Hidden Villages of Hokkaido | Peaceful Slow Travel in Japan | Biei, Blue Pond & Local Cafés

Hidden Villages of Hokkaido | Peaceful Slow Travel in Japan | Biei, Blue Pond & Local Cafés

Good morning from Hokkaido.Today, we’re taking a train from Asahikawa to a storybook-like inn in Biei. The goal of this trip is to spend a peaceful, special moment there. It’s a place that feels straight out of a fairytale. But before that, I’ll take my time exploring Biei’s beautiful nature. The morning light stretches over endless fields beneath a wide, open sky. Biei is a town of gentle hills where each season paints a completely different view. We’ll take it slow—making little detours as we go. And here we are—welcome to Biei. The trees are starting to change color, and the crisp air feels refreshing this morning. Let’s rent a bicycle and go explore Biei at our own pace. Before the ride, we stopped by a local spot—Biei Shrine. Wow… look at these lovely flower decorations. No wonder they call this “the town of flowers.” Now we’re even more excited to see the flower hills ahead. After praying for a safe journey, let’s go and see Biei’s beautiful hills. The sky is clear, the wind feels gentle—it’s the perfect day for cycling. Of course, we could travel by car, but on a bike, every moment feels more alive. Biei is full of scenic spots—like “Mild Seven Hill” and the “Ken and Mary Tree.” There’s also “Patchwork Road” and “Roller Coaster Road,” both loved by photographers. If we go a little farther, we’ll find famous places like the Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls. But what touches our hearts the most aren’t just the famous spots—it’s the quiet, everyday scenes we come across by chance. Like sunlight filtering through the trees, or fields that stretch beyond the hills—scenes that feel like something out of a Ghibli film. Those little, unexpected moments… that’s the real joy of traveling by bicycle. And look—our first adorable encounter of the day. Watching them relax so peacefully brings a smile to our faces. Our first destination today is Shikisai-no-Oka—the “Hills of Seasonal Colors.” As the name suggests, these rolling slopes are covered with flowers that change through the seasons. The peak season runs from July to September. From October, it’s the off-season, so admission is free. Still, we made a small donation to help support the upkeep of this beautiful place. Right near the entrance, there’s a food stand filled with local Hokkaido specialties. Of course, we couldn’t resist trying some. A freshly fried croquette made from Hokkaido potatoes—crispy outside, fluffy inside, and so good! And a refreshing melon juice made from local Hokkaido melons. Its sweet aroma and gentle taste filled us with joy— the perfect start to our morning. 😊 Now that we’re full, let’s hop on the Norokko Train and circle around the flower fields. I can’t wait to see what kind of views are waiting ahead. The train moves slowly through colorful waves of flowers. Endless fields of blossoms stretch out under the vast blue sky. You forget how wide the sky can be until you see it like this. The gentle wind wraps around us, and time seems to slow into a peaceful rhythm. The view from the top of the hill is just breathtaking. Everywhere we look feels like a painting — the kind that makes you stop and take a deep breath. Only in Biei can we see landscapes this stunning. Even though it’s the off-season, colorful flowers are still in full bloom, and it’s more than enough to enjoy. We wish we could stay a little longer… but it’s time to move on to our next stop. There are so many places in Biei worth visiting — from scenic spots to charming cafés. Everything looked so inviting that it was hard to decide where to go first. In the end, we chose the café that had been on our list for the longest time. Ever since we saw it in photos, we’ve dreamed of visiting this place one day. The wooden design feels so cozy — we’re already excited to see what’s inside! It’s both a gallery and café run by a photographer based in Biei and Furano. Wow… it’s even more beautiful than we imagined. Through the large windows, the natural scenery outside looks like a living piece of art. And the photographs of Biei and Furano decorating the walls make our hearts flutter even more. But the charm of this place isn’t just inside. Outside, two chairs sit quietly at the top of a hill. From there, we can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Tokachi mountain range. We’ll head up there later. For today, we ordered a café latte and a tiramisu. My sister chose a warm almond tart — rich, nutty, and perfectly golden. It’s called Amandine — a classic French pastry. Even the coffee here is carefully brewed, each cup filled with the owner’s passion. Beautiful desserts made with local Biei ingredients, paired with thoughtfully brewed coffee… After all that cycling, this moment feels like the sweetest reward. The owner moved here after falling in love with Biei’s scenery — and standing here, we can see why. It’s easy to understand how this peaceful place can capture someone’s heart. Wow… what a breathtaking view. Two chairs side by side on top of the hill. The only sound we hear is the rustling of leaves in the wind. Just sitting here, doing nothing, feels like pure luxury. After being surrounded by so much beauty, we’re heading to our next destination — the famous Blue Pond. As its name suggests, the water here appears to glow in shades of blue. Wow… it’s even bluer than we imagined! Minerals in the water reflect sunlight, creating this mesmerizing blue color. It’s quite a popular spot, so it’s not exactly quiet — but even with the crowd, we can’t help but be drawn into its beauty. If you ever visit Biei, this is definitely one place you shouldn’t miss. And of course, we had to try this — the famous “Blue Pond” soft serve. The vivid blue flavor is ramune, a refreshing Japanese soda taste. Together with the local milk flavor, it’s a perfect blend of sweetness and freshness. Next, let’s head to a local favorite — a restaurant famous for its jingisukan lamb BBQ. When you think of Hokkaido, you think of jingisukan. It’s a beloved local dish made entirely with tender lamb meat. The sizzling sound and savory aroma fill the air. There’s no gamey smell at all — just soft, flavorful meat that melts in your mouth. After the meal, we rode through the quiet roads of Biei and returned to the station. From there, we took a taxi to our long-awaited destination — Zawazawa Village. A place that feels like the perfect ending to today’s journey. As we arrived at dusk, Zawazawa Village was bathed in gentle evening light. The moment we saw this warm glow, all the fatigue from the day seemed to melt away. Zawazawa Village is a small cluster of five cottages nestled within a vast private farm — nearly 70 acres of open land. It’s completely surrounded by rolling hills — a true private retreat. Every building was handcrafted by the owner, and the work is still ongoing even today. Our cottage tonight looks like something straight out of a fairytale. It’s even cuter than we imagined — we can’t help but smile. The moment we opened the door, it felt like stepping right into a storybook world. It already feels like tonight will be something truly special. Since opening in 2007, this place has been one of the most sought-after stays in the area. People from all over Japan come here, drawn by its fairytale charm. We’ve also been dreaming of visiting for such a long time. Each of the five cottages has its own unique design and personality. Which one we’ll stay in — that’s a surprise until check-in. And depending on the season, the village takes on a completely different atmosphere. The soft sunset light paints Zawazawa Village in shades of gentle pink. It feels like the quiet night has just begun. Now, it’s time for dinner — something we’ve been looking forward to all day. The table is set with dishes made from fresh local ingredients. Like this inn itself, the food isn’t flashy — but it’s filled with warmth and care. Even the bread is baked from wheat grown right here in Zawazawa Village. We start with a glass of their homemade lemonade. It’s so refreshing and fragrant that we couldn’t help but want another. Then came hot vegetable grills, freshly baked pizza, and even dessert — each served slowly, one at a time. Every dish highlighted the natural flavors of the ingredients — absolutely delicious. We ended the meal completely satisfied, hearts and stomachs full. Outside, the moon gently lit up the night sky with a soft, silver glow. Morning in Biei… what a beautiful sight. It feels as if the sleeping earth is slowly waking before our eyes. We can’t take our eyes off the shifting colors of the morning light. Before breakfast, we decided to step outside for a moment. The cool morning air and soft sunlight feel so refreshing. Even without doing anything special, just the flow of time here feels like a quiet kind of luxury. Simply being here feels like a little reward in itself. We took a slow walk, watching the trees and grass glowing in the morning sun. Sometimes we watched the drifting clouds, sometimes felt the sunlight on our skin,
and sometimes the gentle breeze brushing past our cheeks. Our time in Biei filled us from within — even one day here became a memory we’ll never forget. Wrapped in soft morning light, let’s head back for a warm, homemade breakfast. Inside — a plate of freshly baked French toast. Its sweet, toasty aroma gently fills the room. Served with a crisp salad and a bowl of comforting minestrone soup. Enjoying breakfast here in our room makes us feel like true residents of this little village — and that makes us so happy. After breakfast, it’s time for the coffee we’ve been looking forward to. The aroma drifts softly through the room, as if we’re savoring the calm of the morning itself. We wanted to drink it last night, but saving it for this moment turned out to be the right choice. If we enjoy it outside on the terrace, with the sound of the breeze, it’ll surely taste even better. Coffee in the crisp morning air tastes truly exceptional. With every sip, it becomes harder to imagine leaving this place behind. After checking out, we headed to the Hokusei-no-Oka View Park. No matter where you walk in Biei, every scene looks like a painting. Come to think of it, we could even see this observatory from our room. From the top, there’s a breathtaking view of the Daisetsuzan mountain range. We could even spot Zawazawa Village — where we stayed just moments ago. And there’s another highlight — a food stand serving local specialties. Everything looked so delicious, we couldn’t decide what to try first. We went with grilled imomochi (potato cakes), roasted corn, and a slice of juicy local melon. Each one was a taste of happiness — the perfect way to end our trip. The wide skies, the gentle smiles — our time in Biei quietly stays in our hearts. We’ll definitely be back again, in another season. Thank you so much for watching 🌿　Let’s share another peaceful journey again, next time.

I took a slow countryside trip through Biei, Hokkaido, visiting the famous Blue Pond and the colorful flower hills.
Riding an electric bicycle, we explored the town at our own pace — stopping by Biei Shrine, a cozy local café, and other peaceful spots surrounded by nature.

I hope this video lets you feel the calm rhythm of countryside life and brings you a bit of peace wherever you are. 🌸

📍Access:
Take a train from Asahikawa to Biei (about 30 minutes), then rent an electric bicycle near the station — it’s the best way to explore the town at your own pace.

✨Visited Places

Biei Shrine
A peaceful shrine decorated with seasonal flowers — perfect for a quiet morning walk.
https://hokkaidojinjacho.jp/美瑛神社/

Shikisai-no-Oka
Rolling flower hills that change colors with every season.

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Atelier Nipek
A cozy café and gallery run by a local photographer, offering stunning views of Biei’s landscape.
https://www.nipek.net

Blue Pond
A magical pond that glows blue under the sunlight — one of Biei’s most iconic spots.
https://www.biei-hokkaido.jp/ja/shirogane-blue-pond

Hitsujinooka Genghis Khan Restaurant
A local favorite serving tender Hokkaido-style grilled lamb with mountain views.
https://www.hitsujinooka.com

Hokusei-no-Oka Observatory Park
A scenic viewpoint overlooking the vast fields and mountains of Biei.
https://www.biei-hokkaido.jp/ja/facility/hokusei-no-oka

Spoon Valley’s “Zawazawa Village”
A fairytale-like cottage stay surrounded by hills and farmland — truly one of Biei’s hidden gems.

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