Asahikawa is home to the Asahikawa Asahiyama Zoo, known for its animal exhibits, and Furano, Hokkaido's "navel town," is home to lavender fields. Asahikawa is home to the Asahikawa Asahiyama Zoo, known for its animal exhibits, and Furano, Hokkaido's "navel town," has lavender fields.
Here we introduce recommended sightseeing information for Asahikawa, Furano, and Biei. Sightseeing spots in this area include Asahikawa Asahiyama Zoo, lavender fields, and Tokachidake Mochidake-dai. Asahikawa Ramen, which is available at many restaurants in the city, is recommended as a local delicacy.
Asahikawa Asahiyama Zoo has become famous for its behavioral exhibits. An hour's drive southeast will take you to Asahidake (Mt. Daisetsuzan), where you can see the earliest autumn leaves and the first snow in Japan, although the snow covers most of the year. Sounkyo, and Sounkyo Onsen (hot spring) has been a popular hideaway for climbers of Mt. Kamuikotan, a scenic spot overlooking the rapids of the Ishikari River, is also famous as a scenic spot.
Furano is known as the home of lavender, which is usually at its peak from mid-July to early August, when the hills are covered with a spectacular view of purple. Farm Tomita is famous for its lavender fields. Other tourist attractions include the "Kita no Kuni Kara" museum in the center of Furano City, Furano Marche, which offers a wide variety of local foods, and Gokokuzan Furanoji Temple. In the Kitanomine area, there are many ski resorts and pensions, as well as a coffee shop where the TV drama "Kita no Kuni Kara" was set. In addition, the Rokugo area is home to Goro's elegant stone house, a house he found, and Jun and Yui's house, which are also popular as filming location tours.
Furano City, located in the basin, is also known as the "town of the navel" because of its location in the center of Hokkaido. Furano has an inland climate and is known for its cold winters. On sunny mornings, the city is extremely cold due to radiative cooling, which produces a phenomenon called diamond dust, which is the reason why some people visit the city. Furano is about 150 km away from New Chitose, and it takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes by car. There are times of the year when a direct bus service is available, but during other times of the year, a transfer at Sapporo Station is required.
Biei is located in the northern part of Furano City and, like Furano, is a town of sightseeing. Biei is popular among tourists for its beautiful hilly landscape and blooming flowers. Many people from outside of Hokkaido move to Biei because they are attracted by the beautiful scenery. Biei-cho is famous for its sightseeing spots such as the Northwestern Hill Observation Park (Road of Patchwork area) and Goryo Hill, from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the vast landscape of Hokkaido.
To the east of Route 237, commonly known as "Furano National Highway," is the Panorama Road Area and Takushinkan, where the works of Shinzo Maeda, the landscape photographer who made Biei famous, are on display. Furthermore, there is a campground where visitors can interact with animals such as horses and ostriches. Road 966, also known as the Shirakaba Highway, leads to the Shirogane Hot Springs area, where you can enjoy beautiful Hokkaido scenery such as the Blue Pond, which has become a hot topic on SNS in recent years, as well as the White Beard Falls and Fudo Falls. Further up the road from the Shirogane Onsen area is Tokachidake Bogakudai, which is popular during the climbing season. The Ken and Mary Tree, Seven Star Tree, Mild Seven Hill, and Puffy Tree are popular photo spots.
In Shimukappu Village, located in the southern part of Furano, there is the Hoshino Resort Tomamu Unkai Terrace, where you can enjoy a spectacular early morning sea of clouds from May to October. In winter, visitors can enjoy the spectacular fog and ice terrace created by the sub-zero temperatures.
80 varieties of flowers, mainly lavender, but also poppies, cosmos, cascade grass, and other flowers in 12 flower fields, spread over gentle hills. Original lavender products such as lavender oil, perfume, and soft-serve ice cream are available....»
The zoo is located in the northernmost part of Japan, and its mission is to convey the brightness of life through "behavioral exhibits," in which the animals' natural instincts and characteristics can be seen through their vivid appearance, by drawing out their habits and behavior. In recent years, the zoo has turned its attention to familiar animals, including those native to Hokkaido, and is act...»
The magnificent Daisetsuzoku mountain range and hills provide the backdrop for a 7-hectare flower garden with an outstanding view. From spring to fall, 30 different kinds of flowers can be seen. In winter, visitors can experience ATV and snowmobile riding, and fully enjoy the charm of the hill in winter, which is different from the green season....»
Fields spread out on the large undulating hills in a patchwork pattern of different colored fabrics sewn together. This fairy-tale-like landscape, reminiscent of European countryside, is called "patchwork hills. The hilly area with many roads running through it, including a wide-area farm road that stretches to the west of Biei, is called "Road of Patchwork," and is a popular sightseeing spot do...»
The Blue Pond, also known as "Shirogane no Aoi Ike" (Blue Pond of Biei) or "Biei Shirogane Aoi Ike" (Blue Pond of Biei), is a popular tourist spot, known mainly to photographers for its mysterious blue water and fantastic scenery of standing dead trees. It is said that the different water components of the spring water near here and the main stream of the Biei River mix together to reflect the su...»
A relaxing park of "flowers and greenery" where visitors can enjoy lavender and other seasonal flowers as a place of "comfort and relaxation....»
Located in Tenninkyo in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hagoromo Falls is the highest waterfall in Hokkaido, falling in seven stages from a precipitous cliff 270 meters high. It is said that the name "Hagoromo Falls" was given to the waterfall because of its spectacular scenery and the fact that the flow of water reminds one of a robe of feathers. The falls can be viewed from April, when the snow mel...»
One of the best winter events in Hokkaido. The festival site, about 10,000 m2, is located on the banks of the Ishikari River and features about 30 ice sculptures of various sizes, a 13-meter-high observatory, slides, and the Ice Fall Shrine. The ice sculptures, which take about three months to create, are a sight to behold, taking advantage of the natural beauty of the deep canyon at the foot of ...»
Furano Cheese Koubou produces and sells three kinds of natural cheese and pasteurized milk that has a strong flavor without melting fat. Visitors can sample a variety of excellent Furano cheeses, or try their hand at making cheese, butter, ice cream, and bread....»
Asahidake ropeway connects the foot station (1100m above sea level) to the fifth station (1600m above sea level) of Asahidake, the main peak of the Daisetsuzan mountain range. Asahidake, and the 101-passenger gondola takes you on a 10-minute aerial walk. Asahidake, and you can enjoy the magnificent nature of the mountain. In top season, the ropeway runs for about 15 minutes at a time. The fifth ...»
Sounkyo Onsen is located at the entrance of Sounkyo, known for its beautiful autumn foliage and columnar cliffs. The central part of the hot spring resort area has been developed as a canyon mall modeled after a Canadian mountain resort, creating a Western-style atmosphere. From the hot spring resort area, there is a ropeway to the fifth station of Mt. Sounkyo, numerous waterfalls, and the Daih...»
Asahidake is the highest peak in Hokkaido and the main peak of the Daisetsuzan mountain range, rising 2,291 meters above sea level.A ropeway runs up to 1,600 meters above sea level, and once you get off at the Sugatami station, you will find yourself in a gentle alpine zone with highland plants in full bloom.Visitors can see plants that can only be found on 3,000-meter mountains in Honshu. The Su...»
In summer, lavender and other flowers adorn the park, and the Asahidake and Tokachi Mountain peaks can be seen in the distance.Visitors can experience ATV and snowmobile riding (in winter), and tour the park against the backdrop of the powerful nature.There are also stores, restaurants, and cafes....»
A large poplar tree standing in the hills of Biei was used for the location shooting of the "Journey without a Map" version of Nissan's Skyline commercial in 1972. After the commercial aired, the tree became a tourist attraction and was named "Ken and Mary's Tree" after the actors who played them. It is one of the landscapes that symbolize the hills of Biei (hills of patchwork). The tree is loc...»
A "Kashiwa tree" stands on a slightly elevated hill, so named because it was used as the packaging for Seven Star tourist cigarettes in 1976. In the summer, the hill is green with blue skies, and in the winter, a single tree stands amidst a blanket of snow.At night, you can see a star-filled sky. The area where the Seven Star Tree is located is called the "Road of Patchwork" because of the color...»
Sounkyo is one of the largest gorges in Japan, created by the Ishikari River carving out the northern foothills of Daisetsuzan.The Ishikari River is flanked by cliffs of columnar joints, oddly shaped rocks, and waterfalls that stretch for about 24 km. At the foot of Mt. Daisetsuzan Kurodake is the hot spring resort of Sounkyo Onsen, one of the largest in Hokkaido, with a number of large hotels an...»
The waterfall is 40 meters wide and has a drop of 30 meters. Dozens of thin strands of water fall down into the Biei River with great force. The water from the falls is underground water seeping from the cracks of the lava layer, and is classified as a submerged waterfall, which is a rare type of spring waterfall.You can see the falls from the Blue River Bridge over the Bieigawa River. The color...»
Small log houses selling craft works are located one after another in the forest, and visitors can tour along a wooden boardwalk. Inside the log houses, visitors can see unique handmade works of art, mainly warm and nature-inspired, and can also watch the artists working on their creations. Produced by writer Satoshi Kuramoto, Ninguru is a "wise man of the forest" about 15 cm tall who lives in t...»
This is a 4-kilometer-long gradual road that appears in Furano, where the countryside spreads out.It is a straight road with gentle ups and downs, sudden drops and sudden rises in elevation. The surrounding area is a driving course with a view of the Tokachi Mountain Range in the distance and a wide expanse of rural scenery....»
The Otokoyama Sake Brewing Museum is a place where visitors can learn about the history and culture of sake brewing as well as the history of "Otokoyama" sake since the Edo period. The museum exhibits the origin and history of Otokoyama, as well as old sake brewing tools. In addition, visitors can observe the actual sake brewing process at the factory (advance reservations are required). On the ...»
Jingisukan is a barbecue dish of mutton and lamb, which is marinated in savoury sauce and cooked on a dome-shaped special metal grill. The juice from the meat cooked on top of the grill drips down onto the vegetables on the side, adding to them just the right seasoning. The dish was originally created as a means to make good use of the meat of sheep raised for wool. Today it is a popular dish acro...»