Takushinkan Gallery and White Birch Alley
Last Updated on March 14, 2026 by Charlotte
Tucked into the patchwork hills of Biei, Takushinkan is a photography gallery dedicated to the work of Shinzo Maeda, the landscape photographer who put Biei on the map. The gallery is housed in an old elementary school, and it is a quiet stop that most winter itineraries either skip entirely or treat as an afterthought on the way to the famous Biei Christmas Tree. We spent one day road-tripping Biei’s patchwork hills during a blizzard, and Takushinkan ended up being my favorite stop of the whole day.
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What Is Takushinkan?
Can you believe that Biei became famous because of a single photograph? Landscape photographer Shinzo Maeda (1922–1998) first visited the area in 1971, and his photo “Bakushu Senretsu” of rolling patchwork hills with the drama of an impressionist painting put this small Hokkaido town on the map.
In 1987, Maeda converted the former Chiyoda Elementary School into a photo gallery, establishing Takushinkan as a space dedicated to sharing the beauty of Biei’s landscape with visitors from around the world.
Today, the permanent collection holds around 80 photographs, including some of his most iconic works, as well as personal items like his Hasselblad camera. The gallery itself is free to visit, although they do appreciate donations.
Inside the Takushinkan Gallery
In the winter, the main part of the Takushinkan Gallery is closed, so we saw just a tiny slice of the collection called “Trees on the Hill in the Snow”, and perused the adjoining gift shop.
I really liked the photos on display, and I felt like it put my attempts at landscape photography to shame. Landscape photography, it seems, is harder than it looks. Finding the right visual balance, the colors, the composition, and the patience to claim that perfect shot. Maeda made it look effortless.
After buying way too many postcards, we wandered outside to grab a quick coffee from the on-site SSAW BREW coffeeshop. I was pleased to see that SSAW BREW has a real espresso machine, and I was surprised to find the cutest squirrel-shaped gingerbread cookies and local Biei lavender milk on their menu. So of course, I had to try them!
Once our lavender milk and coffee were ready, we wandered off toward the white birch alley to explore.
The lavender milk was incredibly delicious, and you absolutely have to try it when you visit Takushinkan! SSAW is run by Yoshiko Takahashi, the wife of Kei Maeda, with a mission to let visitors experience the scenery of Biei through food, a natural extension of what the gallery does through photography.
Takushinkan White Birch Alley
Just beyond the school building, the white birch alley is a peaceful walking path that is perfect for taking your own photos. The photographer Maeda planted it himself in cooperation with the town of Biei, and the forested corridor runs about 250 meters in a loop.
This seems to be an incredibly popular spot for Instagrammers, and yes, there were people with selfie sticks and tripods all over the place near the mouth of the alley.
But the path is deceptively longer than one would think at first glance, and we easily found a little corner of it all to ourselves.
On our walk back, I noticed the cutest thing! People had built tiny snowmen, stuck to the bark of the white birch trees! Complete with little arms and little eyes and little mouths, just adorable.
Plan Your Visit to Takushinkan Gallery and White Birch Alley
Here’s everything you need to know before you go:
Getting There
Takushinkan is about a 15-minute drive from Biei Station. Unfortunately, this gallery is quite difficult to access by public transit.
Hours
- May–October: 9:00–17:00
- November–April: 10:00–16:00
- Closed Wednesdays (open daily July–September)
You can check the latest updates to hours and the galleries on the official website.
Travel tip
The main gallery at Takushinkan may be partially or fully closed in winter. We visited in February and only had access to a small seasonal exhibition. Check ahead if seeing the full collection is important to you.
Admission
Admission to Takushinkan is free, though donations are appreciated, so be sure to bring cash in yen.
Facilities and Accessibility
Facilities: Takushinkan has both free parking and free public toilets.
Food & Drink: SSAW Coffee stand (that we got takeaway coffee from) is right next door and is a great casual stop for drinks and light snacks. There is also a full SSAW café and restaurant on the property, but note that reservations are recommended, so plan ahead if you want to eat there.
Accessibility: Some parts of the gallery inside of the school house had a few stairs. The white birch alley pathway is unpaved, but relatively flat.
Ready to Plan Your Trip to Hokkaido?
If you’re exploring Biei, you can’t miss the stunning Shirahige Waterfall, the Aoiike Blue Pond, and Snowshoeing Shirogane Forest. We visited Takushinkan on our road trip of Biei’s patchwork hills (full guide coming soon), so be sure to keep checking back! Hokkaido is one of my most favorite places on earth, and I am so excited to share more adventures with you!
