Biei
In its own language: 美瑛町
A Hokkaido town famous for its flower fields and rolling hills
Biei is a small town in Hokkaido, Japan, known for its wide, colourful fields and gently sloping hills. Visitors come in summer to see the patchwork of crops and flowers, and in winter for snowy landscapes. The area features flower parks, hot springs, and scenic drives, making it a popular spot for photography and sightseeing.
- Patchwork Road offers fields that look like a colourful quilt from above
- Shikisai Hill is famous for its lavender and flower displays
- Biei attracts thousands of visitors in July and August
- The Shirogane Blue Pond is known for its vivid blue water
- The town’s hills are shaped by volcanic ash from Mt. Tokachi
What is Biei?
Biei is a rural town in northern Hokkaido, best known for its wide, undulating fields and hills. In summer, the landscape is a patchwork of green crops and colourful flower beds, while in winter, snow covers the hills in white. Famous spots include Patchwork Road, where fields form geometric patterns, and Shikisai Hill, a flower park with trails through lavender and other blooms. The town also features hot springs and the striking Shirogane Blue Pond, surrounded by larch trees.
The history of Biei
Biei lies between Asahikawa and Furano, below the Tokachidake mountains. Its hills were shaped by volcanic ash from eruptions in the area. The town separated from Kaguru village in 1900 and became Biei Town in 1940. Agriculture has long been central, with rice as the main crop until the 1980s, when potatoes, beets, beans, and wheat became common. Tourism began to grow after hot springs were discovered in 1950, and the town has since become known for its scenic landscapes and flower fields.
What there is to see
Visitors can explore Biei’s fields and flower parks by car or bicycle, especially along Patchwork Road and Panorama Road. Shikisai Hill is a popular flower park with walking trails through lavender and other seasonal flowers. Kanno Farm, near the main road to Furano, also features flower displays. In winter, the hills are covered in snow, and the scenery changes to white. The Shirogane Blue Pond offers a unique blue colour, especially striking in photographs.
When to go
Biei is busiest in July and August, when the fields are at their most colourful and thousands of tourists visit. The area is also popular in winter for its snowy landscapes. Local festivals, such as the Dokanto Agriculture Festival and Nachi Biei Fire Festival, attract visitors. The town’s scenery is often used in Japanese commercials and TV shows. Hot springs and the Shinzo Maeda Photo Art Gallery are other attractions.
Parts and collections
Patchwork Road and Panorama Road are two main scenic routes, each with its own flower parks and viewpoints. Notable spots include the Mild Seven Hill, Ken and Mary Tree, and Seven Star Tree, which have become famous through commercials. Shikisai Hill is known for its lavender fields, while Zerubu Hill is another flower park near the Hokusei Hill Observatory.
Why Biei matters
Biei’s landscape has become a symbol of rural Hokkaido and is widely featured in Japanese media. The town hosts several festivals to celebrate agriculture and local culture. The influx of tourists has led to efforts to protect farmland and manage visitor behaviour. The area’s flower fields and scenic hills are a point of pride for residents and a major draw for photographers and nature lovers.
Plan a visit
Questions people ask about Biei
Where is Biei located?
Biei is a town in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, situated between Asahikawa and Furano at the foot of the Tokachidake mountain range.
What is Biei famous for?
Biei is known for its wide, rolling fields and hills, colourful flower parks like Shikisai Hill, and scenic routes such as Patchwork Road. Its landscapes are popular for photography and have appeared in many Japanese commercials.
When is the best time to visit Biei for flowers?
The best time to see Biei’s flower fields is in July and August, when the fields are at their most colourful and attract many visitors.
What can visitors do in Biei?
Visitors can explore flower parks, drive or cycle along scenic routes, relax in hot springs, visit local museums, and enjoy local festivals. The Shirogane Blue Pond and the Shinzo Maeda Photo Art Gallery are also popular attractions.
What flowers grow in Biei’s fields?
Biei’s fields feature a variety of flowers, with lavender being especially prominent at Shikisai Hill. Other seasonal flowers are also grown in the area’s parks and farms.
Good reading and sources
- Official websiteOfficial site
- Biei | Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (Official Site)Japan National Tourism Organization, Article
- Biei, Hokkaido on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Biei, Hokkaido", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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