Shikisai-no-Oka is a must-visit attraction for summer trips to Hokkaido. The patchwork flower fields here are unique in the world. On the undulating hillsides, vibrant flowers bloom in competition, as if the earth is adorned with colorful clothes. The gentle breeze brushes through the grass, transforming into passionate and exuberant red, orange, yellow, and purple, like flames leaping on the slopes, resembling a painting of the earth.
“Non-driving” explores summer attractions such as lavender (a must-see in July): Planning a “summer” self-guided trip to Hokkaido
【Transportation】How to get to Four Seasons Hill?
- Address: Shinsei 3, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
- Opening Hours: January to April: 9:10 AM to 5:00 PM, May to October: 8:40 AM to 5:00 PM, June to September: 8:40 AM to 5:30 PM, November to December: 9:10 AM to 4:30 PM
- Official Website
Shikisai Hill is located in Biei, in the central part of Hokkaido. It is a hilly area between the Kamikawa Basin and the Furano Basin, famous for its pastoral scenery. Being so far away from the hustle and bustle, transportation is naturally inconvenient. The nearest public transportation here is the “JR Biei Station”, which takes 25 minutes to walk from the station. If you come here before summer vacation like Piaor, the summer in Biei is crazy hot. 25 minutes is enough to get heatstroke and doubt your life choices. Here are my recommended comfortable and enjoyable transportation methods:
Self-driving
Self-driving is definitely the most convenient and comfortable way to travel in Hokkaido. The MapCode for Shikisai-no-oka is 349 701 160*00, and there is free parking at the entrance. However, it is important to note that during the summer vacation, if you arrive after 11:00, there will definitely be a long queue. Just waiting in line for parking will take at least half an hour, so it is recommended to wake up early!
From Biei Station, ride a bicycle to
If you don’t know how to drive but still want to have flexibility, another transportation option is “riding a bicycle”. There are two bicycle rental shops right outside JR Biei Station. Biei is part of the Ultra Wide Angle Road scenic route, and you can visit all the attractions along the way. It takes about 4 hours to complete the ride, which is within the acceptable time frame for not getting heatstroke in the summer. However, please note that there are constant ups and downs on the hilly terrain along the route, so you must rent an electric bicycle; otherwise, you won’t be able to lift your feet the next day.
Rent bicycles here: 【Biei Attractions】How to Enjoy a Day Trip in Biei? Transportation Guide for Patchwork Road and Panorama Road
In the local group
If you have elderly people or children with you and feel that driving is too tiring and riding a bicycle is not convenient, there are local tours starting from Sapporo that include the most classic attractions in Furano. You can visit all three attractions in one day, which is the most relaxed way to explore. Moreover, the tour guide speaks Chinese and can share a lot of local knowledge, allowing you to have a deeper understanding of Hokkaido.
- Direct departure from Sapporo local tour is the easiest: Four Seasons Hill & Tomita Farm & Forest Elf Terrace Day Tour
- Choose this if you don’t have much time: Tomita Farm Lavender, Biei Four Seasons Hill, Blue Pond
Entrance Restaurant and Shop of “Four Seasons Colorful Hill”
After parking the car, walk from the parking lot to the Four Seasons Color Hill. You will pass by “Mugiiro no Oka (むぎいろのおか)”, which is one of the few restaurants along the Biei Ultra Wide-Angle Road where you can sit down and have a proper meal. If you’re hungry and don’t like eating snacks, it is recommended to have udon noodles here.
Continue walking towards the entrance, you will pass by a section of shops. On the right hand side is a souvenir shop, where you can do some shopping after coming out. On the left hand side, there is a vendor selling “lavender ice cream and corn“. I recommend buying them first if there aren’t many people when you enter! Because this place often has long queues due to large tour groups, and the sweet and juicy corn sells out early. If you, like me, love lavender ice cream and want to buy some to cool down, but don’t have enough time, you will end up spending all your time in line.
Dislike crowded places, recommend going to: 【Free Attractions in Biei】Kanno Farm: Rainbow Flower Fields, Lavender Fields, and fewer people!
【Four Seasons Colorful Hill】Ticket Purchase
Shikisai-no-oka There is an entrance fee from July to September (free admission in other seasons). Previously, you could simply put the donation into the collection box at the entrance. However, due to the pandemic, there are now self-service machines for purchasing tickets due to the large number of visitors.
We came here before noon during this summer vacation and spent 20 minutes in front of the ticket office, finally arriving at the machine. The machine is divided into cash payment, credit card acceptance, and transportation IC card acceptance. If you want to pay with a card, remember to wait for the one on the far right.
The ticket price for adults is 500 yen and for students is 300 yen. We do not accept JCB credit cards. However, I personally use credit cards in Japan and sometimes certain overseas credit cards may not be accepted. But there will definitely be no problem with transportation IC cards. I have also written this information for your reference.
During the peak season of summer, it is strongly recommended to book hotels five to six months in advance, otherwise it will be difficult to find available hotels and transportation arrangements may need to be rearranged: 【Recommended Furano Accommodations】High-quality hotels near JR Furano Station
【Four Seasons Colorful Hill】Paid Amusement Park Car
The park of Four Seasons Colorful Hill has a 15-hectare flower field. As the terrain is undulating, if you are accompanied by elderly people, children, or simply don’t want to climb slopes, after entering the park, turn left and you will find a ticket counter where you can purchase tickets for the paid rides. The rides include “NOROCCO Tour Bus, Self-driving Tour Bus, and Self-driving Buggy”. The differences are as follows:
- NOROCCO Tour Bus: A large tow truck with a driver who provides Japanese guided tours and stops for tourists to take photos. The ride lasts 15 minutes. Elementary, middle, and high school students: 300 yen. High school students and above: 500 yen.
- Self-driving Tour Bus: 4-seater, 15 minutes for 2,000 yen (can be rented).
- Self-driving Buggy: Can only go around the White Birch Garden, 500 yen for a single person.
▼ NOROCCO Amusement Car
▼ Scenic view of rolled grass next to the boarding location
【Four Seasons Colorful Hill】Paid Amusement Park Car
Next to the payment counter is a counter that accepts helicopter reservations. If you want to enjoy the vast flower fields from different angles in the air, come here and swipe your credit card!
【Four Seasons Colorful Hill】Sheep and Camel Ranch
On the right side of the path leading to the flower field, there is also a “Sheep and Camel Ranch” which requires an additional entrance fee (300 yen for elementary school students, 500 yen for high school students and above).
There are many alpacas that can interact with each other. The alpacas in Japan are even more beautiful than those raised in many other countries (I haven’t been to South America, so I can’t say about their original habitat). If you are interested, you can come inside.
【Four Seasons Colorful Hill】Patchwork Flower Field
The patchwork flower field is right in front of the alpaca ranch! There is a sign and a bell on the main road where you can take photos.
The whole field of red, orange, yellow, green, and purple flowers extends, with the backdrop being the Tokachi mountain range. The undulating hills make the scenery like a song and dance, as if stepping into a vivid painting.
There is a sign in front of each different flower species indicating the type of flower.
Piao Er came this time, it was the best time to see lavender, which is on 7/23. You can take photos of the purple foreground and the colorful patchwork scenery in the background.
But the downside is that the colorful patchwork is not fully open yet, and the farthest place is just a bare patch, compared to the vibrant flower fields that only appear after mid-August on the Internet, the effect is much inferior.
It can only be said that different months have their own beauty. If you prefer the gorgeous cockscomb flowers, August is the most vibrant time to visit. If you want to see lavender, it is from mid-July to early August. (Please refer to the official website for the latest flower conditions each year.)
Everyone may feel longing while blowing air conditioning, eating delicious food, and looking at beautiful photos on the screen, but in fact, the road to Four Seasons Hill is made of yellow soil and gravel. In addition, there are NOROCCO tour buses and self-driving tour buses running on the yellow soil at a very high frequency. Therefore, on the one hand, it is recommended not to wear white shoes, as they will get dirty quickly. On the other hand, if you are allergic to sand and gravel, please wear a mask because when the cars pass by, not only your face will be covered in dirt, but it will also be uncomfortable to breathe through your nose.
Aside from the external noise and dust, choose a place with few people to watch the flowers gently swaying in the breeze, as if adding a soft note to the hills, presenting their elegant posture to the fullest.
【Conclusion】Is Shikisai Hill worth visiting?
Is Shikisai-no-Oka worth it? First of all, Piao’er must say it is worth it, because I have traveled around the world and have not seen such scenery in any other country. Moreover, the undulating hills and the peaks of Tokachi are unique features of this place, and they are the beauty exclusive to Hokkaido.
However, before I set off, I had a feeling that the scope of the Patchwork Flower Field was not very large. Because if you have been to Europe to appreciate flowers, you will know how spectacular those endless flower fields are. But the Four Seasons Hill is not spectacular, it is a delicate beauty in Japanese style. You must be mentally prepared for this part, so as not to have unrealistic expectations.
Next, the number of tourists at the Four Seasons Colorful Hill is really overwhelming, and the shopping experience at the souvenir points and snack shops will definitely be unbearable for those who dislike crowded places. As for the flower fields, because they are larger in size, tourists are scattered around, so this issue is less prominent. However, the dust raised by the passing amusement park rides can really affect the viewing experience, but it depends on whether individuals mind it or not!