Yakumo / HokkaidoEnjoy hands-on farm tours and spectacular night skies in southern Hokkaido

While in Yakumo, take the chance to learn about traditional farming practices from local experts. English-speaking staff in the Yakumo Village Information Center can help you sign up for one of the courses, which focus on harvesting food that you can later eat. Try pulling up nanpakunegi, a tasty strain of spring onion unique to Yakumo.

If you're a lover of seafood, try timing your visit to coincide with the springtime scallop harvest. Japan is a world leader in sustainable scallop aquaculture, and scallop farming is a key industry in Yakumo. The entire town pitches in to help with a process called “ear hanging,” in which the shells of young scallops are strung together to make harvesting easier.

Yakumo's climate is perfect for dairy farming, too. Indeed, the Hokkaido dairy industry is said to have its beginnings in Yakumo. The town is the ideal place to learn all about Japan's famous Wagyu beef cattle. Sign up for the one-hour-long Wagyu Cattle Care program for the chance to tour barns, bottle-feed young calves, and spread feed for the more mature animals. You'll learn all about the love, respect, and care that goes into making one of Japan's most celebrated foods.

Sento is a former bathhouse - built over 100 years ago - converted into a traditional kominka (folk house) guesthouse and restaurant. In Japanese, sento means bathhouse. Before built-in baths became common in people's homes, the sento was a place for locals to congregate and gossip, while washing away the stress of the day. Sento's owners are keen to create a space where people can gather and interact, similar to the role public baths played in bygone days.

The restaurant is styled to reflect the atmosphere of a public bath, and serves tasty dishes featuring local ingredients. Try ordering local dishes such as Yakumo beef or pork, or white omelette rice - made using locally sourced white egg yolks - then enjoy your meal at a table installed in an old, tiled bath - a charming way to keep the original spirit of the bathhouse alive.

When it's bedtime, head to the Sento guesthouse and snuggle into fluffy futons in the mixed or women-only dormitories. A private room is also available. The sweet smell of the tatami mats and the elegant decor of old-world Japan will lull you into a peaceful sleep.

Whatever your needs, English-speaking staff and foreign volunteers are available to help make your stay as comfortable as possible.

For an unforgettable view of the night sky, head south to Yakumo Dairy Farm. The town-owned ranch - a 25-minute drive from Sento guesthouse - boasts one of the best panoramic views around. Though somewhat tricky to find (be sure to fire up your GPS), the journey through the beautiful countryside is well worth the effort.

Upon arrival, head for the octagonal observation deck behind the main ranch buildings for a spectacular view over Uchiura Bay. On clear days, you can also spot Mt. Yotei and Mt. Usu at the opposite side of the bay.