Hokusei-no-Oka is a useful first stop north of town, with a pyramid-shaped observation deck above Biei's famous Patchwork Road landscape. The view is simple but satisfying: rolling fields, shelterbelts, farm roads, and the Daisetsuzan mountains when the air is clear.
It is not a place to linger for hours, but it helps make sense of why Biei is loved. Bring a lens or binoculars if you care about details; otherwise, come for a quick orientation before driving or cycling the hills.