Furano and Biei from Sapporo: the Blue Pond, Tomita Farm and Shikisai Hill

How to choose a tour

How to get there and when it blooms

Furano and Biei are the centre of the island of Hokkaido, where people go for lavender and a landscape of “patchwork fields”. The queries here are: “Biei Blue Pond”, “Tomita farm”, “Hokkaido lavender”, “Furano from Sapporo”.

• Train. From Sapporo on a JR express to Asahikawa about an hour and a half, then on the Furano line to Biei and Furano another hour to an hour and a half. About three hours one way in all, so going on your own is tiring. In summer a seasonal “Lavender Express” train runs with a Farm-Tomita stop.
• Car. Russian licences and the 1968 international permit are not accepted in Japan, so Russians cannot rent a car themselves. This is the main reason to choose a tour with a bus or a bus plus a taxi.
• A tour. Bus tours from Sapporo pick you up in the city centre and take you round the key points without changes. The day is long, from 7 to 11 hours, so bring water and a light snack.

The main points of Furano and Biei

The Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike) is coloured turquoise by mineral particles. In winter the pond is frozen and lit up, and in the evening it looks like a fairy tale. Farm Tomita is famous for its lavender rows: the peak of blooming falls in July, usually mid-month. Shikisai-no-oka hill in Biei has multicoloured stripes of flowers on which tractor rides are given; entry is paid separately, but included in many tours. On the way people often also see the Patchwork Road and Panorama Road, the Ken and Mary tree and the “Christmas tree”.

The blooming depends on the weather and the year, so ask the seller about dates. In winter the destination works differently: there are no flowers, but there are snowy landscapes and a lit-up Blue Pond.

Which tickets and tours there are

Prices are as of 10 October 2026. Check the contents, language and conditions on the page of the offer you choose.

What else

Compare with Noboribetsu and Toya. All offers: excursions on Hokkaido.

Restrictions and tips

• Do not walk into the fields. The flower fields are private and agricultural. Trampling the flowers and going past the barrier is not allowed, and on Biei’s private fields this is strictly watched.
• Drones. In Biei drones over the fields are banned or restricted, and flights over the Blue Pond are also not welcomed.
• Clothing. Hokkaido is cooler than Tokyo: in summer in the evenings you need a light jacket, in autumn and winter warm clothes and non-slip shoes. In summer the sun is strong, so bring a hat.
• Best time. Lavender blooms in July, but in July there are the longest queues and traffic jams. In autumn the leaves and yellow fields are beautiful, in winter the lit-up pond.
• Timing. Do not choose a tour where in 7 hours you cover everything: at Tomita Farm and the Blue Pond you need to stand at least an hour each.
• Language. On the tours in the catalogue an English-speaking guide is more often provided; Russian-speaking guides on this route are usually not available, so study the points on this page in advance.

The description is based on Trip.com cards; opening hours and the contents of offers may change.