Ueno Farm
Cultivating Natural Harmonies
The gardens at Ueno Farm are at once wild and carefully orchestrated, devised to reflect both Hokkaido and the West. The Purple Walk, White Birch Path, Circle Border, and Mirror Border are sections planted in the style of an English country garden.
Ueno Farm began as a family-run rice farm in 1906. Then in the 2000s current manager Ueno Sayuki went to study gardening in England. After her return, Ueno started an English garden in one part of the farm. She wanted to create an oasis for local residents who came to purchase rice at the farm. As she succeeded in coaxing perennial flowers to thrive in Hokkaido’s harsh environment, the reputation of the garden spread far beyond the community. Ueno later designed the Wind Garden, which is another stop on the Hokkaido Garden Way.
The farm’s cow barn was renovated and now serves as the garden entrance and shop. The hay barn, with its soaring ceiling and huge doors, now houses the Naya Café. The café also has soft but rugged tables, chairs, and benches outside.
A high hill on the farm, a former shooting range for soldiers in training called Shateki Mountain, offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Asahikawa region. Rice paddies extend in every direction from the grassy hilltop.
Ueno Farm is open during daylight hours every day but Monday between late April and mid-October.
