One of Hokkaido's 179 towns
Biei美瑛町
Patchwork hills, a blue pond and roads made for slow driving
Kamikawa region · Lavender, patchwork hills and the roof of Hokkaido.
Patchwork hills, the Blue Pond, and roads that look painted. Biei rewards a rental car and an early alarm clock.
Biei is the rolling farm country between Asahikawa and Furano, where wheat, potatoes and beans are planted in strips across the hills so the slopes look like a quilt. Lone trees named after old television commercials stand along the Patchwork Road, and the Panorama Road to the south looks out to the Tokachidake volcanoes. In the mountains behind town, Shirogane Onsen and the milky Blue Pond draw crowds year-round. Rent a car, get up early and drive slowly; that is the whole method.
Biei at a glance
- Region
- Kamikawa (上川)
- From New Chitose Airport
- Unrouted model: ~149 km · 2.3 h summer / 2.7 h winter
- From Sapporo
- Unrouted model: ~144 km · 2.2 h summer / 2.6 h winter
- Best season in Kamikawa
- Choose dates around the flowers, autumn foliage or winter scenery you want to see. Check local conditions and seasonal transport before booking.
Model figures do not follow roads or account for passes or closures; they are not driving-time estimates. They assume straight-line distance × 1.35 and 65 km/h in summer / 55 km/h in winter. Check the actual route, breaks and road conditions. Model assumptions and limitations
What to see in Biei
The Patchwork Road
パッチワークの路
The hill roads northwest of town where striped fields roll to the horizon and famous single trees stand on ridgelines. Best at dawn and in the golden hours before sunset.
Blue Pond
青い池
A milky blue pond in the woods near Shirogane, formed when a river-control dam flooded a stand of larch. Dead trunks rise from the water; in winter it is lit at night.
Shirogane Onsen and Shirahige Falls
白金温泉と白ひげの滝
A hot-spring village at the foot of Mt. Tokachi where the Shirahige Falls pour out of a cliff face into a blue river. A bridge gives the view without any walking.
Panorama Road and Shin-ei Hill
パノラマロードと新栄の丘
The southern hill roads with wide views over the fields to the Tokachidake range. Public lookouts at Shin-ei Hill and Sanai Hill are free and open all year.
Getting to Biei
Asahikawa Airport is about 20 minutes by car, the closest of any major sight in Hokkaido. Route 237 runs through town, and JR Furano Line trains from Asahikawa stop at Biei and Bibaushi. Shirogane and the Blue Pond are 30 minutes east by car or bus. Sapporo is about 2.5 hours by car.
Kamikawa region: Asahikawa Airport and Asahikawa Station are useful entry points. Plan the onward journey separately: reaching a railway station is not the same as reaching a flower farm, the Blue Pond or a mountain ropeway. Check seasonal bus services and the last return departure.
When to visit Biei
Late June to early August for green fields and flowers, with wheat turning gold in late July. September for harvest patterns and clear views of Tokachidake. Late December to February for snow-covered hills and the lit Blue Pond, though roads are icy.
What to eat in Biei
Wheat, potatoes, beans and asparagus come straight from the hills you drive through, and local milk makes the soft-serve sold at every viewpoint. Biei curry udon, thick noodles in a curry broth with local vegetables, is the town's own dish, and the roadside stations sell bread from local flour.
Biei in context: the Kamikawa region
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Biei is in the Kamikawa region. This page introduces the town; the region guide below covers the wider area and neighbouring communities.
Kamikawa is a large inland region of Hokkaido that includes Asahikawa, Furano, Biei and gateways to Daisetsuzan National Park. It is also the name of Kamikawa town, where Sounkyo Onsen is located. The linked region guide helps you choose between the region's sightseeing areas; use the town guide below if Sounkyo is your destination.
Towns near Biei
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Furano & Biei Guide
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Where to Stay in Furano
Compare Furano town, Kitanomine, Nakafurano, Kamifurano and Biei by season, meals and transport. Choose a base before choosing a hotel.
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Sapporo to Furano and Biei: Train, Bus or Car
Compare Sapporo to Furano and Biei by train, highway bus or car. Check seasonal services, rail passes, fares and winter connections before choosing your route.
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Where to Stay in Asahikawa
Compare Asahikawa Station, Sounkyo Onsen, Asahidake Onsen and the Biei–Furano valley. Choose a hotel base around your next day and transport plans.
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Hokkaido Rail Pass 2026: Prices, Area Passes and When It Pays Off
Compare the Hokkaido Rail Pass and four-day area passes: prices, coverage, eligibility, seat reservations and when separate tickets cost less.
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More towns in Kamikawa
Other regions: Ishikari · Sorachi · Shiribeshi · Iburi · Hidaka · Oshima · Hiyama · Rumoi · Soya · Okhotsk · Tokachi · Kushiro · Nemuro