{
  "id": "kanayama-lake",
  "name": "Kanayama Lake and Lakeside Park",
  "area": "Higashishikagoe, Minamifurano",
  "status": "recommended",
  "priority": "optional",
  "tags": [
    "Flowers",
    "Scenery",
    "Walking",
    "Lake"
  ],
  "summary": "A rewarding lakeside lavender and walking outing, with a verified guided canoe option. Flower timing and reservoir levels both affect the scenery; swimming is prohibited under the lakeside campsite rules. [S1][S2][S3][S4]",
  "why_go": "The distinctive composition is lavender in the foreground, lake behind, and forested mountains across the water. The municipality specifically highlights mountain reflections on windless days. This suits unhurried photography and short walks rather than a major hike. [S1]",
  "season": {
    "late_june": "Visit primarily for the lake and greenery: late June precedes the municipality's published mid-July to early-August lavender flowering window. [S1]",
    "july": "Mid-to-late July is the strongest planning choice for lavender, without a guaranteed peak. Reservoir operating thresholds change in July, so flowering does not guarantee water immediately below the garden. [S1][S4]",
    "early_august": "Still within the published flowering window, but check recent photographs before making a flower-focused trip. Lake scenery and canoeing remain separate reasons to visit, subject to operating conditions. [S1][S3]",
    "best_window": "Recommend a calm weekday in mid-to-late July, adjusted to current bloom reports; this is not a 2027 bloom or weather forecast."
  },
  "visit_duration": "Planning estimate: 1-2 hours for flowers and gentle walking; 3-4 hours with a picnic and the approximately 90-minute canoe experience. [S3]",
  "drive_from_furano": "Allow approximately 40-50 minutes from central Furano in normal summer traffic, plus a suggested 15-20-minute peak-season buffer. This is a planning estimate, not live routing; the operator quotes about 40 minutes from Furano Station. Walking is additional. [S3]",
  "best_time_of_day": "Recommend a calm morning after approximately 08:30, when seasonal campsite staff are available. Reflections depend on wind, not simply arrival time. [S1][S2]",
  "visit_plan": [
    "Park at the lakeside campsite parking area and check notices before walking toward the lavender garden. [S2][S3]",
    "Photograph the lake and opposite mountains from outside the lavender planting; entering the beds is expressly discouraged. [S1]",
    "Take a short, self-paced out-and-back using permitted paths. Ask staff which lawns are available for a picnic rather than occupying a campsite.",
    "If booked, reach NAMARA HOKKAIDO's canoe tent opposite the campsite management building at least 10 minutes before departure. [S3]"
  ],
  "practicalities": [
    {
      "label": "Hours and season",
      "text": "Published 2026 lakeside campsite season: May 1-October 24; management desk 08:30-18:00. These are campsite details, not a confirmed 2027 schedule or separate lavender-garden opening hours. [S2]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Costs",
      "text": "Lavender admission is free. Published campsite rates are JPY 500 adult day use and JPY 1,000 overnight; elementary pupils JPY 300/500 respectively. NAMARA's September 2026 pricing version lists JPY 6,000 ages 13+, JPY 4,000 ages 6-12, and JPY 3,000 ages 4-5; under-fours cannot participate. Recheck for 2027. [S1][S2][S3]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Parking and picnic distinction",
      "text": "The campsite has 800 parking spaces; NAMARA confirms free parking there. Free parking and flower admission do not mean free campsite use. Confirm where a simple picnic is permitted; register and pay when using a camping/day-camping area. Camping is restricted to designated grass, not shore, paths or parking spaces. [S1][S2][S3]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Facilities and accessibility",
      "text": "The lakeside campsite lists three toilet locations and three cooking-water areas. Continuous step-free access to the flower viewpoints is unverified. Bring food and water rather than depending on an unverified lakeside restaurant schedule. [S2]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Reservations",
      "text": "Lakeside unallocated tent sites currently use arrival registration; bungalows and the separate auto campsite require reservations. Book canoeing separately: participants paddle themselves while the guide normally accompanies them in another canoe. [S2][S3]"
    }
  ],
  "recommendations": [
    "Choose the calmest available day for the lavender-lake-reflection composition. [S1]",
    "Keep photographs within permitted paths and outside lavender beds. [S1]",
    "Carry lunch, sun protection, insect repellent and a light wind layer.",
    "Compare recent lake photographs before expecting a full reservoir.",
    "Avoid festival day for a quiet visit. July 25, 2026 was the published festival date, with fireworks; this is a past-year example only. [S5]"
  ],
  "weather_plan": "Shorten the walk in persistent rain. For strong wind or thunder, postpone water activities and follow the guide's decision: NAMARA can change, shorten or cancel the experience for safety. [S3]",
  "safety_and_etiquette": [
    "Do not swim: the lakeside campsite explicitly prohibits lake swimming. Canoe availability is not swimming permission. [S2]",
    "Follow the canoe equipment briefing and guide instructions; this is self-paddled activity, not a passenger boat ride. [S3]",
    "Follow barriers and notices; do not use an exposed reservoir bed as an assumed walking route.",
    "Campsite rules prohibit personal fireworks, drone photography and fires directly on grass. Permitted campfires require a stand and heat-resistant sheet. [S2]"
  ],
  "pair_with": [
    "Furano Cheese Factory",
    "Furano Marche"
  ],
  "skip_if": "Skip a dedicated flower trip outside verified bloom, or if you need guaranteed full-water scenery, an indoor attraction or a swimming beach.",
  "recheck_for_2027": [
    "Lavender progress and any garden maintenance closures.",
    "Campsite opening dates, fees, parking restrictions and picnic-area rules.",
    "NAMARA operating dates, departure slots, participation conditions and cancellation terms.",
    "Reservoir conditions, weather and any temporary water-access restrictions.",
    "Festival announcement; do not extrapolate the 2026 date."
  ],
  "confidence_notes": [
    "Reservoir variability is verified: published flood-preparation levels are elevation 342 m for June 15-30 and 338.5 m for July-September, versus normal maximum 345 m. These are operating thresholds, not predicted daily levels; shoreline exposure and photographic composition can therefore differ. [S4]",
    "One operator was verified specifically at Kanayama Lake. Its current product does not establish 2027 availability. [S3]",
    "No measured gentle-walk circuit, continuous accessible route or universal free-picnic entitlement was verified."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "S1",
      "title": "Kanayama Lake Forest Park and lavender garden",
      "publisher": "Minamifurano Town",
      "url": "https://www.town.minamifurano.hokkaido.jp/all-facility/%e3%81%8b%e3%81%aa%e3%82%84%e3%81%be%e6%b9%96%e6%a3%ae%e6%9e%97%e5%85%ac%e5%9c%92/",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Lavender season, free garden admission, reflections and photography restrictions."
    },
    {
      "id": "S2",
      "title": "Kanayama Lake campsites",
      "publisher": "Minamifurano Town Promotion Corporation",
      "url": "https://minamifurano-kousya.com/camp.php",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "2026 seasons, rates, parking capacity, facilities, reservations and rules including swimming prohibition; relevant sections read in raw HTML."
    },
    {
      "id": "S3",
      "title": "Lake Kanayama canoe experience: prices and experience guide",
      "publisher": "NAMARA HOKKAIDO",
      "url": "https://www.namara-hokkaido.com/summer/experience-guide?lang=en",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Verified lake-specific canoe product, duration, September 2026 pricing version, participant requirements, meeting point, free parking, Furano drive estimate and weather decisions; details read in raw HTML."
    },
    {
      "id": "S4",
      "title": "Kanayama Dam specifications and construction record",
      "publisher": "MLIT Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau",
      "url": "https://www.hkd.mlit.go.jp/sp/sorati_kasen/kluhh400000062t2.html",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Seasonally different reservoir flood-preparation levels; specifications read in raw HTML."
    },
    {
      "id": "S5",
      "title": "55th Kanayama Lake Festival",
      "publisher": "Minamifurano Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.minamifurano.jp/information.html?id=e77832e26231645c9700008b",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "July 25, 2026 festival at the lakeside campsite and fireworks, strictly a past-year example."
    }
  ]
}