Seven Stars Tree

A traveler passed this one along from Ishimura, who runs Kita Kouboh, the coffee roastery already on this map — he recommended it himself on a repeat visit. It’s a single Japanese oak (カシワ, kashiwa) standing alone on a hillside in Hokuei, part of Biei’s famous Patchwork Road farmland.

Why It’s Interesting

The tree became a household name in 1976, when it was chosen for the packaging of “Seven Stars” cigarettes, a Japan Tobacco brand — and the name stuck. At roughly 13 meters tall and sitting near 260 meters of elevation, it isn’t a giant by tree standards, but it’s completely alone on its hill, which is exactly what makes it photogenic: one tree, rolling patchwork fields of mixed crops in every direction, and nothing else competing for the frame.

Best Time to Visit

Year-round, though the surrounding fields change character with the seasons — green and gold in summer, autumn color, then snow-covered in winter. Open sunrise to sunset with free admission.

Getting There

There’s a free 28-space parking lot right at the tree. No direct public transit reaches it — a rental car or taxi from JR Biei Station (about 15 minutes) is the standard way in, and it pairs naturally with a Patchwork Road driving loop that also takes in the Ken and Mary Tree nearby.