biei

Biei (美瑛町, Biei-chō) is a town in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Located on the central Hokkaido plain, it is renowned for its rural landscape and scenic vistas, where vast fields stretch across gently rolling hills and are cultivated in shapes that appear as a patchwork from higher vantage points. The town lies to the north of Asahikawa and is part of the Furano-Biei region.

Agriculture is a central part of the local economy, with crops such as potatoes and dairy farming contributing to the town's employment and landscape management, while tourism has grown as visitors come to enjoy the scenery, photography opportunities, and seasonal colors.

Key attractions include the Blue Pond (Aoi-ike), famous for its vivid blue water, the Patchwork Road and Panorama Road that weave through farmsteads and hills, and Shirogane Waterfall and other nature sites near the town. The landscape has become a symbol of Hokkaido's rural beauty and is a frequent subject of travel photography.

The town is served by the Furano Line with Biei Station, and is connected by regional roads linking to Asahikawa and Furano. Biei's climate is classified as humid continental, with cold winters and warm summers that influence agricultural cycles and tourism patterns.