Blue Pond, the wonder of Biei

#VisitHokkaido

Shirogane Blue Pond, or the Blue Pond in Biei, is one of Hokkaido's most popular tourist attractions. Part of the reason for this is because its image was chosen as the Apple MacBook wallpaper, drawing countless visitors. The pond is beautiful in every season, and if the sun shines brightly and the water isn't cloudy, you're sure to get some stunning photos.

📌 Origin

This pond isn't a natural occurrence. It was created by a dam on the Biei River in 1988 to prevent lava flows from Mount Tokachi into Biei. There are several ponds created by this dam, but only this one boasts its stunningly clear turquoise water. This happens because the source of the pond's water flows from the Biei River, which meets with Shirohige Falls, also known as Whitebeard Falls, in Shirogane Onsen, which is rich in aluminum. This creates a colloid that reflects different shades of blue depending on the weather, giving it the name Blue Pond. This is due to the presence of heavy metals in the pond. Therefore, swimming is not permitted as it can be dangerous.

📌 Getting there

🚌 Bus: Dohoku Bus Route 39 (Shirogane Line) passes through. You can catch it at either JR Biei or Asahikawa Stations.

🚗 Car: If you're driving, there's a spacious parking lot in front, but there's a fee of approximately 500 yen.

From the parking lot, there are stairs leading up. Once you reach the pond, there's a walkway around the pond with a wooden fence. You can stroll along and take photos, offering many beautiful angles. In the center of the pond, you'll see a row of dry trees. I've heard that these are Japanese cedar trees and Silver Birch trees, which also grow around the pond, providing a lush, green shade. When you reach the end of the walkway, you'll see the dam that leads to the water's source.

Post by FoodTrip4Fun | Dec 29, 2023