10 Things to Do in Biei

10 Things to Do in Biei

Biei (美瑛町) is a small town in the Kamikawa Subprefecture of Hokkaido. It is famous for its beautiful nature, particularly the flower fields and the iconic trees. The town is one of "Japan's Most Beautiful Villages". Biei got its name from the Biei River that flows to it. The river got its name from the Ainu word piye which means oily or greasy. This is because the water has a murky appearance.


For those planning to visit Biei to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things To Do in Biei:

Biei manhole cover

1. Take a picture of Biei's unique manhole cover. So far, I have seen only one manhole cover design. It’s common and can be seen around town.


Rent a bike and explore Biei

2. Rent a bike and explore Biei town proper and the nearby scenic spots. There are plenty of rental shops near Biei JR Station. You can also ask the rental shops for a “Biei-by-bike itinerary”.


Biei Roadside Station

3. Head over to Biei Roadside Station formally called Biei Michi-no-Eki Oka-no-Kura
(道の駅 びえい丘のくら) to buy souvenirs. Don't forget to get the roadside station stamp. It's free and a great way to remember your vacation. Also, try the Biei Kare Udon in the restaurant inside the roadside station.


Misora Museum and Observatory

4. Learn about Biei's history by visiting the Misora Museum and Observatory (丘のまち郷土学館 美宙) It is free and can be explored in an hour or less. If you want to use the telescope Pikari in the observatory, you need to pay a 200 yen usage fee. 


Biei Shrine

5. Visit Biei Shrine (美瑛神社) and get a goshuin for your collection or visit it during winter and see its unique snow-covered look.


四季の塔
Four Seasons Tower 

6. Head up to the observation deck of the Four Seasons Tower (四季の塔). It's free and allows you to see a 360 view of Biei. On a clear day, you would also be able to see the Daizetsuzan mountain range in the east. 


Top Left: Tree of Ken and Mary / Top Right: Seven Stars Tree / Bottom: Parent & Child Tree

7. Check out Biei's iconic trees. Bike or drive around the northern part of Biei in search of the following trees; Seven Stars Tree (セブンスターの木), Parent & Child Tree (親子の木), and Tree of Ken and Mary (ケンとメリーの木) to name a few.


Shirahige Waterfalls

8. Check out the Shirahige Waterfalls (白ひげの滝) also known as the "White Beard Waterfall", in winter and see its frozen cascades, or visit in any season and see the cascading water turn cobalt blue in the basin.



Shikisai Hill

9. Visit the Shikisai Hill (四季彩の丘) from late April to late October to see how 15 hectares of various flowers are in full bloom and how it transforms the hills into a magical landscape.

Shirogane Blue Pond

10. Visit the Shirogane Blue Pond (白金青い池) and stay until the afternoon when there are fewer people. If you visit in early November, you might get to witness the Blue Pond Illumination event.


Furano Biei Norokko Train

Bonus: Visit from early June to late September and hop on the seasonal Furano Biei Norokko Train from Biei JR Station. It stops at Lavander Batake Station which is exclusive to this train and is a station near the famed Tomita Farm of Furano. It's a good way to explore both Biei and Furano in one day. 

I hope my list of the 10 Things to Do in Biei gave you an idea and inspiration to visit the beautiful town of Biei in the near future.

#Biei
#BieiHokkaido

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Location: Biei, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido, Japan

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2023 at 7:58 AM

    Great list. Biei is famous for a lot of things. For sure you'd come up with another list in the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioSeptember 21, 2023 at 7:16 AM

      You're right. As a matter of fact I'm composing a draft right now. :D

      Delete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 28, 2024 at 9:16 AM

    Going to Biei this summer. Thanks for this list.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousFebruary 29, 2024 at 8:00 AM

    I want to see the Blue Pond. It's a wallpaper in my dad's Mac long ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioApril 7, 2024 at 6:16 PM

      That's right. Biei's Blue Pond was featured as a wallpaper in Mac computers years back.

      Delete

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