7 Must Visit Sites in Furano and Biei, Hokkaido!

About Furano and Biei

The place we will introduce this time is Furano and Biei, which is located in the south part of the Kamikaze region, central part of Hokkaido. Furano is particularly called by the nickname of "Hesono-machi" due to the central location of the prefecture.

The Furano area includes Kami-furano-machi, Naka-furano-machi, and the Furano City, all with the word "Furano" in it. The name “Furano” comes from the Ainu (indigenous people of Hokkaido) word “fura-nui”, meaning “stinky flame”. It was named after this name due to the active volcano placed on the board of Kami-furano-machi and Biei-machi, close to Tokachidake. Also because of this reason, there are many hot springs nearby.
On the opposite side, Biei-machi rests in the north part of Furano, connected to the south part of Asahikawa City. "Biei" comes from the Ainu word “piye”, meaning “oily river”. The name comes from the blue and muddy Biei River.

The Furano and Biei area possesses magnificent nature and countryside sceneries, attracting many movies, dramas, and commercials to film here. So if you tour in this area by feet, you can see the same scenes of those which appear on TV!

Getting to Furano and Biei from Sapporo

To Furano

By car: Take Hokkaido Expressway for about 2 hours to Furano.
By train: Take the JR Lilac Express or the JR Kamui Express heading for Asahikawa and transfer at Takigawa Station, taking the train heading for Furano. It takes about 2.5 hours to Furano.
By bus: Take the Furano Highway Bus from the Sapporo Terminal for about 2.5 hours to Furano.

To Biei

By car: Take the Expressway from Sapporo for about 2.5 hours to Furano.
By train: Take the JR Lilac Express or the JR Kamui Express heading for Asahikawa and transfer at Takigawa Station, taking the train heading for Furano. It takes about 2 hours to Biei.

1. Farm Tomita, the lavender field at Furano

Lavender fields at Farm Tomita

Must visit spots that you can't see outside of Furano

Talking about Furano, it is certain that lavender comes in mind. The image of "Furano=lavender" is fixed, but not for Farm Tomita.
About a million visitors flock to Farm Tomita every year to see its lovely lavender fields, which is a strongly recommended tour spot of which will brand in your mind lifelong. According to the different the of visiting, 4 kinds of lavenders vary, blooming from late June to late July.

Other than lavenders, you can enjoy other flowers like Marigolds, Gypsophilas and etc. The fields are decked in many different colors throughout the different blooming period.

Lavender-Ice-Cream

There are also many cafes in "Farm Tomita". Within all the variety of foods served, the "lavender ice cream" is something that one will want to try for sure due to the bright color similar to the lavender fields. With lavender extract included, you can smell the lavender smell while taking a bite. It is perfect to visit this place during the summer time while eating the refreshing lavender ice cream at the same time!

Access

By car: Take Hokkaido Expressway for about 2.5 hours from Sapporo.
By train: Take the JR Lilac Express or the JR Kamui Express heading for Asahikawa and transfer at Takigawa Station, taking the train heading for Naka-furano-machi. It takes about 2.5 hours. Then take a 25 min. walk or take a 5 min. ride by car.
By bus: Take the Furano Highway Bus from the Sapporo Terminal for about 2.5 hours to Furano-eki-mae. Then take the "Fura Bus" for about 12 min. Then talk a 25 min. walk or take a 5 min. ride by car.

2. Buy Hokkaido souvenirs you can't get anywhere else at Ningle Terrace

The shopping town consists of 15 log houses lined up

Ningle Terrace is a shopping street located in the New Furano Prince Hotel premise. It is a small village consists of 15 wooden log houses in which people can enjoy things from all over the world.

The name Ningle is named after the character in a drama called "From the North World" written by Kuramoto Sou, meaning "wisdom of the forest". There are all kinds of shops here, gathering each kind of products possessing the feelings of wisdom of the north world.

Kaleidoscope, leather, silver works, candle, accessories and so on, varieties of goods are sold in this shopping town. If you want to find for souvenirs form Furano and Biei area, please make a visit to the Ningle Terrance, you can definitely find something you like. After the sun goes down, light up events are held, creating a fantasy atmosphere, totally different from the daytime. Please enjoy your time at Furano and Biei area during the daytime, and visit the Single Terrance at night to immerse yourself with the heartwarming illuminations!

Access

By car: Take Hokkaido Expressway for about 2.5 hours from Sapporo.
By train: Take the JR Lilac Express or the JR Kamui Express heading for Asahikawa and transfer at Takigawa Station, taking the train heading for Furano. It takes about 2.5 hours. Then take a 10 min. ride by car from the Furano Station.
By bus: Take the Furano Highway Bus from the Sapporo Terminal for about 2.5 hours to Furano-eki-mae. Then take a 10 min. ride by car from the Furano Station.

3. Fascinating Blue Pond that will make you think of Biei--"Aoi Pond"

The cobalt Blue Pond under sunlight

The fascinating view of blighted trees and the cobalt blue pond became worldwide famous since it has been used as the wallpaper of MAC, which is now a popular and must-visit spot when people go to Biei.
Local people call it the "Bien Blue". There is a secret of this place, which is the existence of shirogane hot spring on the upstream of the Blue Pond. Because sulfur and aluminum of the hot spring is included in the water of the Blue Pond, the pond appears to be a cobalt color in the sunlight which is stunning.

The Blue Pond changes colors according to different season, time, and weather. If the weather is cloudy, then it will turn to dark blue. It is most recommended to visit during the sun rise time is the weather is good. It is extremely beautiful with the sunlight over the pond! The Blue Pond is a sight you can't find anywhere outside of Biei, please beside to visit!

Access

By car: Take Hokkaido Expressway for about 2.5 hours from Sapporo.
By bus: Take the JR Lilac Express or the JR Kamui Express heading for Asahikawa and transfer at Takigawa Station, taking the train heading for Furano. It takes about 2 hours. Then take a 25 min. ride by car or bus from Biei Station.

4. The dynamical miracle of Nature! “Shirahige Falls”

Sights at Shirahige Falls

If you are heading for the “Blue Pond”, the play you must want to visit together is the “Shirahige Falls”. The “Shirahige Falls” locates about a 5-minute drive from the “Blue Pond.” It is a 30 meters tall waterfall, and was given the name “Shirahige”, meaning white beard, as its streaky falls resembled parts of a long white beard.

The waters of the falls are the spring waters running beneath Mount Tokachi. The spring water spouting from the lava bed layer creates the cobalt blue in the Biei River, from which the name “Biei” came from.

It is said that the most beautiful season of the fall is autumn. Being able to see the reflection of the amazing color of red leaves, many people choose to take pictures here.

Also, it is also great to visit the falls even during winter off seasons. The water of the spring doesn’t freeze even under -20 Celsius degrees. However, the water vapor from the falls freezes nearby tree branches, and creates an interesting, artistic view. In addition, when the light up event is held, it becomes an even more stunning view worth seeing!

Access

By car: Take the expressway for about 2.5 hours from Sapporo.
By bus: Take the JR Lilac Express or the JR Kamui Express heading for Asahikawa and transfer at Asahikawa Station for the train heading for Furano. It takes about 2 hours to get to Biei Station. Then take a 25 min. ride by car or bus.

5. Gathered beauty of the Furano and Biei area! The “Flower garden hill of Shikisai”

Recommended places for those who want to enjoy great nature!

The flower garden hill is consisted of carpet-like flower fields, peaceful fields with alpacas, restaurants full of Biei cuisines, pensions with windows from which you can see all the beautiful sceneries and etc. The best entertainment garden of the Furano and Biei area, the “Flower garden hill of Shikisai” is the best place to visit for those who do not have enough time to go around the whole Furano and Biei area but want to enjoy all the beauty of it.
There are buggies and carts for putting your things, allowing people to fully enjoy the spacious grounds within the limited time.
Other than the green season from May to October, visiting during the winter season spanning from December to April is also strongly recommended. Different from the bright scenery you can see in the summer time, the wide silver world with many snowmobiles activities in the winter time is also worth a visit!

Melon Ice cream

The store and restaurants here are also full of worthy things, Including many Biei cuisines and snacks, for example, croquette made by potatos from Biei and ice cream made from melons produced in Biei.

Access

By car: Take the expressway for about 2.5 hours from Sapporo.
By bus: Take the JR Lilac Express or the JR Kamui Express heading for Asahikawa and transfer at Asahikawa Station for the train heading for Furano. It takes about 2 hours to get to Biei Station. Then take a 12 min. ride by car.

6. “Patchwork Road” from where you can see the wide hills area of crops

The beautiful sceneries created by the crops of Biei-machi from season to season

The agriculture has been prosperous in the Biei-machi, with various kinds of crops planted on the wide hills area. The scenery of the crop fields is made in beautiful orders and they turn into bright colors during the harvest season just like patches, people named this place after the name of “Patchwork Road”.
There are attractions for season to season, and you will be able to see them from this road. In the spring, you can see the fresh greenery; in the summer, you can see a darker green with flowers blooming; in the autumn, you can see the crops covered with a red color; and in the winter, you can see the amazing snow view of Hokkaido.
If you rent a cycle here and ride along the “Patchwork Road”, you can experience the feeling of becoming the main character of a movie as well!

Ken and Merry Tree

Seven Stars tree

Access

By car: Take the expressway for about 2.5 hours from Sapporo.
By bus: Take the JR Lilac Express or the JR Kamui Express heading for Asahikawa and transfer at Asahikawa Station for the train heading for Furano. It takes about 2 hours to get to Biei Station. Then take a 5 min. ride by car.

7. See the spouting smoke of the active volcano Tokachi-dake Observatory Deck

Sights at Tokachi-dake Observatory Deck

With the height of 2,077 meters, Mt.Tokachi is chosen as one of Japan’s 100 most famous mountains. A literature work by Michiko Miura, a novelist from Asahikawa City, called “Deiryu-chitai” depicts how Mt. Toshika caused a large eruption and took many people’s life. From this observatory deck, which is 930 meters high, you are able to see the panoramic view of this marvelous mountain.
The observatory is surrounded by solidified lava, which came from the past eruptions of Mt.Tokachi. The rocky surface is a natural work of art, making the Tokachi-dake a geopark of Biei.
In addition to seeing the view of Mt.Tokachi, you can also see Mt.Asahi, Biei, Biei Fuji, and more, and even as far as the city of Asahikawa. It is a great place for people who wants to experience whole Hokkaido, attracting many visitors every day.

The area is also a popular hiking base during the summer time, and as a fall foliage viewing spot in the autumn time. After coming back from hiking, why not try a floating ice soda special in Biei as a refreshment!

Access

By car: Take the expressway for about 2.5 hours from Sapporo.
By bus: Take the JR Lilac Express or the JR Kamui Express heading for Asahikawa and transfer at Asahikawa Station for the train heading for Furano. It takes about 2 hours to get to Biei Station. Then take a 35 min. ride by car.

Get cured in the trip of nature!

There are many amazing tourist spots in the Furano and Biei area in which you can immerse yourself in nature. The 7 spots we introduced above are definitely the top choices if you visit, and of course there are a lot more. Please also visit other spots during your trip to this area.
A 2 to 3 days trip will be enough for playing all through Furano and Biei area. If you are planning to take a trip to Hokkaido, please enjoy yourself in the great nature, and also your trip to Furano and Biei!