Blue Pond is a man-made pond that can be found in the scenic province of Biei, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the result of works on the Biei River carried out after the 1988 eruption of Mount Tokachi, to protect and prevent the destructive effect of volcanic mudflow on the town of Biei.

The Blue Lake is just one of a number of ponds that were artificially born as a by-product of the dam construction. The amazing blue color of the pond is thought to result from the accidental presence of colloidal aluminum hydroxide in the water. This means absolutely no swimming, but you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the pond.

The pond displays various hues of blue depending on the season and the weather. Even a slight breeze will change the pond’s appearance. When there is no wind at all, the pond looks as if it were an enormous mirror laid out on the ground. In the winter you can get some beautiful photos of the pond in the snow. And on a nice sunny day, the blue sky is reflected stunningly in the Blue Pond waters.

This area wasn’t known for a long time, however, in the 2000s it spread through word of mouth from photographers. In 2010, the information spread on to the general public. It became a major tourist destination due to Facebook and other social networking sites in recent years and for being used as one of Apple’s wallpapers. Now, the blueish-white surface and withered white birch forest—this natural breathtakingly majestic sight is considered to be one of the popular tourism sites in Hokkaido, Japan.

There is parking space at the Blue Pond, however, bear in mind that the site itself is in the middle of a natural setting without shops, restaurants, and restrooms.

During the holidays there are major traffic jams in the parking area. We recommend you visit early in the morning.

Want to go here?

Take a bus tour from Sapporo, a bus or taxi from nearby communities, or drive.

Bus tours go from Sapporo Station and are easily arranged through tour companies. In summer, the Biei View Bus and Round Trip Bus depart from Biei and Furano stations. From Biei, you can also catch the Dohoku Bus bound for Shirogane Hot Spring. Sightseeing taxis are available.

There are buses that go to Biei Station, Shirogane Onsen stop and Shirogane Aoiike Iriguchi bus stop along the way. It takes about 20 minutes to get there. There are only five round trips per day, though, so make sure you get to the bus stop early.

Driving: Blue Pond is located along with prefectural road number 966, which connects central Biei to the Tokachidake Onsen via Shirogane Onsen. There is a free parking lot next to the road, and the pond is about a 10-minute walk away.

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