Panoramic Paradise of Seasonal Blossoms
October 8, 2019
Shikisaino-oka is a sprawling flower garden spread over fifteen hectares of beautiful hill area in Biei-Cho, Hokkaido.
FYI, the literal meaning of Shikisaino-oka (四季彩の丘) is “Hill of Four Seasons Coloring.” When in full bloom, one can see rolling hills carpeted by colorful flowers such as lavender, poppy, campanula, marigold, and celosia. In recent years, Shikisaino-oka is known as one of the most Instagrammable spots in Hokkaido and attracts many visitors both local and international.
Who created and maintains this magical flower garden?
You may have figured that these fabulous flower gardens are not pristine nature – and you’re right. A company called “With You Ltd.” in Biei has created the flower gardens as part of their tourism and hospitality business.
In fact, With You Ltd. is primarily focused on agribusiness. Every year, the company produces crops such as asparagus, maize, melon, potato, and etc., and the development of the flower gardens is a “spinoff” of their agribusiness. With You Ltd. seeks to strike a beautiful balance between its agribusiness and tourism business by showcasing its corporate mission and core values, such as “love of nature” and “significance of agriculture,” to all visitors to this beautiful gardens.
When is the best time to visit?
The “Green Season” runs from May to October, during which time as many as 50 different flowering plants are planted. Probably the very best season in Shikisaino-oka is in spring from July to mid-September when you can enjoy viewing 30 different flowers in full bloom at the same time. Some of the major ones are,
June: Poppy, Campanula
Jul-Aug: Lavender
Sep-Oct: Marigold, Celosia
How much does it cost to get in?
Yes! Animal lovers will fall in love with this…you can see, touch, and feed alpacas at the Alpaca Ranch. It costs 500 yen (4 USD) for adults, 300 yen (2.5 USD) for kids, and 100 (less than 1 USD) to feed alpacas.
Anything else?
Probably the easiest way is to rent a car at Asahikawa Airport and drive there, which takes about 20 mins. There are two train stations, but both of them are not quite within walking distance. You would also want to consider taking a bus tour that takes you here from Sapporo.
Access:
Probably the easiest way is to rent a car at Asahikawa Airport and drive there, which takes about 20 mins. There are two train stations, but both of them are not quite walking distances. You would also want to consider taking a bus tour that will take you from Sapporo to here.
Enjoy the Magical Garden in Biei!