Biei Patchwork Hills Road Trip Itinerary
Last Updated on March 19, 2026 by Charlotte
In the rolling hills of Biei, lone trees rise from a landscape stitched together in every shade of white. In summer, those same hills erupt into stripes of lavender, wheat, and sunflowers. We explored the Patchwork Hills route on a blustery February day, and despite the blizzard that veiled our mountain views, it was one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever been on.
This road trip itinerary covers all the highlights of the Patchwork road: famous trees with surprisingly good origin stories, a world-class photography gallery, a scrumptious cheese farm, and the journey itself, which is honestly half the point.
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Biei Patchwork Hills Road Trip Itinerary
This route covers the best of the Patchwork Hills area in a single day, with nine stops ranging from iconic roadside trees to a renowned photography art gallery and a working cheese farm. You’ll wind through the hills northwest of Biei town, with most stops clustered close together and easy to string into a loop.
Map of Patchwork Hills Itinerary
We completed the full loop in around four and a half hours, but it could take you longer depending on how much time you take to enjoy each spot.
Ken & Mary Tree
The Ken & Mary Tree is one of Biei’s most iconic landmarks, and this tall white poplar tree became famous after featuring in a 1972 Nissan Skyline TV commercial.
Out of all the “famous trees” along this route, I personally thought this one was the least visually stimulating, but worth a stop, nonetheless.
Seven Stars Tree
This solitary oak tree became famous after it was adopted for Seven Stars cigarette packaging in 1976, and today, it’s a popular stop on most of the “famous trees of Biei” routes.
The parking area is right next to the tree, so I thought that the better photo angle was actually from down along the road, rather than from the parking lot.
Parent and Child Tree
The Parent and Child Trees are three oak trees perched on top of a small hill, with one small tree nestled between two larger ones.
There isn’t a designated car park here, so we quickly stopped at the side of the road and hopped out for a photo.
Mild Seven Hill
Mild Seven Hill is one of the most photographed landscapes in Biei, with a line of larch trees stretching across the ridge like a perfectly placed brushstroke. This was one of the stops that I was most excited for, and I was crushed when we got there and couldn’t even get up the road to the hill because the snow was so deep.
Shinei-no-Oka Observatory Park
One of the best panoramic viewpoints on the entire route, with wide open fields and a lone birch tree that’s become a beloved photo spot in its own right.
On a clear day, you’ll have unobstructed views of the Tokachi mountain range. Although as we discovered firsthand, a winter blizzard makes it pretty dramatic too!
Takushinkan Gallery
If you only stop at one indoor location on this route, make it Takushinkan. This gallery showcases the work of renowned landscape photographer Shinzo Maeda, whose images are largely responsible for putting Biei on the map in the first place.
There’s also a delicious coffee shop on site with super yummy lavender milk, and a small grove of white birch trees behind the gallery that’s worth a quick wander.
La Laiterie Ferme Biei (Biei Farm)
La Laiterie Ferme Biei (Biei Farm Co. Ltd. on Google Maps) will be your tastiest stop on the itinerary, and you can say hi to some super cute cows!
Here, you can explore a working dairy farm with a cheese cave, try fondue, raclette, and Hokkaido milk ice cream, and wave hi to four rare cow breeds roaming the snowy hills.
Biei Christmas Tree
Biei’s Christmas Tree might be the most famous stop on this route. It became famous through photography circles and later exploded on social media.
Despite its “lonely” reputation, you’ll likely be sharing the view with a steady rotation of other visitors.
Roller Coaster Road
If the famous trees are the stars of the show, Roller Coaster Road is the part where you remember that the drive itself is the whole point. This long, undulating stretch of road dips and rises dramatically over the hills, giving you that brief, weightless feeling in your stomach as you crest each slope.
It’s especially fun if you’re driving yourself, but even from the backseat, it adds a playful energy to what can otherwise feel like a slow, scenic crawl.
Practical Tips for Your Biei Patchwork Hills Road Trip
Getting Around the Patchwork Hills
You’ll need a car for this itinerary because the stops are too spread out for public transit, and bikes are only realistic in summer.
Here’s a few ways to get around:
Sightseeing Taxi
We opted for a chartered sightseeing taxi, and we hired our taxi through Furano Taxi about a month in advance of our road trip. Furano Taxi has a much larger fleet than Biei Hire, and we were thankful that Furano Taxi could accommodate us.
Our driver knew exactly where to stop, handled all the navigation on snowy roads, took our photos, and our full 4.5-hour tour came to around $200 USD.
Car Hire
If you’d prefer the flexibility of a rental car, the nearest major rental locations are in Asahikawa (~30 minutes from Biei), which has options at both the city center and the airport.
Sightseeing Bus
If you’re already in Biei and do not want to drive, there are sightseeing bus tours that depart from the Biei Tourism Office that visit a few of the famous trees, including the Ken & Mary Tree, Seven Star Tree, Mild Seven Hill, and Christmas Tree.
Driving Tips in Biei
If you’re renting a car in winter, you should know that Hokkaido roads can be icy and snow-covered, particularly in the early morning. Snow tires are standard on rental cars in Hokkaido in winter, but take it slow on the rural roads between stops because they’re narrow, and visibility can drop quickly in a blizzard (ask us how we know!).
We also noticed that many of the rural roads were closed for the winter season, making some of our navigation between stops longer detours than we expected.
Also, try to familiarize yourself with Japanese road signs before you go if this is your first time driving in Japan.
How Much Time Do You Need for Biei Patchwork Hills?
Most travelers can comfortably complete the Patchwork Hills route in 3–5 hours, depending on how many stops you make and how long you spend at each.
If you’re visiting in winter or planning to take photos, give yourself extra time. Between snowy road conditions, limited daylight, and the general urge to stop every five minutes because “wait, this view is better,” things tend to take longer than expected.
Best Time to Visit by Season
The Patchwork Hills are beautiful year-round, but each season offers a completely different experience:
- Spring (May–June): Fields are vivid green and just beginning to bloom, with fewer crowds than summer
- Summer (July–August): Peak season — lavender, sunflowers, and poppies paint the hills in color, but expect tour buses and crowds at the famous trees
- Fall (September–October): Golden harvest colors and dramatic light make this a favorite for photographers
- Winter (November–April): Snow transforms the hills into a monochrome dreamscape. The famous trees are stark and striking against the white, and the crowds thin out considerably — this is when we visited and it was absolutely magical
What to Bring
- Warm layers and comfortable snow boots if visiting in winter
- Camera with a wide-angle lens for landscape shots
- Fully charged phone for navigation between stops
- Cash, some smaller stops and cafes are cash only
Where to Stay for Biei’s Patchwork Hills
You can base yourself in several spots and do this itinerary as a day trip:
- Shirogane Onsen: Our pick, and a wonderful one! This is an onsen town just 20 minutes from Biei town, and a great base for also visiting the Blue Pond and Shirahige Waterfall nearby
- Biei town: The most convenient base, with easy access to both the Patchwork and Panorama Road areas
- Asahikawa: The nearest city with the widest range of hotels and restaurants, about 30 minutes away
- Sapporo: Possible as a day trip but it’s a long day (about 2 hours each way)
How to Make This Itinerary Your Own
This route flows naturally in the order presented, looping in a figure-eight northwest out of Biei and back around. That said, all the stops are close enough together that you can shuffle freely based on your priorities.
If photography is your main goal, consider starting at Shinei-no-Oka or Mild Seven Hill early for the best morning light on the hills. If cheese is the highlight of your life (no judgment), prioritize La Laiterie. And if you only have time for a handful of stops, my non-negotiables stops in winter are La Laiterie and Takushinkan.
Ready to Plan Your Trip to Hokkaido?
If you’re already in Biei, you can’t miss the nearby stunning Shirahige Waterfall, and the Aoiike Blue Pond. Hokkaido is one of my most favorite places on earth, and I can’t wait to share more with you!
