Collines de Biei

**Optimal season:** Late June to mid-July is peak green — fields are lush, potato flowers bloom purple/white, and wheat is still green. Late September is golden harvest season — wheat fields turn amber, contrasting with dark plowed soil. Winter (December-February) offers snow-covered fields with minimalist beauty but requires car rental (no cycling). **Photography locations:** Panorama Road (パノラマロード, north side) and Patchwork Road (パッチワークの路, south side) are the two main routes. Panorama Road features 'Mild Seven Hill' (たばこの木, tobacco tree) and expansive valley views. Patchwork Road has 'Ken and Mary Tree' and rolling patchwork fields. Budget 2-3 hours for cycling both routes (20km combined). Sunrise (5:00-6:00 summer) offers side-lighting that emphasizes hill contours. **Cycling vs. driving:** Electric bikes allow stopping anywhere for photos without parking concerns. Rent from Matsuuraya (station area, English maps provided, ¥1,500/day for e-bike). Driving covers more ground but parking at viewpoints is limited. Walking is possible for shorter sections (5-10km). **Blue Pond side trip:** Blue Pond (青い池, Aoiike, 20-min drive from Biei) is a man-made pond with surreal blue water from natural aluminum hydroxide. Most photogenic in morning light (7:00-9:00) with trees reflected in calm water. The blue is vivid May-July; less intense in winter (though snow-covered trees add different beauty).