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Biei (”ü‰l) is a small town surrounded by a picturesque landscape of gently rolling hills and vast fields. A pleasant way to enjoy the charm of Biei is by cycling or driving through the hills and visiting some of the flower fields and famous trees. The area northwest of the town center is named "Patchwork Road" and the area south of the town center "Panorama Road".

Patchwork Road

Named after the appearance of its fields seen from above, the Patchwork Road (ƒpƒbƒ`ƒ[ƒN‚̘H, Patchwork no Michi) is the scenic area northwest of Biei's town center. Note that it refers to an area rather than a single road. It offers beautiful rural landscapes around the year, especially during the green and colorful summer and autumn months and during winter when everything is covered under a deep layer of snow.

Over the years, the area's beauty has attracted the attention of marketing professionals, and some trees were used in commercials or for package label designs. Among these famous trees are a row of larch trees on the Mild Seven Hill (from a cigarette commercial), a poplar named Ken and Mary Tree (from a car commercial) and the Seven Star Tree (which appeared on cigarette packages). A group of oak trees is known as the Parents and Child Tree.

Other sites of interest in the Patchwork Road area are the Hokusei Hill Observatory, a pyramid structure that offers nice views over the fields of Biei and the Zerubu Hill, a flower park which can be explored not only on foot but also by various types of carts.

Panorama Road

Like the Patchwork Road, the Panorama Road (ƒpƒmƒ‰ƒ}ƒ[ƒh) is an area rather than a single road. It offers much of the same rural and scenic beauty as the Patchwork Road and is ideal for exploration by car or bicycle, although some people will prefer electrically powered bicycles due to the hilly terrain.

Among the area's highlights is Shikisai Hill, a spacious flower park with various flower fields (including lavender), which can be viewed by walking along the trails, by renting carts or by taking a ride on tractor-pulled wagons. In winter, snow mobiles are available. Another, smaller flower park is Kanno Farm, located along the main road between Biei and Furano.

Also worth a visit is the Takushinkan, an exhibition hall with beautiful landscape photography by renowned photographer Maeda Shinzo and his eldest son Akira. The exhibition displays landscape photographs from across Japan with an emphasis on photos from Biei.

Getting there and around

Biei is located between Asahikawa and Furano, about a 30-40 minutes car or train ride from either city. The train ride cost 640 yen from Asahikawa and 750 yen from Furano. There is about one train per hour.

Biei is also located close to Asahikawa Airport and can be reached from there directly by the Lavender-go bus (15 minutes, 380 yen, one bus every 1-2 hours), which connects Asahikawa Station with Asahikawa Airport, Biei and Furano.

Rental bicycles (including electrically powered ones) are available from multiple stores in central Biei. The typical rate is 200 yen per hour for a regular bicycle and 600 yen per hour for an electrical one.

During summer, the sights of Biei are visited by various sightseeing buses starting from Furano, Biei and Asahikawa stations.

How to get to and around Furano and Biei

Hours and Fees

Shikisai Hill

Hours

Closed

Admission

Zerubu Hill

Hours

Closed

Admission

Kanno Farm

Hours

Closed

Admission

Takushinkan Photo Gallery

Hours

Closed

Admission

Hotels around Furano

Top rated in Furano
Budget:
    • Hotel Hanafuji Inn
      Budget-friendly
      Situated in Furano, 7.9 km from Furano Station, Hotel Hanafuji Inn features accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant. The 2-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free WiFi. The property is non-smoking and is located 12 km from Windy Garden. At the hotel, the rooms come with a desk. Hotel Hanafuji Inn provides some rooms with mountain views, and the rooms include a kettle. All rooms in the accommodation are fitted with a flat-screen TV and free toiletries. A continental breakfast is available each morning at Hotel Hanafuji Inn. Guests at the hotel will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like skiing. Furano City Office is 8.2 km from Hotel Hanafuji Inn, while Furano Golf Course is 18 km from the property. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 33 km from the accommodation.
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    • Winery Hotel and Condominium HITOHANA
      Mid-range
      Located in Furano, 2.8 km from Furano Station, Winery Hotel and Condominium HITOHANA provides accommodation with free bikes, free private parking, a shared lounge and a restaurant. 4.1 km from Windy Garden and 2 km from Furano City Office, the hotel features ski-to-door access. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service and free WiFi throughout the property. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. Each room includes a shared bathroom equipped with a shower and free toiletries, while selected rooms are fitted with a kitchen fitted with a microwave. At Winery Hotel and Condominium HITOHANA every room is equipped with bed linen and towels. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Guests at Winery Hotel and Condominium HITOHANA will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like skiing. Furano Golf Course is 13 km from the hotel. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 42 km from Winery Hotel and Condominium HITOHANA.
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    • Cottage Morino Nakamatachi
      Budget-friendly
      Set in Furano in the Hokkaido region, Cottage Morino Nakamatachi offers accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking. Every unit features a private bathroom and shower, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a fridge. A microwave, a stovetop and toaster are also featured, as well as a kettle. Guests can relax in the garden at the property. Furano Station is 3.1 km from the lodge, while Windy Garden is 3.6 km away. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 43 km from Cottage Morino Nakamatachi.
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    • Tsuru Apartments
      Budget-friendly
      Offering spacious apartments with a kitchen, washing machine and free WiFi, the completely non-smoking Tsuru Apartments is just 300 metres from the Furano ski slopes. Skiing lessons and restaurant reservations can be arranged. Each modern apartment at Tsuru Apartments Furano includes a washing machine and a satellite flat-screen TV with DVD player. The kitchen comes with a dishwasher and microwave, and the private bathroom has a shower and hairdryer. Guests can relax at the living area with sofa. Furano Winery and Furano Cheese Factory are both about 5 km away. The property sells ski passes and offers ski storage. Japanese cuisine are available for breakfast at Tsuru Restaurant (reservation required).
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    • Guest House EBISAN
      Budget-friendly
      Featuring 1-star accommodation, Guest House EBISAN is set in Furano, 21 km from Furano Station and 22 km from Windy Garden. This guest house offers free private parking, a concierge service and free WiFi. The accommodation provides bicycle parking and a shared lounge for guests. At the guest house, the units are fitted with a tatami. The units feature a shared bathroom, slippers and bed linen. Guests at the guest house will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like skiing, cycling and hiking. Furano City Office is 21 km from Guest House EBISAN, while Furano Golf Course is 26 km away. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 61 km from the accommodation.
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    • La Vista Furano Hills Natural Hot Spring
      Luxury
      Situated in Furano, 300 metres from Furano Station, La Vista Furano Hills Natural Hot Spring features accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking and a restaurant. The 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free WiFi. The hotel offers a sauna and a 24-hour front desk. All rooms in the hotel are equipped with a kettle. The shared bathroom is fitted with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. At La Vista Furano Hills Natural Hot Spring, the rooms come with a flat-screen TV and a safety deposit box. At the accommodation guests are welcome to take advantage of a hot spring bath. Windy Garden is 5.7 km from La Vista Furano Hills Natural Hot Spring, while Furano City Office is less than 1 km from the property. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 41 km from the hotel.
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    • Pension Lavender
      Budget-friendly
      A 10-minute taxi ride from JR Furano Train Station, the completely non-smoking Pension Lavender offers a homely lounge with a wood-burning stove and a large flat-screen TV. The heated rooms have free Wi-Fi. The simply furnished, Western-style rooms at Lavender Pension have a lamp and a nightstand. Matching floral patterns decorate the beds and curtains. Some rooms have a private bathroom. The pension is 4 km from Furano Ski Resort and a 25-minute drive from Farm Tomita. Asahigaoka Park is 1.7 km away. On-site parking is free. Free tea and instant coffee are provided at the lounge, and the terrace offers mountain views. You can enjoy a DVD or use the free Wi-Fi, and slippers are provided. Luggage storage and safe deposit are available at the front desk. A Western breakfast set is served at the dining room, which has tall windows and potted plants.
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    • CHALET BURLAP FURANUI
      Mid-range
      Located in Furano, 2.8 km from Furano Station, CHALET BURLAP FURANUI provides accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking, a restaurant and ski-to-door access. This 3-star hotel offers a ski pass sales point and free shuttle service. Providing free WiFi throughout the property, the non-smoking hotel features a sauna. At the hotel, all rooms have a wardrobe. Complete with a private bathroom equipped with a shower and free toiletries, all units at CHALET BURLAP FURANUI have a TV and air conditioning, and some rooms here will provide you with a terrace. At the accommodation every room comes with bed linen and towels. CHALET BURLAP FURANUI offers a hot spring bath. Guests at the hotel will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like skiing. Windy Garden is 3.8 km from CHALET BURLAP FURANUI, while Furano City Office is 2 km away. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 42 km from the accommodation.
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    • Jstyle STAY Furano
      Budget-friendly
      Jstyle STAY Furano, a property with a garden, is located in Furano, 3.6 km from Windy Garden, 1.5 km from Furano City Office, as well as 13 km from Furano Golf Course. The 2-star holiday home features mountain views and is 2.4 km from Furano Station. The holiday home provides rooms with air conditioning, free private parking and free WiFi. Each unit is equipped with a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, and a private bathroom with bidet and slippers. A microwave, a toaster and fridge are also provided, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle. At the holiday home, all units come with bed linen and towels. Skiing is possible within the area and the holiday home offers ski storage space. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 42 km from Jstyle STAY Furano.
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    • Hotel Munin Furano
      Mid-range
      Situated in Furano, 2.8 km from Furano Station, Hotel Munin Furano features accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace. Featuring a restaurant, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. The property is non-smoking and is located 3.8 km from Windy Garden. At the hotel, rooms are fitted with a desk. The rooms in Hotel Munin Furano are fitted with a flat-screen TV and a hairdryer. Guests at the accommodation will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like skiing. Furano City Office is 1.9 km from Hotel Munin Furano, while Furano Golf Course is 13 km from the property. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 42 km from the hotel.
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