict: the English visitor notice mentions designated smoking areas, but the Japanese notice and FAQ specify a smoke-free farm. Follow the Japanese prohibition unless current onsite instructions clarify otherwise. [S1][S8][S12]"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "S1",
      "title": "Frequently asked questions",
      "publisher": "Farm Tomita",
      "url": "https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/news/detail.asp?id=52",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Typical bloom and harvest, free admission and parking, capacity, opening restrictions, reservations, equipment loans and smoking prohibition; dated 2025-06-19."
    },
    {
      "id": "S2",
      "title": "Hanabito House",
      "publisher": "Farm Tomita",
      "url": "https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/farm/facility_guide.asp?id=1",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Seasonal hours, toilets, accessible toilet, cafe, history and scent displays."
    },
    {
      "id": "S3",
      "title": "Traditional Lavender Field",
      "publisher": "Farm Tomita",
      "url": "https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/farm/flower_guide.asp?id=4",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "History, slope, views and late-June-to-late-July flowering."
    },
    {
      "id": "S4",
      "title": "Irodori Field",
      "publisher": "Farm Tomita",
      "url": "https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/farm/flower_guide.asp?id=3",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Seven-colored flower bands and mid-to-late-July best viewing."
    },
    {
      "id": "S5",
      "title": "Lavandin Field",
      "publisher": "Farm Tomita",
      "url": "https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/farm/flower_guide.asp?id=15",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Main-farm late-blooming lavandin and late-July-to-early-August best viewing."
    },
    {
      "id": "S6",
      "title": "Accesses to Farm Tomita and Lavender East",
      "publisher": "Farm Tomita",
      "url": "https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/access/",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Furano taxi-time indication, parking restrictions and separate Lavender East distance."
    },
    {
      "id": "S7",
      "title": "Furano FAQ",
      "publisher": "Furano Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.furanotourism.com/en/static/faq.php",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Approximately 10 km from Furano Station, Route 237 approach, heavy lavender-season traffic and summer weather variability."
    },
    {
      "id": "S8",
      "title": "Requests to visitors",
      "publisher": "Farm Tomita",
      "url": "https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/news/detail.asp?id=85",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Visitor, photography, food, pet, smoking and overnight-parking rules; dated 2026-05-01."
    },
    {
      "id": "S9",
      "title": "Soft-serve ice cream",
      "publisher": "Farm Tomita",
      "url": "https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/cafe/foodmenu.asp?cat=1",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Lavender soft-serve availability and published prices."
    },
    {
      "id": "S10",
      "title": "About Lavender East in 2026",
      "publisher": "Farm Tomita",
      "url": "https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/news/detail.asp?id=371",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Separate site's June 20-July 20, 2026 opening period and 09:30-16:30 hours."
    },
    {
      "id": "S11",
      "title": "Farm Tomita",
      "publisher": "Furano Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.furanotourism.com/en/spot/spot_D.php?id=350",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Official tourism listing; its published summer closing time conflicts with the operator's schedule."
    },
    {
      "id": "S12",
      "title": "Request from Farm Tomita",
      "publisher": "Farm Tomita",
      "url": "https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/news/detail.asp?id=316",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "English visitor rules; its designated-smoking-area wording conflicts with Japanese smoke-free rules."
    }
  ]
}