Biei | The Most Hokkaido Town: Slow-Paced Travel

🚆I bought a JR Hokkaido Pass and took the train from Asahikawa Station to Biei, which took about 30 mins. The train was crowded, so it was hard to find a seat. After getting off, I skipped the Christmas Tree (winter hiking is a bit too much) and Shirahige Falls (limited bus service, though I really wanted to try a day-trip onsen). I decided to just wander around Biei. 📍The classic Biei main road is right outside the station. On a clear day, you can see the distant snow-capped mountains. Biei's houses are painted in bright, cheerful colors, with snow covering half the roof—very cute! 1️⃣ About a 10-min walk from the station is the Shiki no Oka observation tower. It's a free, enclosed observation deck with 360° views. It closes around 5pm, so you might not catch the sunset or the lights. 2️⃣ Biei Shrine is about a 10-min walk from Shiki no Oka (I didn't go this time, but my friend said it's beautiful). 3️⃣ Kita-Kobo Coffee: While waiting for the train back, it started snowing heavily, so I ducked into this cafe. It was quite busy, and you need to take off your shoes before sitting down. The coffee was delicious. 🕧Three hours is enough to stroll around at a leisurely pace. Experience the slow-paced life—a relaxing and healing journey!