Biei & Niseko

Biei is a very small town surrounded by a beautiful hilly landscape. Walking or pedalling rented cycle is recommended for travelling around the Biei,even the area is little bit wider for day trip. The day will be closed with satisfied feeling after wandering hills of Biei. For easier orientation, the area south of the town center has been named "Panorama Road" and the area northwest of the town center "Patchwork Road". The English language tourist brochure introduces recommended courses. Along the roads, there are various observation points, flower parks and some handsome trees and tree groups, which have gained fame through (mainly tobacco related) advertising appearances.

Small yellow flowers which called Kigarashi frequentry met as the landscape of Biei.

Main town district of Biei is surrounding area of Biei station. There are two bridges over the river Biei consisted with south border of the residential area. After crossing the river, two roads ascend to hill. A road continued from the red bridge goes to Bibaushi with parallel of JR Furano line which runs through the valley of the hill west and reaches Bibaushi station. Another scenic drive comes from the green bridge runs on the backbone of hill and meets "San ai no oka" view point. Small parking provides taking brief stop to enjoy vista mainly Tokachi mountains in fine day, although west part also good scenery of farmers field surrounded. Going ahead of there. With appearing lined pine trees in right roadside, another viewpoint "Chiyoda no oka" will be closed. Entering the dirt and scale up steps for white pencil like tower will introduce you viewing down the wider landscape of the area supposed by all peaks of Tokachi mountains as backdrop. Several roads are branch off from the backbone road. Each may reads you the photogenic subjects. Next to the "Chiyoda no oka", main road comes from "Sanai no oka" will turn to right, then descends the valley part in which another route is crossing. Again road goes up a hill. You reaches the crossing adjust the Takushinkan museum.

Another hill located in the west side of Furano line called "Shin ei no oka". The road from the red bridge at river Biei meets a branch for over crossing the railway line. Turning here to the right and taking the south direction, You get an approach to "Shin ei no oka". There is a parking for viewing point in “Shinei oka”. Beside there a souvenir shop is existed. Here is superior for seeing sunset with good northwest view. View for another direction going over the Furano line is also good landscape. Most visitors may take a picture of trees lined on the hill.

Winter landscape of pine trees on the Shinei no oka．

Shikisai no oka: Japanese word shikisai means color, although uses with scholarly terms like as chromatic. Since pronunciation is same as shiki which means four seasons. A hill named by conjuncture of these two words may indicates color of seasons. Field of Shikisai no oka covers top of a hill located in south part of Biei. A farmer field owner has started unified planting of flowers on the each section of his field. Colorful scenery of garden makes new tourist attraction of Biei.

Hill around the north west direction from Biei station is well known with name "Hokusei no oka". White piramid shape observation deck is stood. There are several trees stood on the flat landscapes of the hill provide the photogenic subjects for visitor. An elm tree near the deck called "Ken to Mery no ki" is most popular sightseeing spot of Biei, It might be even in all over the Hokkaido area.

Niseko is located about two and a half hours drive from Sapporo or about two hours from Chitose. Niseko is an increasingly popular destination for powder hungry skiers and boarders, and nearly alone among Japan's ski resorts is starting to draw increasing numbers of overseas visitors as well. Niseko is highly favoured by Australians, and increasingly Chinese and Japanese as well.

Niseko is situated between two mountains, Yotei-zan to the east and Niseko Annupuri to the west. The Matsukari River encloses the town to the north. There are two main train stations, Niseko station and Hirafu station. One of the larger and more popular sections of the skiing area is Mt Hirafu, however many times it may be more convenient to catch a train to Niseko Station and get a bus from there. Niseko can definitely be called the sports capital of Hokkaido. During the winter Niseko is a ski / snow boarders paradise with large amounts of some of the best quality snow in the world falling. Also on offer are ice-climbing, snowshoeing and dog sledding trips. During the late spring, summer and autumn Niseko is a hiking and rafting mecca for nature lovers. This period also offers canoeing, kayaking and camping opportunities. Niseko is also very popular throughout the year for its large number of onsens (hot spring baths).