| Admission | Free admission |
| Opening Hours | All day |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0166-94-3355 0166-92-1181 : sightseeing taxi service 'Biei Hire' |
| Notes | Parking available Rental car recommended to visit |
| Location / Getting There | It takes about 20 minutes by car from JR Biei Station. A 2 and a half hour drive from Sapporo Shirogane, Biei-cho Kamikawa District, Hokkaido 071-0235 |
Beautiful colors
The Blue Pond (known as Aoi-ike in Japanese) is a man-made pond that can be found in the scenic province of Biei. After the eruption of Mount Tokachi in 1988, work was carried out on the Biei river dam to prevent the destructive effect of volcanic mudflow on the town of Biei. The Blue Lake is just one of a number of ponds that were artificially born as a by-product of the dam construction. The amazing blue color of the pond comes from minerals in the water, colloidal aluminium hydroxide. This means absolutely no swimming, but you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the pond.
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Peaceful
The blue hue of the water has subtle changes depending on the weather and the season. In the winter you can get some beautiful photos of the pond in the snow. And on a nice sunny day the blue sky is reflected stunningly in the Blue Pond waters. To get to the pond you can drive, but if you don’t have your own access to transport, then there are tour buses that run during the summer. Alternatively, a rental car is a good choice as there is plenty to see while in Biei and the Furano area. For trains, the JR Furano Line connects Furano with Biei and Asahikawa. Trains run roughly once per hour, and the one way trip between Furano and Biei takes about 40 minutes, costs ￥640 and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Hokkaido Rail Pass.
Getting there from Sapporo
From Sapporo get on the Hokkaido Expressway at the Sapporo interchange (IC) and get off at Mikasa IC, then go pass Katsurazawa Dam and through Furano (about 150km).
A smooth journey here will take around 2½ hours.
Getting there from Chitose Airport
From the New Chitose Airport, use the Dōtō Expressway and get off at Shimukappu, then head north through the town of Furano.
Getting there from Chitose Airport
From the New Chitose Airport, use the Dōtō Expressway and get off at Shimukappu, then head north through the town of Furano. The distance of this route is around 160km, and will take about 3 hours.
Getting there from Asahikawa
From Asahikawa, drive south towards Furano and go through Biei to reach the Blue Pond. From Asahikawa Station, it takes around 1 hour 10 minutes (about 45km), and from Asahikawa Airport, it takes roughly 40 minutes (about 30km).
| Cost per night | Free |
| Open | June 23 - August 31 |
| Contact | 0167-44-2122 http://www.town.nakafurano.lg.jp |
| Check-in times | 13:00 to 17:00 |
| Notes | Toilets on site Kitchen area No open fires allowed Stove fires allowed Parking available 2 nights maximum stay |
| Location / Getting There | 15 minute drive past central Furano. 〒 071-0705 Hokkaido, Sorachi District, Nakafurano, Nishi Line 1 north No.13 |
Camping beneath the pines
Furano is a hugely popular tourist destination especially during the summer months when the lavender and flowers are in full bloom. July through to the end of August is the busy season. If you are looking for cheap accommodation, or doing a road trip and camping along the way, the Nakafurano Forest Park Camping Ground is a great option. It is located only two minutes away from the Saika no Sato Lavender Farm, and the Nakafurano Flower Park, which are both great places to see some flowers and get some photos.
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Facilities
The camping ground itself is not large but there are enough spots for around fifteen campers. The camping spots are by a nice pine forest, which makes for nice padding, on the pine needle covered ground. The camping ground is free, and parking for cars is free too! During the busy season, it is a good idea to book ahead, especially on the weekend. There are three small buildings located on the grounds. One is the office to check in at, the other is small kitchen area for washing, and the last building is a well kept toilet facility. Open fires are prohibited, though fires for stoves are allowed.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥600 - ¥1500 |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 19:00 Nakajima Park stand 10:00 - 19:30 Central Cafe 7:30 - 20:00 Marumi Coffee Sitatte |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-513-8338 Nakajima Park Stand 011-205-2074 Marumi Coffee 011-596-7133 Marumi Coffee Sitatte |
| Notes | Three locations in Sapporo area Various foreign coffee brands Coffee available to take home. |
| Location / Getting There | 1 block south of Nakajima Park 6 Chome-5-1 Minami 14 Jōnishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 064-0914 1 block south from TV Tower, across from Soseigawa Park. 2 Chome Minami 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0061 2 blocks east of Hokkaido Government Building on underground floor. Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Kita 2 Jōnishi, 3 Chome, Shitatte Sapporo Basement 1 floor |
A nice cup of coffee
The Marumi Coffee company, with its central office in downtown Sapporo, was established in 2006. They have three convenient locations in Sapporo, all near popular sightseeing spots. One being one block north of Nakajima Park, is relaxing and spacious and great after a nice walk through the park. The second location is one block south of the popular TV Tower, and just across the road from Soseigawa Park. The third location is a quick walk from the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building.
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A nice gift
The Marumi Coffee brand prides itself on its diverse and great taste. The owner has experience from traveling the world and studying various coffee blends. Many of these, he has brought back to Sapporo. Not only can you order a variety of different coffees, but you can also buy an array of these to take back home or to give as gifts. Marumi Coffee, also has a good food menu. Enjoy a nice cheese and tomato waffle with your coffee, or maybe one of the delicious desserts on their menu.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥600 - ¥1500 |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 19:00 Nakajima Park stand 10:00 - 19:30 Central Cafe 7:30 - 20:00 Marumi Coffee Sitatte |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-513-8338 Nakajima Park Stand 011-205-2074 Marumi Coffee 011-596-7133 Marumi Coffee Sitatte |
| Notes | Three locations in Sapporo area Various foreign coffee brands Coffee available to take home. |
| Location / Getting There | 1 block south of Nakajima Park 6 Chome-5-1 Minami 14 Jōnishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 064-0914 1 block south from TV Tower, across from Soseigawa Park. 2 Chome Minami 1 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0061 2 blocks east of Hokkaido Government Building on underground floor. Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Kita 2 Jōnishi, 3 Chome, Shitatte Sapporo Basement 1 floor |
Delicious sushi
Sapporo Ginrin is a Japanese restaurant located in the popular shopping center, Stellar Place. The sixth floor of Stellar Place is home to a dozen delicious restaurants, and being directly above Sapporo Station there are some nice views overlooking the plaza, especially in the evening. Sapporo Ginrin has a large selection of seafood. The sushi and sashimi is recommended. Being a Japanese style restaurant, you can order a variety of small dishes so you can savor more than just one dish.
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Nice views
Other dishes on the select menu include fresh shrimp, sea urchin, caviar, noodles, salads, and soups, just to name a few. If you enjoy a nice drop of wine, then Sapporo Ginrin won’t fail to please. They have a choice of a variety of wines, both foreign and local. Beer is also on the menu, as well as soft drinks for the kids. To make sure you get window seating, it’s a good idea to book ahead, especially for dinner. With its convenient location, and being open until late at night, Sapporo Ginrin makes a good spot for lunch and dinner.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥500 to ¥1000 for lunch |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 Yoichi 9:00 - 18:00 Date |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0135-31-2222 Yoichi 0142-68-6270 Date |
| Notes | Fresh supermarket Small restaurants on site |
| Location / Getting There | Located along route 5. A 40 minute drive past Otaru. 1 Chome-930 Oe, Niki, Yoichi District, Hokkaido 048-2402 On route 276, past Lake Shikotsu. 1 hour 30 minute drive from Sapporo. 637-1 Otakiku Sangaitakicho, Date, Hokkaido 052-0303 |
Take your pick
There are two Mushroom Kingdoms located in Hokkaido. They can be both found along highways and serve as a souvenir stop, supermarket, restaurant and a rest stop while driving around the island. As this is a popular place for those on the road, there is a huge amount of produce that can found here. You can choose from over a thousand kinds of products! As the name suggests, mushrooms are in abundance here, and most of the dishes at the large eatery use mushrooms in their ingredients.
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Farmland Niki
If you don’t like mushrooms, then not to worry! The souvenir shop sells local wines, jams using fruit from Hokkaido, dairy products including cheeses, and also snacks, sweets, and desserts. The spacious restaurant has seating for 120 people, plus external seating that is open from April to October. The menu includes soba noodles, udon noodles, and ramen. Next to the main building is the ‘Farmland Niki’ supermarket. It is here that fresh vegetables are brought directly from neighboring farmers and stocked. So, for some shopping, a bite to eat, or just as a pit stop, Mushroom Kingdom is a good spot to mark on your map.
| Admission | ￥300 Adults ￥100 Children |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 16:30 |
| Closed | Mondays Winter (November to mid April) |
| Contact | 0135-22-5600 |
| Notes | Parking available |
| Location / Getting There | Located on main road in Yoichi region. 1 hour 30 minute drive from Sapporo. 150−1 Hamanakachō, Yoichi-chō, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaidō 046-0021 |
During the Edo period, the coastal waters off Hokkaido in the Sea of Japan once flourished with herring. It was here in Yoichi that the fishing buildings were built. The fishing buildings and grounds were repaired and restored by the Fukuhara family until 1868. Now, you can take a step back in time and get a real sense of what life was like one hundred and fifty years ago. This valuable historic site can be accessed by car and is a must see while in the town of Yoichi.
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Inside the old treasury
The very reasonable price of admission will get you into the large grounds where you will find around half a dozen large buildings. Four of these you may enter. The largest building at the center of the grounds, is the first building that is noticeable from the road as you are driving along. This three story building used to serve as a secure treasury building for the local towns money and gold, hence the fortified windows around the building. Now it serves as a museum for artifacts over the last century. It overlooks the old grounds that were used for cutting and processing the herring.
Living quarters
The other buildings that may be entered include the fishing storage, that contains dozens of paintings, dioramas, and a fishing boat. It is a great building to stop by to study the history and folklore. The other, and equally fascinating building is also an old style home, that upon entering, shoes must be taken off. This house gives an interesting insight into living conditions in the past. They have tea rooms, old household items, and photographs of life One of the rooms has an antique hairdesser’s chair that was handled by some barber, now long gone.
So, for a nice (and cheap) day out, the Old Fukuhara Herring House is a great spot to visit. Not only, is the road out a nice drive, or ride, along the coast, but the Herring House is a place steeped in history. To get there, follow the Yoichi National Highway (route 5), which is a turn off to the right, after you pass through the small city of Otaru.
