Last month, I traveled from eastern Hokkaido to the Okhotsk region when the state of emergency was lifted. On the way from Monbetsu to Saroma, I came across a beautiful purple carpet - the "Okhotsk Lavender Fields" were in full bloom at just the right time. What luck! I stopped to admire them and also found my favorite butterfly pea flower at the cafe inside the center house. It was only 270 yen, so I quickly ordered it. But before it was brought to me, they added lemon to it! I hurriedly took a picture before the color changed from dark blue to a beautiful purple. I enjoyed it while comparing the color to lavender. My companion had an iced coffee for 150 yen, which they said was deliciously cold. If I ever come back, I'll have to try the soft serve ice cream too! Thank you, "Hana no Salon"!

I came to a place in Mombetsu for work. The facility was closed before due to Corona, but now it's open. There are lavender fields around, and a few women are taking care of them. Azaleas are also blooming around the building. It's a warm day, and there is a sign for soft serve ice cream. The issue is whether it's good or not. There was no one inside, so I went in and a woman came from the other side slowly. I ordered an "Strawberry Vanilla" soft serve ice cream in a cup due to Corona restrictions. The staff handling money and the one serving the ice cream are different people. The staff handling money was professional, while the one serving the ice cream seemed inexperienced. The ice cream was not perfectly rolled, but it tasted good with a noticeable strawberry flavor. It cost 250 yen. Despite the imperfect rolling, it seemed intentional and artistic.

I was planning to leave quickly from Memanbetsu, but I was lured in by the sign for "soft serve ice cream". I ended up entering a rest area in the vast flower field of the Okhotsk Drift Ice Park. It's called the "Flower Cafe". A few weeks ago, the lavender was blooming all around, but when I went, it seemed like it had already been cut. Now, onto the soft serve ice cream! I got the "adult soft serve" for 250 yen. There were 5 flavors to choose from, and I went with the vanilla and coffee mix. The soft serve was on top of coffee jelly. It had a dense texture, a firm type. The slight bitterness of the coffee jelly made it "adult". It was delicious soft serve ice cream. The staff at the cafe showed me a picture of the lavender field in full bloom. I'll visit during the peak season next time.

In July 2016, at a cafe in the lavender field of the Okhotsk Drift Ice Park. [About the menu] - Over 10 types of soft serve ice cream - Light meals such as fried rice, Napolitan, and yakisoba - Coffee, tea Soft serve in a cone costs 280 yen, while in a cup it's 250 yen. Lavender flavor and "adult soft serve" catch the eye. Light meals are reasonably priced at 480 yen. The "adult soft serve" refers to soft serve ice cream on top of coffee jelly. The bitterness of the coffee gives it an adult taste. Surprisingly, it's quite delicious. The bitter coffee jelly and firm soft serve complement each other well. It's refreshing and perfect for the hot weather. Although the portion is a bit small, enjoying soft serve ice cream while looking at the beautiful lavender is the best.

Located in the Ohotsk Drift Ice Park in the city of Abashiri, this cafe is a limited-time establishment that utilizes part of the "Hana no Salon" area. The menu is small, offering soft serve ice cream, coffee, and frankfurters. Despite the limited selection, the cafe is a welcome spot for tourists to take a break after viewing the 17,000 lavender plants across a vast area. Many visitors seem to enjoy the soft serve ice cream, and I personally tried the vanilla flavor for 280 yen. It was delicious with a good amount of sweetness. I would like to try other flavors like strawberry next time. (I remember there being a lavender flavor in Furano. If they offer unique flavors like that, it would be even better.)