After so much driving yesterday, it was nice to stay in such peaceful and beautiful place like Kizuna Pension, in Kamifurano. When I woke up, mist was still covering the mountains of Daisetsuzan national park and the sun was coming up from behind them.

After a home cooked organic breakfast I set off to Bibaushi station, from where I took a little wobbly train to Biei, the starting point of my walk. This time, instead of Siberian winds on the north coast, I would be doing the longest walk of the Tour, on a sunny day, through the gigantic expanses - on a Japanese scale that is - of fields and rolling hills of the Biei countryside, stopping at observation points, a photo museum and a flower park along the way.

I set off from Biei station and walked through town and across the river. even the town was full of autumn colours. The surrounding fields are considered one of the most beautfil areas of Japan. Generally, most visitors come during the summer months to see the huge flower fields, but autumn seemed to me like a perfect season to visit as everything was made of different tones of yellow and red - be it the freshly plowed fields, dry hay, or autumn trees.

The two observation points I stopped at (Sanai no Oka and Chiyoda no Oka) are perfect for a little break along this 15km walk, and to really soak up the atmosphere of this peaceful part of the country. I saw a lot of people cycling along the road I took, which seems like a very good way to visit the area as the hills are never too steep.

Approximately half way through my walk I visited Takushinkan museum of photography. It boasts an impressive collection of pictures of Hokkaido landscapes and it well worth a visit. Next to the museum building are some lavender fields, a perfect spot for a quick lunch bento before setting of again. Seemingly, Biei is where the Japanese come to experience the European (or even better - French) country side, without any jet lag. Unfortunately the lavender wasn't blooming otherwise it could certainly have had a "Provence" feeling.

After another hour of walking I got to Shikisai flower park, where I was able to catch a glimpse of summer in Hokkaido, where all the fields I saw before would be blooming like the ones of the park. There is also a little alpaca farm besides the park for those who want to feel like in South America as well as in a Japanese version of Europe!

Today's route leads along the Biei Sanai no Oka Walking Course, through the rural farmland in the Panorama Road area of southern Biei. The tour stops at several points of interest along the way including a flower park, photography museum, and a few popular viewpoints from which to observe the rolling landscape. The route also makes for an attractive cycling course, with rental bicycles available from shops around Biei Station.

The Seven Star Tree is a lone oak tree standing on Hokusei Hill amid the rolling fields of Biei. The tree was made famous when it appeared in a 1976 ad campaign for what product?

The correct answer is: Cigarettes

The ad campaign promoted Seven Star cigarettes.

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