Biei and Furano day trip from Sapporo or Asahikawa
A day by car in Biei and Furano from Asahikawa or Sapporo: the field hills of the Patchwork Road and the Ken and Mary Tree, the Shinei-no-oka viewpoint and the flower stripes of Shikisai-no-oka on the Panorama Road, then the Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls at Shirogane, and the lavender of Farm Tomita in Nakafurano to end the day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Biei and Furano in 1 day
Day 1
Patchwork Road and the Ken and Mary Tree
Rolling field hills north of Biei with lone trees made famous by car and cigarette adverts, among them the Ken and Mary Tree.
Shinei-no-oka viewpoint (Panorama Road)
Hilltop park on the Panorama Road looking over the fields to the Tokachi mountains; a favourite place for sunset.
Shikisai-no-oka
Big flower park on the hills south of Biei, planted in coloured stripes from spring to autumn, with an alpaca farm.
Blue Pond (Shirogane)
Man-made pond in the forest at Shirogane, coloured milky blue by minerals in the water, with dead tree trunks standing in it.
Shirahige Falls
Waterfall spilling out of a rock wall into the blue Biei River, seen from the bridge at Shirogane Onsen.
Farm Tomita
Flower farm in Nakafurano known for its lavender fields, which bloom in July, with other flowers and lavender ice cream in summer.
Getting there
A car is best, as the sights are spread over the hills: Biei is about 30 minutes from Asahikawa or Asahikawa Airport, and about two and a half hours from Sapporo. Without a car, JR Furano line trains run from Asahikawa to Biei and Furano, with a seasonal sightseeing train in summer, and tour buses and bicycles cover the hills from Biei station.
Staying in Sapporo or Asahikawa? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Biei and Furano
July is the peak, with lavender at Farm Tomita and flowers at Shikisai-no-oka; June and August also have flowers and are a little quieter. Autumn colours come early, in late September and October. Winter brings deep powder snow, skiing at Furano, and snowy hills that look completely different.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Biei and Furano on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Biei and Furano on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Biei and Furano on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Japan from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Biei and Furano
- The Furano lavender is in bloom only in July, when the farms and roads are busy: come early in the day.
- The fields of the Patchwork Road are private farmland: look and take photos from the roads and paths only, never walk into the crops.
- Blue Pond is at its bluest on calm, sunny days; in winter it freezes and is covered in snow.
- Shinei-no-oka is also a classic sunset viewpoint: if you sleep in Biei, drive back up at the end of the day.
- In winter the hills are deep in snow and roads are icy: drive only with winter experience, or join a tour.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Blue Pond (Shirogane): MaedaAkihiko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Farm Tomita: t-konno, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shikisai-no-oka: Captain76, Public domain
- Shinei-no-oka viewpoint (Panorama Road): t-konno, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shirahige Falls: OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
