The nickname comes from the road’s alternating steep climbs and descents. Fields of flowers on both sides, and in the background the silhouette of Tokachi mountain: the landscape is laid out before you, let yourself be swept along.
Roller Coaster Road: adrenalin rush between Kamifurano and Biei
The Roller Coaster Road starts a few kilometres from JR Kamifurano station. On Highway 237, after a turn at the sign for Nishi 11-sen Noumen Noudo. It runs over 4.5 km in a straight line with steep climbs and descents.
What makes the road so popular? The lavender fields that line each side. Plus the view of Mount Tokachi in the distance and nearby Daisetsuzan Park. It’s especially sought-after during the lavender flowering season, usually late June to early August. At this time the purple of the lavender fields in bloom creates a very photogenic contrast with the blue of the sky, set against a background of snowy mountains.
The landscape is striking in winter too, when the region is covered with snow as far as the eye can see. Be careful driving. Better get used to steering on snowy roads before trying the intricacies of the Roller Coaster Road!
The route, known and appreciated for the panorama, grew even more popular after featuring in Yasashii Jikan (Affectionate Time), a drama by Satoshi Kuramoto (broadcast on Japanese TV in 2005).
Kamifurano, Biei and Furano: tourist hotspots in Hokkaido
The towns of Kamifurano, Biei and Furano, in the heart of the Hokkaido countryside, are favourites with both Japanese and foreign tourists. The climate of Hokkaido island favours lush vegetation and unusual vistas not found elsewhere in the archipelago.
The rolling hills and fields of the region are often compared with European agricultural landscapes, very popular with visitors for its “exotic” character.
Inspired by the French model of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”, an association for the protection of Japanese rural heritage was set up in 2005. The Most Beautiful Villages of Japan include over 60 villages, including Biei, with its flowered slopes against a mountainous backdrop.
Kamifurano is best known for the Roller Coaster Road and lavender fields, but there are other attractions such as a panoramic observatory. The town is also noted for its dairy products and cheeses (tastings all year round!).
Biei is a small village, ultra-touristic, which each year draws over a million visitors. Its main attractions: in summer, a patchwork of colourful fields; in winter, the blue pond and illuminations (Aoi-ike).
Furano, not far away, also offers beautiful countryside in the heart of the Furano-Ashibetsu Natural Park. In winter, the quality of its powdery snow attracts crowds of skiers from all over the world. At the end of July, the “Belly Button Festival” (Hokkai Heso Matsuri) sees festival-goers parading through the streets with comic faces painted on their chests.
See also: another of Hokkaido’s sweeping scenic landscapes, the Lovely Soya Hills near Wakkanai.
