Blue Pond starts its illumination on 22 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 07:49 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Blue Pond (Shirogane Blue Pond) in Biei, Japan, begins its Blue Pond illumination on 22 October 2026. The winter programme runs until 21 April 2027, giving the site a different appearance after ice and snow cover the water.
The pond lies in the Shirogane area outside central Biei. Its blue colour comes from minerals in the water, while larch and silver birch trees stand in the pond.
Blue Pond illumination runs from 22 October 2026
Biei Town has scheduled the Blue Pond illumination from 22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027. In October and November, lighting starts at 5pm and continues until 9pm; the start time changes by month, reaching 6.30pm in April. Bad weather can lead to cancellation, with notices issued by the town.
The programme uses several lighting patterns, with one sequence taking about 15 minutes. Biei Town event information says the presentation changes after the surface freezes and snow settles. The extra gradations then add depth and shadows around the pond, larch trees and falling snow.
How the winter programme changes the pond
Blue Pond was created in 1988 as part of an erosion-control system designed to protect Biei from mudflows from nearby Mount Tokachi. The national tourism organisation describes the blue colour as the result of natural colloidal aluminium hydroxide and other impurities in the water.
This link between the place and the event matters in winter. Once snow covers the surface, visitors do not see the familiar blue water in the same way; the illumination instead works with the snow, trees and night sky. The Biei Tourism Association profile records the site as open all year and places it in Shirogane, Biei-cho, Hokkaido.
The pond is beside a road linking central Biei with Shirogane Onsen and the Tokachidake Onsen area. The adjacent car park has space for 220 cars and 20 buses, according to the tourism association.
Visiting Blue Pond: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Blue Pond illumination runs from 22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027. In October and November, the lights start at 5pm and end at 9pm.
- The winter display is at the pond in Shirogane, Biei. After freezing and snowfall, the blue water surface may not be visible, and visitors must remain at the designated viewpoints.
- Blue Pond is reached from Biei by the Dohoku Bus towards Shirogane Onsen, or by road 966. The car park is beside the road, with a short walk to the pond.
- The site is an outdoor pond in a cold, snowy setting. Areas outside the viewpoints are dangerous, and entering the pond is prohibited.
- Japanese is the official language and the national currency is the yen.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Blue Pond on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Blue Pond
When does the Blue Pond illumination take place?
It runs from 22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027. In October and November, lighting begins at 5pm and ends at 9pm.
Where is Blue Pond and how do you get there?
It is in Shirogane, Biei-cho, Hokkaido. Visitors can use the Dohoku Bus from Biei or travel by road 966.
What is Blue Pond?
It is a pond created in 1988 as part of an erosion-control system near Mount Tokachi. Minerals in the water give it its blue colour.
