Blue Pond

This mystical pond’s appearance changes depending on the season and the angle of light, and is a hidden sightseeing place

This is a prominent tourist spot in the forested hillside of the Biei area. Truly one of the most hidden scenic sites, entry to this area was restricted up until 2010.
Address
Shirogane, Biei, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido

About

A mystical pond which shines in blue

The town of Biei in Hokkaido where the Blue Pond is located is a place where you can feel the great outdoors of the prefecture through its rolling hills. Along with the Furano district, Biei is a popular area that is a member of The Association of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan. The town has many tourist spots such as magnificent Mt. Tokachi which have been blessed by nature and are very relaxing. The Blue Pond is one other such site. It is a body of water that was created from a dam which was built to protect Biei from the effects of an eruption from Mt. Tokachi. It started out as a man-made pond but water naturally filled the area. The reasons still haven’t been made perfectly clear, but sunlight striking the colloidal particles in the water is apparently responsible for the short-wavelength blue color of the pond. This blue surface along with the withered trees in the area produce a mystical atmosphere. It has therefore garnered a good amount of popularity in Japan due to media coverage, but also from its image being used as the wallpaper for the Apple operating system, it has also become known for its beautiful scenery throughout the world.

Enjoy the nature-filled Biei

Biei where the Blue Pond is located has a lot of nature spreading out. In the area surrounding the Blue Pond, there are also numerous tourist spots to view landscapes such as Shirohige-no-Taki (Whitebeard Falls) which flows into the Biei (Blue) River and Shikisai-no-Oka where you can enjoy flowers in every season. As well, the hot spring town of Shirogane Onsen is nearby where you can take part in high-quality onsen and enjoy the wonderful view of Mt. Tokachi and the Biei Hills. You can be sure that body and soul will be refreshed through the grand landscape of Biei. This is a tourist area which you can enjoy until you are satisfied through the power of magnificent Mother Nature.

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Reviews

7 years ago
Breathtaking
It truly is blue. Not only is the lake beautiful but so is the entire area. It is located in the middle of the forest surrounded by trees. You probably need to rent a car to get out there or take a tour but it is not a sight to be missed.
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