Story Take the Farmstay Experience to the Next Level in Hokkaido
Live Like a Farmer at Ezura Farm By JNTO on 30 May 2022

The hectic pace of city living can be overwhelming at times, which is why many urban residents dream of escaping to the countryside for some much-needed rest and relaxation. Travellers are now longing for wide, open spaces, relaxing in nature, and delving into hands-on experiences in the countryside. If that sounds like a dream vacation for you, check out this farmstay experience in Hokkaido.

Ezura Farm, Hokkaido

Located in Engaru town, between Asahikawa City and Abashiri City, Ezura Farm is surrounded by mountains and opens up to wide blue skies. The owners – husband-and-wife team Akito and Yoko Ezura – were former white-collar professionals who left their corporate jobs in the big cities for a gentler pace of life in Hokkaido. Having intimate knowledge of the restorative qualities of nature and working with your hands, they created a volunteer and farmstay experience targeted to help visitors forget about the stress of daily city life. Any visitor can volunteer to help out in the farm work! However, those who wish to volunteer for a long period of time will be interviewed to qualify for the program.

Volunteering experience at Ezura Farm

Depending on which time of the year you visit, the 42-hectare farm offers a variety of different experiences. In March and April, you can help with activities such as sowing beets, preparing potato seeds and shifting beet seedlings. In August and September, prepare to harvest the potatoes, broccoli and more! 

With eight hours of farm work per day, it is no easy feat and sore muscles are par for the course. But the feeling of satisfaction you get after a hard day’s work is second to none. 

Volunteers can look forward to delicious home-cooked meals lovingly prepared by Yoko-san, using only the freshest produce from their own farm. There is also a fully equipped kitchen available should you feel like preparing a meal on your own.

End your day by resting in the cosy and comfortable rooms, available in either Western-style bedrooms or traditional tatami-style. All the rooms look out to postcard-perfect views of the rural Hokkaido countryside, lulling you into a state of complete relaxation. 

Agricultural Experience

Alternatively, if you just want to experience part of the farm life, there are plenty of activities on the farm that are suitable for short-term visitors or families with young children, including taking a guided walk through the expansive field to help harvest vegetables. 

From June to October, the farm hosts a “Farm Diary” experience where the harvested vegetables can be used by the guests to make a delicious pizza. You can also take some of the vegetables home with you as a memento!

In July, you can also help to pick potato flowers to create potato flower bouquets. There are also cooking classes available upon request to learn the myriad ways to cook and enjoy the famous Shirataki potatoes. 

Once a week, the entire family takes a break from farming and accompanies their guests to various places of interest or for a spot of hiking.  

There is truly never a dull moment in a farmstay experience. Despite being far from the familiar conveniences of modern city life, there is never a sense of disenchantment as your heart, mind and soul get nourished and replenished every single day.  

Ezura Farm
Address: 152-3 Shirataki Kitashiyubetsu, Engaru-cho, Mombetsu District, Hokkaido 099-0121, Japan
Website: https://en.ezurafarm.com/ 
Access: By train from Sapporo station, take the Limited Express Okhotsk to Shirataki station for 3 hours. Ezura Farm is located a 5-minute drive from Shirataki station.