- July 15th, 2014
- Nature
- FamousSpots
- CentralArea
[Furano and Biei] Hills and Flowers Create Beautiful Scenery
Biei and Furano
Furano region (富良野) and Biei region (美瑛) are located in the center of Hokkaido, and are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hokkaido at present. 2 million tourists visit to savor lavenders, shooting places of “From the north country (北の国から)” that is famous Japanese television drama in the Furano and hills of the Biei. Blue Pond (青い池) and Shirahige Falls (白ひげの滝) in Shirogane (白金) has been became famous recently, and charms add to the Biei and the Furano as the popular tourist attractions more and more, and those region are receiving increased attention throughout the country and overseas country. It is one of characteristics that various colors can be enjoyed in the Furano and the Biei.
Express Bus “Furano-go” (高速ふらの号) runs between Sapporo and the Furano, and Express Bus “Lavender-go” (ラベンダー号) runs between Asahikawa and the Furano. In addition, North Liner, an express bus, is in service between the Asahikawa and Obihiro, and stop in the Furano or Biei, too, so people can move more rapidly than common transportation facilities. The Biei region and the Furano region (Furano city, Kami-furano town, Naka-furano town and Minami-furano town) are vast, and have a long distance, so I recommend that tourists use a car. In the Furano and Biei, some rent-a-car companies open a business, so tourists can drive a rental car.
Except the rental car, some sightseeing buses run from early July to mid August in the Furano. Furano Kururu Bus (ふらのくるるバス) without an advance reservation and Sightseeing Tour Bus with needing an advance reservation run. As for the Biei, Biyu Bus (美遊バス) is served. Biyu Bus (Blue Pond and Flower Fields Tour) runs from early June to mid September, and the Biyu Bus (Flower Fields and Hills Tour) runs from mid September to early October.
Roads are crowded very much when visit of the tourists peaks on summer consecutive holidays or summer weekends, and traffic often congests the roads. The tourists may be worried about a restroom, and it will take a long time to go next destination. I recommend that the tourists plan their trips to go around with time to spare.
In order to avoid some traffic jams, the tourists have a way to enjoy a train service. Passengers can enjoy relaxedly views along a track for about a hour by the train called Norokko-go (ノロッコ号) that make a round trip between Asahikawa Station or the Biei Station to the Furano Station. The train slows down at 30 km per an hour in good view places, and gives time to enjoy the good sceneries. * It is the train for exclusive use of the time-limited sightseeing from June to October. By the way, Limited Express Furano Lavender Express (特急フラノラベンダーエクスプレス) runs for about 2 hours between Sapporo and the Furano from early June to late September.
Movie of Norokko-go
I introduce about lavender on the first page, and introduce about hills of Biei on the second page, and introduce about Shirogane area, From the North Country, other tourist attractions, foods and onsen on the third page.
List of Lavender Fields
Speaking of the Furano, What will you remember ? I can not help remembering purple color of the lavenders. The Furano as well as South Province that is said to be the home of the lavender is located at 43 degree N, too. Because climate of the South Province was similar to the Furano region, the lavender was began to cultivate. The lavender is in full bloom in July. During the short period, a lot of the tourists come to here from Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thai and Singapore etc. The Furano region has became an international tourist attraction.
By the way, the tourists call the lavender of the Furano, but the Furano city has few famous lavender fields. Famous lavender fields are located in the Kami-furano (上富良野) or the Naka-furano (中富良野), so please be careful not to make any mistake. The Furano city has some lavender fields such as Furano Wine House Lavender Field (ふらのワインハウス ラベンダー園), Highland Furano (ハイランドふらの), Furano Wine Factory (ふらのワイン工場), Furano Jam Garden (ふらのジャム園・), Kitanomine Ryokan Association Lavender Field (北の峰地区旅館組合 ラベンダー園), and the Kamifurano town has the lavender fields such as Flowerland Kamifurano (フラワーランドかみふらの), Kanno Farm (かんのファーム), Farm Tomita Lavender East (ファーム富田ラベンダーイースト), Hinode Park Lavender Garden (日の出ラベンダー園), Miyama Pass Lavender Garden (深山峠ラベンダーオーナー園), and the Nakafurano town has the lavender fields such as Hokuseiyama Lavender Garden (北星山ラベンダー園), Farm Tomita (ファーム富田) and Saika-no-Sato (彩香の里). The Minamifurano has the lavender fields of Lake Kanayama (かなやま湖) that is the only lavender fields facing the lake in the Furano region. My visited the lavender fields are as follows.
Farm Tomita
Farm Tomita (ファーム富田) is a popular tourist flower garden in Nakafurano town located in the southeastern direction of Asahikawa city, and is a representative lavender farm of Furano that is famous for the lavender. Except the lavender, a lot of colorful flowers are planted, so 1 million tourists visit here every year. * A population of the Nakafurano is around 5000. This farm is open from late April to early November. Thier fields are roughly divived into 2 places, the Farm Tomita and Lavender East, and each places are at a distance. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Temporary Lavender-batake Station (ラベンダー畑駅) is open from June to late October. Flower Fields No Trespassing ! Read More
Saika-no-Sato
Saika-no-Sato (彩香の里) is a tourist flower garden in Nakafurano town located in the southeastern direction of Asahikawa city, and was choosen as a shooting place for Japanese Movie “LOVE LETTERS at SIXTY“. Colorful flowers such as Lavender and Sage are planted on flower field of 6 ha, hillside with an altitude of about 310 m. The Saika-no-Sato was founded by Sasaki Farm in 1988, I do not know the details, but SSVR7 corp that deals with osmetics in South Korea has run since 2014, and the Sasaki Farm seems to maintain the garden as Saika-no-Oka. The Saika-no-Sato is open from June to September, and it is said that July is the best season that the lavender is in full bloom in particular. There are an observation deck, a cafe and restaurant, a souvenir shop, a parking lot and a restroom on the site. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Read More
Hokuseiyama Lavender Garden
Hokuseiyama Lavender Garden (北星山ラベンダー園) is a flower garden in Nakafurano town located in the southeastern direction of Asahikawa city, and is originally a ski resort on the mountainside of Mt. Hokuseiyama with an altitude of about 310 m. In a summer, 4 types of lavenders, Lavandin, Misato Sekka (美郷雪華), Noshi Hayazaki (濃紫早咲) and Okamurasaki (おかむらさき), and flowers such as Poppy and Salvia are planted on a ski slope of around 4 ha, and the difference of elevation is about 100 m, so vertical flower fields can be enjoyed. The beautiful flower season is from late June to early September, and it is said that July is the best season that the lavender is in full bloom in particular. There are a ski hut, a souvenir shop, a parking lot and a public restroom on the site. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Flower Fields No Trespassing ! Read More
Hinode Park Lavender Garden
Hinode Park (日の出公園) is a park in Kamifurano town located in the southeastern direction of Asahikawa city, and has opened since 1977. Lavenders are planted on a hillside of Mt. Hinode with an altitude of about 230 m. The are of the lavender fields is 4.2 ha. The flowering season is from late June to early August, and it is said that July is the best season that the lavender is in full bloom in particular. This park was choosen as a shooting place for Japanese Movie “LOVE LETTERS at SIXTY“. There are an observation deck, Hinode park Auto Campsite, Kamifurano Ski Resort, public restrooms and parking lots on the site. The parking lot and the restroom are provided near the observatory deck, too, but a traffic regulation is enforced at the high season of the lavender. Kitano Daimonji Fire Festival (北の大文字) is held from New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day, too. Admission free. The parking lots are free of charge. Read More
Kanno Farm
Kanno Farm (かんのファーム) is a tourist flower garden along Furano National Route (National Route 237) in Kamifurano town located in the southeastern direction of Asahikawa city. Colorful flowers are planted on the hillside of a small hill at about 300 m above sea level. The Kanno Farm is open from mid June to mid October. In addition, 5 Japanese larch trees called Arashi Trees (嵐の木) can be seen from a parking lot. That was choosen as a shooting place for a television commercial, CM of Japan Airlines, because numbers of the trees were same as numbers of the Arashi, a famous Japanese idol group. But a lot of visitors entered private fields, and the owner got angry, so 7 trees are planted for changing the scnery at present. There are a souvenir shop “Kin-kon-Kanno” (きんこんかんの), a restroom and the parking lot on the site. A soft serve ice cream or a boiled corn are sold at the shop, too. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Flower Fields No Trespassing ! Read More
Flower Land Kamifurano
Flower Land Kamifurano (フラワーランドかみふらの) is a tourist flower garden in Nakafurano town located in the southeastern direction of Asahikawa city. Flowers are planted on flower fields of about 15 ha at a hillside with an an altitude of about 260 m. The flowering season is from May to September, and it is said that from June to July is the best season that German Iris, Lupine and Lavender are in full bloom in particular. There are Restaurant Suzuya (レストランすずや), Restaurant Nanohana (お食事処なの花), shops, Experience Studio (体験工房館), restrooms and parking lots on the site. Admission free. The parking lots are free of charge. Read More
Miyama Pass Lavender Garden
Miyama Pass (深山峠) is a pass along Furano National Route (National Route 237) in Kamifurano town located in the southeastern direction of Asahikawa city, and the altitude is about 300 m. Miyama Pass Observation Deck (深山峠展望台) is built, too, and Tokachidake Mountain Range (十勝岳連峰) and Daisetsuzan Mountain Range can be seen from the viewing platform. It is said that July is the best season that the lavender is in full bloom in particular. Except the observation deck, There is Miyama-toge Art Park (深山峠アートパーク) with Trick Art Museum, a ferris wheel and a product promotion center. Read More
Shima-no-Shita Onsen
Shima-no-Shita Onsen is a hot-spring place in Furano city located in the southernern direction of Asahikawa city. Only Highland Furano Hotel (ハイランドふらのホテル) is built on a hillside. Some onsen ryokan used to open a business in the old days, but they closed down at present. Except the Highland Furano Hotel, Unfortunately, restraunts, cafes, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built. Forest of Lavender (ラベンダーの森) is built as a health resort around the Highland Furano Hotel, and some waking paths are built, and visitors can enjoy forest bathing and birdwatching. The lavenders are full in blossom from mid July to late July. Cherry blossoms can be enjoyed in a spring, and fall foliage can be enjoyed in an autumn. Articl is here
Lake Kanayama
Lake Kanayama (かなやま湖) is a man-made lake in Minamifurano town located in the southern direction of Furano city. Kanayama Dam was built in 1967, and the lake was born. It stretches east-west along Hokkaido Road 465, and the watere surface area is 9.2 km2, and the lake is the Japan’s 8th largest dam lake. The kanayama Dam is the only concrete hollow gravity dam with about 57 m in height in Hokkaido, and was chosen as “100 Best Dam Lake in Japan”, too. Kanayamako Lookout (かなやま湖展望台) and Kanayanamako Forest Park (かなやま湖森林公園) are around the lake, and 740,000 toursits visit here. Kanayamako Lake Water Festival is held on the last Saturday and Sunday of July. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. Read More
I introduce about lavender on the first page, and introduce about hills of Biei on the second page, and introduce about Shirogane area, From the North Country, other tourist attractions, foods and onsen on the third page.
List of Accommodations
Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Furano region. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.
Furano
Kami-furano
Naka-furano
Minami-furano
Shimanoshita Onsen
Tokachidake Onsen
Fukiage Onsen
I introduce about lavender on the first page, and introduce about hills of Biei on the second page, and introduce about Shirogane area, From the North Country, other tourist attractions, foods and onsen on the third page.
By the way, Club Tourism (クラブツーリズム), a Japanese tour travel agency, provides various types of tours such as day trip tours or ordinary tours. In the case of bus tours, tourists do not drive their cars themselves, so they can savor alcohol. Choosen tourist attractions are national parks such as Rishiri and Rebun, Shiretoko, and popular tourist places such as Furano and Biei, and some activities such as hiking and fruit picking are also enjoyed depending on seasons. If you are interested in tour trips, you should visit the club tourism's website for details.
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I hope you enjoy yourself!
Thank a lot for your reply, I’m very busy to gather useful info from your site since 18:00 (now is 21:40 already) and thank again for very useful info 😀
still draft (roughly) my itinerary on 4 Sep. Might think about departure time from Obihiro. Since we might have many destination to stop by.
Hi, Krit san,
Welcome to Hokkaido!
If you like flower fields, you may like as follows.
Obihiro (Tokachi)
Shichiku Garden
http://shichikugarden.com/
Tokachi Hills
http://www.tokachi-hills.jp.e.ne.hp.transer.com/
Furano
Kaze-no-Garedn
http://hokkaido-garden.jp.e.ua.hp.transer.com/garden02.shtml
* There is Ningle Terrace (Famous Popular Spot) at the same site, too.
http://www.princehotels.co.jp/furano-area/summer/ningle/
Farm Tomita
http://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/
* Lavender is gone.
Biei
Shikisai-no-Oka
http://www.shikisainooka.jp/en/
Zerubi-no-Oka
http://biei.selfip.com/
Kanno Farm
http://www.kanno-farm.com/
Asahikawa
Ueno Farm
http://www.uenofarm.net/index.php
Hi, Greeting from Thailand.
I will be in Obihiro from 1-4 Sep and will follow your trace about food while in Obihiro. Do you happen to know about it worth the time to drive from Obihiro – Furano – Biei -Asahikawa – Sapporo on 4 Sep? is there any place the should stop by. I heard that at that time lavender filed will be gone so not sure that it have any flower filed or any spot should visit?
Thank you very much 😀
Hi, Gonzales san,
Welcome to Hokkaido!
In reply to your inquiry, I think that Hokusei-no-Oka Observatory, Ken and Merry Tree, Zerubu Hill and Mild Seven Hill can be reached on foot. Another spots are a little far away, and you will get tired.
There are some rental bicycle shops in Biei and Bibaushi.
https://www.biei-hokkaido.jp/modelcourse/
You might want to rent a bicycle to go around many spots.
Have a nice trip!
Hi Good Hokkaido!
I will be in Sapporo this July and I plan to go to Biei via the Lavender Express and then transfer to the Norokko train. Are all the spots like the Shikisai Hill, Shinei-no-oka Observatory, Mild Seven, Parent and Child, etc can be reached just by walking?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi, Zoraida san!
Thank you for your comment.
Cherry blossoms in Hokkaido are best viewed around early May every year.
Probably the cherry blossoms will still bloom.
The cherry blossoms may begin to fall. But it is very good, too.
Those are famous cherry blossom viewing spots that I have ever been to.
https://good-hokkaido.info/en/hokkaido-cherry-blossom/
Have a nice trip!
Hi I’ll be traveling on mid may
What will I be seen in that time in Hokkaido or hakodate
Will it be still cherry blossom?
Hi, Tiffany san!
Thank you for your comment.
As you wrote, I think it is too early, too.
But cherry blossoms are in full bloom in early May.
A combination of the cherry blossoms and sceneries is good.
In addition, Onsen at Kamifurano is very nice, too.
Hi! Are all these fields and trees listed here worth a visit during early spring (early may)? I’m worried about being too early- nothing to see.