Catch a train to Biei

Hokkaido in winter is a place full of charm; snow powder, a cold weather and a magnificent nature.

Today I will take you to a city of Biei, a small town located in the Kamikawa area of Hokkaido known for it pictorial landscape of gently rolling hills and vast fields. The city is about two and a half hours away from our stay, Khaosan Sapporo. To get there, we ride JR subway train from Sapporo station to Asahikawa station and take a local train (Asahikawa – Biei line) to Biei Station.

Riding train is one of my favorite parts in this trip, especially local train. Traveling by train may consume a lot of time, causing many people to become tired and sleepy but it must be said that this habit may not happen when you are on the route to Biei.

As when looking out through the window, you can’t help but be engrossed by a view of little houses and fields covered with white snow fluff like in a page from photobook. This can be a time for you to stay with yourself, daydream, and relax. You may not even notice that time passed by so fast that you already arrived at your destination.

We started our trip at Biei station, the city’ hub for transportation. Buses are available here that will drop you at the best sightseeing spots all over Biei and to our main destination of today, Shirahige Waterfall. While waiting, don’t miss to make a wish at ‘Heart tree’ where wishes come true, it a huge Christmas-tree like standing alone near the station.

It took us 24 minutes to the waterfall. Shirahige waterfall is the 5 most beautiful waterfall in Hokkaido. It stands more than 30 meters tall so you can only view it from the top of the bridge. Its name ‘Shirahige’ means white beards in Japanese was earned for the reason that the water falling down the gaps between the rocks creates white strips that look like white beard. You will be attracted by a cobalt blue of the water also. It was so fantastic to take an eye off - You can’t miss it.

Although this entry is quite long, I hope you can feel my experiences and enjoy it.