What kind of place is Biei, Hokkaido?

Biei is a small town next to Asahikawa City that belongs to the Union of the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.
Many people in Japan still don’t know about Biei, but it is actually one of the best photo spots in Hokkaido, with some of the most “photogenic” scenery.
The famous Blue Pond is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Biei, but there are many other sightseeing spots unique to Biei!
So, we recommend it regardless of the season, and introduce how to play sightseeing in Biei.
Be sure to check out our tips for enjoying Biei, including what to wear during your trip and which sightseeing spots to stop by when you visit Biei.

Biei Town is characterized by gently undulating hills. Located in the center of Hokkaido, Biei has four distinct seasons with hot summers and cold winters.
With its changing appearance from season to season, Biei has been selected as one of the “100 Most Beautiful Japanese Villages” and “500 Most Beautiful Japanese Roads to Walk”, and is known as a typical Hokkaido tourist spot.
For this reason, the scenery of Biei has long been used as a filming spot for commercials, advertisements, and movies.

“Ken and Mary’s Tree” was used for a Skyline car advertisement, and the “Seven Star Tree” on the hill in Biei, was used for the Seven Star cigarette package.

Due to its picturesque scenery with everchanging seasons, Biei has become popular tourist destination with many organized tours.

 

To see the full Biei, rent a car or take a sightseeing cab from Asahikawa

Biei Town in Hokkaido is characterized by a vast expanse of land and sky that you can’t find in the city, so if you are visiting for sightseeing, we recommend renting a car from neighboring Asahikawa City.
Renting a car is the best way to fully enjoy the vastness of Hokkaido, as you can drive along easy endless straight roads, find your favorite scenic spots, enjoy local cuisine, day trip hot springs, and seasonal activities.

If you are planning to go sightseeing during the winter season, you may be a little nervous about driving through the snow.
If that is the case, please consider using a sightseeing cab around the Biei area.
It is possible to visit not only Biei Town, but also Asahikawa, Furano, and other nearby sightseeing spots all at once, and there are various courses depending on the season.

Regardless of the season, if you are coming with a rental car, it is also recommended to stop by Asahiyama Zoo, which is close to Asahikawa Airport (about 30-40 minutes from Biei), and also enjoy a horse riding experience spot nearby.

Asahikawa’s horse riding experience is a course that beginners can enjoy, so be sure to try your hand at playing in the great outdoors that rivals even Biei.

Shirogane Blue Pond, the No. 1 tourist spot in Biei

If you are going to Biei in winter, you can’t miss Shirogane Blue Pond!
The Blue Pond is one of the most famous tourist spots in Hokkaido, and has become famous worldwide since it was adopted as the default screen of Apple iPhones.
It takes about 20 minutes to get there by car from JR Biei Station, but some hotels provide a shuttle bus.

 

The snowy blue pond is lit up in winter

If you visit in winter, you can enjoy a different kind of blue pond.
After stepping on a deep snow-covered road in Hokkaido for about three minutes from the parking lot, you will see the white snow and blue forest.
Biei Town sponsors a nighttime lighting program that is available only in winter from November to the end of March every year.
The lighting patterns are designed to tell a story, making for a great photo and video experience!
Lights for commemorative photos are also available, so you can easily get the best shot without having to worry about where to take the photo.
In the deep darkness surrounded by forests, the white dead trees in the lake and the softly falling snow are a special sight that can only be seen in Biei in winter.

Depending on the season, the surface of the lake may not freeze and become still, and you can see the rare sight of the trees reflected like a mirror.

What is the secret of the blue color of the blue pond?

Blue Pond (“Aoi Ike”) is a pond lined with withered trees and filled with excessively blue water.
The mysterious and rare sight is now one of the most popular tourist spots in Biei Town, Hokkaido.

The lake has manmade origins. Ithe late 1980s,  in one of the small dams built to prevent volcanic disasters on Mt. Tokachi, water accumulated to create a small pond.

The spring water near the blue pond contains fine particles of aluminum hydroxide, and when mixed with the water from the Biei River, it reflects the sun’s rays, giving the water a vivid blue color.
The Blue Pond was created by an accident of nature, and is one of the places you should definitely visit during your trip to Hokkaido!

Photogenic spots in Biei that you can’t miss

Biei has been selected as one of the 100 most beautiful places in Japan, and there are many photogenic places in the area.

Ken and Mary’s Tree

“Ken and Mary’s Tree” is a tourist spot that became famous when it appeared in a Skyline commercial a while back.
There is also a small coffee shop near “Ken and Mary’s Tree” where you can see Skyline exhibits and past commercials, so why not stop by for a break?

 

 

Mild Seven Hill

At Mild Seven Hill in Biei, there is the infamous “Seven Star tree”, also known as Mild Seven Tree.
This one was given its name in 1978 when it was used for the packaging of Mild Seven cigarettes.
Originally, these trees were planted to serve as a windbreak, but this tree has become one of the most popular sceneries in Japan for photography lovers, because it goes well with the white ground and blue sky in winter, and you can catch the beautiful sunset in the background of the windbreak in any season.

The Sunset Tree

In Biei, there are many trees like this one standing alone in the middle of empty nature, but in fact, these trees were intentionally planted in the days when farmers used to use horses, so that they could tie their horses and create a shelter from the hot summer sun.
This Sunset Tree is one of them.
It is literally the most photogenic spot to take a picture when the sun is setting.

Christmas Tree

This is also a single tree, but it’s the Christmas tree tree that you should see when you visit in winter.

As with its name, it looks like a classic a Christmas tree with its green color and symmetrical shape, perfectly showcasing the winter season.
I’ve heard that a big fan of photography dares to go there at night to take pictures that illuminate the starry sky.

 

Sightseeing in Biei in winter, what is the weather like? What kind of clothes do I need?

If you are visiting in the winter, be prepared to dress well.
In Biei in December, the temperature ranges between negative 2 degrees and negative 8 degrees Celsius, as the temperature rarely goes above 0 degrees during the winter.
Recommended clothing include a down jacket with tight cuffs and neck, high-neck innerwear, a scarf and neck warmer.

In particular, gloves and shoe warmers are essential to keep your hands and feet warm, especially your fingertips.
To avoid catching a cold during your trip, be sure to dress warmly, including waterproof shoes for your feet.
Anti-slip bands are available at airports and train stations in Hokkaido, so if you are worried about slipping on the snow, it is a good idea to buy one.

Also, buildings in Hokkaido are kept warm and well heated inside.
To make your winter trip to Hokkaido even more comfortable, be sure to wear clothes that you can adjust to your body temperature by taking them on and off frequently to avoid sweating and getting cold.
The snow that falls in Hokkaido is dry and powdery, so it can be removed from your clothes with a simple flick of the brush.
If you wear a hooded outerwear and a hat, you don’t need to bring an umbrella, but a folded umbrella is a good idea just in case.
When going to Biei in winter, keep your hands and feet warm, and take off your clothes easily! This is the key to dressing well.

Try activities in Asahikawa, Biei, and Furano areas

If you’re going to Biei, you’ll also want to do some sightseeing in the surrounding areas.
I recommend joining some easy-to-follow tours!
Many people may think that Hokkaido is just about seeing the scenery in the summer and skiing in the winter.

But there are many things to do in Hokkaido.

Here are some of our recommendations.

Play and experience nature in the great outdoors of Biei

When it comes to Biei, the best way to enjoy it is to play in the great outdoors.
Known for its agriculture, Biei is actually where lots of food in Japan is cropped.
If you want to get to know these crops and enjoy the rich nature that only Hokkaido can offer, why not join a nature tour?

If you want to enjoy the scenery of Biei to the fullest, try snowshoeing!

If you are visiting in winter, snowshoeing is a great way to enjoy the unique winter scenery of Biei.
Snowshoeing is an activity that uses a shoe-like item to walk on snow, and you can easily walk on the fluffy fresh snow of Hokkaido as if you were walking on clouds.

If you use a sightseeing cab, you can enjoy not only Biei, but also Asahikawa and Furano at once!

We have already introduced several plans for sightseeing cabs in Hokkaido.
Hokkaido has vast land and it’s not easy researching places on your own, renting a car, and getting around to different places in a short amount of time.
Especially for families with children, it can be very tiring for parents and the kids
If you use a sightseeing cab, you can enjoy a private tour with just your family, in a comfortable and flexible environment.

If you want to be active in winter, try snowmobiling or airboarding.

When it comes to playing outside in the winter, you can’t forget about snowmobiling in Hokkaido!
There is even an airboard in Hokkaido, which is an advanced version of a sled.

If you want to be active and have fun, this is the place for you.

Experience dog sledding for the first time in your life! The most popular and powerful activity in Hokkaido this winter

Running across the snow with lovely husky dogs in the silvery white world, you will feel as if you are lost in the world of a movie.
You can enjoy such a dog sledding experience in Furano City, next to Biei.
It is easy to access by car or train from Biei, so please try to extend your visit.

Summary

As you know, Hokkaido is a vast land and it takes time to travel around.
However, the town of Biei is located between Asahikawa and Furano, both of which are popular tourist destinations.
Therefore, if you take the train or drive, you can fully enjoy three cities in three days, even in winter!
If you want to relax a bit more, two cities may be enough.
After visiting Blue Pond in Biei, why don’t you go to the surrounding tourist spots and enjoy the nature that can only be experienced in Hokkaido?

For Hokkaido activity experiences visit Basho Trip