Biei’s Blue Pond: Truly Emerald Blue

The Blue Pond in Biei is one of Hokkaido’s most popular attractions. It’s said to have gained worldwide fame after being featured as a Mac wallpaper, and on this day, too, many tourists had arrived by car or on bus tours. However, while the parking lot and souvenir shops were crowded, the area along the Biei Cycling Course was almost deserted, making for a very pleasant experience. Although the exact reason for its blue color hasn’t been fully explained, it has a different shade of blue than the Blue Pond in Aomori—this one is closer to emerald or turquoise. The withered larch trees further accentuate the ethereal atmosphere, and this blue hue is definitely worth seeing. Furthermore, the Biei Cycling Course leading up to this spot is absolutely fantastic, so I highly recommend visiting by electric bicycle or similar from Biei Station.

Shirokane Blue Pond