- November 25th, 2016
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[Ken and Mary Tree in Biei] Large Poplar Tree Caused Buzz among People on Television Commercial of Skyline
Ken and Mary Tree
Ken and Mary Tree (ケンとメリーの木) is a large poplar tree in Biei town located in the southeastern direction of Asahikawa city, and is easy to find because it grows tall on gentle hillside. Here was choosen as a shooting place for a television commercial, Episode “Journey without a map” of Nissan Skyline “Ken and Mary” CM broadcasted in 1976, and the tree was named after character’s names. Pension Ken and Mary and Cafe “Tree Terrace” are built near the tree. The cafe has a photo spot “Kenmeri Panoramic Park” (ケンメリパノラマパーク). A large public parking lot is provided, too. But a public restroom is not provided. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Private Fields No Trespassing !
Movie of Skyline “Ken and Merry” CM
The distance is around 2 km away from the center of the Biei, and restraunts, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are built there. Zerubu Hill (ぜるぶの丘) and Hokusei-no-Oka Observatory Park (北西の丘展望台) are relatively near here, and I think tourists can drop by here while they enjoy a tour of Pachwork Road (パッチワークの路). By the way, speaking of the tasty restraunts or shops near Biei Station, Restaurant ASPERGES (レストラン・アスペルジュ), Komugikobo (小麦工房), Yoshoku and Cafe Junpei (洋食とcafeじゅんぺい) and Senkakobo (選果工房) are popular in particular. I ate foods at the Restaurant ASPERGES, the Komugikobo and the Senkakobo, and those were tasty.
Zerubu Hill
Zerubu Hill (ぜるぶの丘) is a tourist flower garden run by Atom-nouki corporation along Furano National Route (National Route 237) in Biei town located in the southeastern direction of Asahikawa city. Colorful flowers are planted with Mt. Asahidake (旭岳) or Tokachidake Mountain Range (十勝岳連峰) as a backdrop on gentle hillside, and visitors can enjoy a typical view of Hokkaido. There are flower fields, a grass open space, Atomu Hill (亜斗夢の丘), Zerubu-no-Oka Restaurant (ぜるぶの丘レストラン), Zerubu Cafe (カフェゼルブ), Zerubu-no-Oka Atomu Shop (ぜるぶの丘アトムショップ), a parking lot and restrooms on the site. Ken and Mery Tree (ケンとメリーの木) can be seen from Atomu Hill Observation Deck on the 3rd floor. They have 2 hills, Zerubu Hill and Atomu Hill, But the Atomu Hill is not a hill but a building. A souvenir shop opens on the 1st floor, and a gallery is held on the 2nd floor, and the observation deck is built on the 3rd floor. The Zerura Hill is open from late April to early October. * Only the restaurant is open through the year. A soft serve ice cream is popular. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Read More
Hokusei-no-Oka Observatory Park
Hokusei-no-Oka Observatory Park (北西の丘展望公園) features a pyramid-shaped observatory in Biei, and is famous for seeing the beautiful setting sun. The observatory provides a 360-degree view such as an extensive mountain ridgeline and Tokachidake Mountain Range. There are a restroom, a parking lot, a stall and a tourist information center in the site, too. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge, too. The parking lot and the observatory deck are used in a winter, too. Read More
Restaurant ASPERGES
Restaurant ASPERGES (レストラン・アスペルジュ) is a French restaurant in Biei town located in the southern direction of Asahikawa city. ASPERGES means asparagus in French language. It opened a business in 2007 and is open as a restaurant of Biei-senka (美瑛選果) run by JA Biei (JA美瑛). Mr. Kazunori Kato (加藤千典) act as a chef and it is popular restraunt that visitors can enjoy charm of vegetables. They garnered one star in MICHELIN GUIDE Hokkaido 2012 Special Edition. Read More
Bieisenka
Bieisenka (美瑛選果) is a local speciality shop run by JA Biei (JA美瑛) in Biei town located in the southern direction of Asahikawa city. There are Senkaichiba (選果市場) that visitors can buy fresh vegetables, Senkakobo (選果工房) that the visitors can enjoy sweets and light meals, Restraunt ASPERGES (レストラン・アスペルジュ) that the vititors can enjoy vegetables of French cuisine and Komugikobo (小麦工房) that the visitors can purchase rusk at Bieisenka (びえいのラスク), and each buildings are stylish. Osamu Suzuki atelier (鈴木理アトリエ) designed the buildings. Read More
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. In the Furano and Biei, some rent-a-car companies open a business, so tourists can drive a rental car.
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Furano and Biei
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. Read More
Large Poplar Tree
A large poplar tree with around 35 m in height grows on the gentle hillside, and has been planted since 1923, and is around 100 years old. It looks only just the tree with a lot of branches closely, so it is worth seeing at a little distance. The tree goes well with colors of fields with Mt. Asahidake (旭岳) or Tokachidake Mountain Range (十勝岳連峰) as a backdrop. In addition, here is near Asahikawa Airport, so a conbination of the tree and a plane can be seen. The Ken and Mary Tree can be looked from Zerubu Hill, and it is one of best viewing spots for it. I think the best season to see is from an early summer to an autumn or winter.
Atmosphere of Ken and Mary Tree Can Be Watched on Youtube
Movie of Ken and Mary Tree
| Admission fee | Free of charge |
|---|---|
| Parking lot | Free parking is provided (50 Cars) |
| Business hours | Open 24 hours |
| Regular closing day | Open all year round |
| Telephone number | +81-166-92-4378 |
| Home page | Home page is here |
| Mapcode | 389 071 603*26 |
List of Accommodations
Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Furno and the Biei. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.
Biei
Shirogane Onsen
Kami-furano
Furano
Naka-furano
Minami-furano
Shimanoshita Onsen
Tokachidake Onsen
Fukiage Onsen
A page of Biei is here
Biei
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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