Biei and Blue Pond without a car

You can visit Biei and the Blue Pond without a rental car by combining the JR line, a city bus and a half-day sightseeing bus. The plan works best in the main season and with a flexible schedule. If you travel with small children or elders, a taxi or private day removes the waiting.

How do you reach Biei without driving?

Biei is on the JR line between Asahikawa and Furano. From Sapporo, an express takes about 90 minutes with a transfer at Asahikawa, then a regular train takes about 32 minutes to Biei Station ¹. From Furano, a regular train takes about 36 minutes ¹.

By car it would be about 40 minutes from Asahikawa or Furano and about 2 hours 30 minutes from Sapporo ². For a wider look at the region, read Asahikawa, Furano and Biei and Furano and Biei by train, bus, car or taxi.

How do you get to the Blue Pond by bus?

The Dohoku Bus city bus runs every day between Asahikawa, Biei, Shirogane Blue Pond and Biei Shirogane Hot Spring. The stop in Biei is in front of the Asahikawa Bank on the main street ³.

A timetable revision for the Biei and Shirogane bus lines took effect on 1 October 2026, so check the current timetable on the day ⁴. Note the last bus back, and allow time at the pond without rushing.

Is there a sightseeing bus for the viewpoints?

Yes. The Biei View Bus is a half-day sightseeing bus run by the Biei Tourism Association and operated by Hikari Kotsu. It starts and ends at JR Biei Station depending on the season, and reservations go through the operator ⁵.

It suits travellers who want the hills in a guided order without driving. Book ahead in busy weeks. Details change by season, so confirm on the tourism association’s page.

How do you plan the day, step by step?

This sequence keeps a bus-based day calm.

1. Reach Biei Station in the morning by JR.
2. Book the View Bus, or check the Dohoku Bus timetable for the Blue Pond.
3. Eat lunch in town, since viewpoints are in open fields with few shops.
4. Visit the viewpoints that fit your group’s energy, not all of them.
5. Note the last bus or train, and leave a buffer before it.

When is a taxi or a private day easier?

A bus suits flexible travellers. A taxi or private guide suits travellers who:

• travel with young children or elders.
• have a tight connection to catch in Asahikawa or Furano.
• want to stop at photo spots for as long as they like.

The tourism association can confirm local taxi options. We can arrange a private day, and you can compare it with the bus in Hokkaido without assuming rail access.

What should Malaysian travellers prepare?

Hokkaido weather turns quickly, so bring layers and a rain jacket even in summer. Fields have little shade, so sun protection and water help. The Blue Pond and other viewpoints are outdoors, and wet paths are slippery.

Biei pairs well with Furano’s lavender fields in the flower season. See our Biei page and the wider Hokkaido guide for the full region.