Gelato with Red Perilla Flavor and White Lupine Bean Flavor Is Eaten on Great Grass Garden -Lake Hill Farm in Toyako-

Lake Hill Farm (レークヒル・ファーム) is a ranch at a small hill in the western side of Lake Toya (洞爺湖), and is near Silo observatory (サイロ展望台). They have begun to run the ranch since 1969 here. A gelato shop, a restraunt and a souvenir shop are built on the ranch, and there are beautiful flower gardens and a grass garden around the buildings. There are a goat and rabbits, too. They lend sports equipments for free, so anyone can enjoy. It is one of popular reason that visitors can enjoy a grand view with Mt. Yotei (羊蹄山), too.

Buildings for the gelato shop and the restraunt are separate, and entrances are separate, too. I entered the building for the gelato shop at once. There are about 15 customers at the building when I visited here around 16:00 on weekdays. A lot of customers seem to form a long line in front of a cash desk in the rush hour. They serve only a double scoop gelato with about 15 cm in height, and the price is JPY 350. About 20 kinds of the gelato using vegetables and fruits produced in Toyako depending on seasons hit showcases every day. They use fresh milk produced in their ranch and make the gelato themselves.

I asked a shop clerk recommend gelato, so she replied seasonal specialties such as Melon Gelato and White Lupine Bean (白花豆) Gelato. In addition, Red Perilla Gelato (赤しそ) was unusual, and I have never known that the Red Perilla was a specialty product of Toyako (洞爺湖) that ranked first most in the production of the Red Perilla in Hokkaido. Colors of the White Lupine Bean Gelato and the Red Perilla Gelato looked beautiful, so I orderd those. A small strange ice cream cone is instead of a spoon, and is edible, too. I think very ecology. By the way, a fresh juice a soft serve ice cream are popular, too.

I planed to eat the double scoop gelato at a table with a view of Mt. Yotei on the grass garden at once. At first I ate the White Lupine Bean Flavor, and tasted not too sweet and the taste like beans. Then I ated the Red Perilla Flavor, and it had an acid taste strongly and was very tasty! It was too strong, so the taste of White Lupine Bean Flavor was canceled. I favorite the Red Perilla Flavor.