Shirogane Blue Pond starts illumination on 22 October

Shirogane Blue Pond in Biei, Japan, begins its 2026-2027 Blue Pond illumination on 22 October 2026. The winter programme, at the site known locally as Shirogane Blue Pond, is organised by Biei Town and runs until 21 April 2027.

The announcement gives travellers a new evening date for one of Hokkaido’s best-known waterside sights, while preserving access to the viewing area through the cold season.

Blue Pond illumination begins in Biei on 22 October

Biei Town’s official programme runs from 22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027. In October and November, the lights begin at 5pm and continue until 9pm, with later seasonal changes to the starting time as winter progresses.

The display uses several lighting patterns that form one sequence in about 15 minutes. The town says the programme changes after the pond freezes or snow covers the surface, adding more gradients and emphasising the shadows of the larch trees, snow and surrounding landscape. Biei Town’s illumination programme also warns that bad weather can lead to cancellation.

How the pond’s blue water shapes the display

The pond stands in Shirogane, Biei-cho, in Hokkaido’s Kamikawa district. Biei’s tourism association says the water looks blue because aluminium that has seeped into it scatters sunlight.

That natural effect gives the illumination a changing subject rather than a fixed architectural backdrop. Before snow covers the water, visitors can see the blue surface alongside the dead larch forest; after snowfall, the official programme shifts attention towards illuminated snow, silhouettes and layered light.

The attraction was formed accidentally during work intended to control mudslides. The town’s winter schedule therefore links a landscape created by civil engineering with a seasonal display that changes as the same landscape freezes and gathers snow. Biei’s visitor information records the site’s location, access and natural explanation.

Snow changes what visitors see at the pond

The programme is designed for the designated viewing places. Biei Town says areas outside those points are dangerous and specifically warns visitors not to enter the pond.

Snow cover also changes the visual subject. The official notice states that the blue water cannot be seen once winter snow has covered it, so an October or early November visit may present the pond differently from a later winter evening.

Visiting Shirogane Blue Pond: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Blue Pond illumination begins at Shirogane Blue Pond on 22 October 2026 and continues until 21 April 2027.
• The October and November display runs from 5pm until 9pm, while the starting time changes in later months; bad weather can cancel the programme.
• The pond is in Shirogane, Biei-cho, Hokkaido, and route buses serve it from JR Biei Station and JR Asahikawa Station.
• The site is open all year, and the tourism association lists access by car or route bus at about 20 minutes; its parking information lists space for 220 cars and 20 buses.
• Once snow covers the water, the blue surface is no longer visible, and visitors should remain at the designated viewing points.
• 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 Shirogane Blue Pond on social platforms

These links open searches for Shirogane Blue Pond on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Shirogane Blue Pond

When does the Blue Pond illumination take place at Shirogane Blue Pond?

The 2026-2027 programme begins on 22 October 2026 and ends on 21 April 2027. In October and November, the lights begin at 5pm and end at 9pm.

What is Shirogane Blue Pond?

It is a pond in Shirogane, Biei-cho, Hokkaido, whose aluminium-bearing water scatters sunlight and appears blue. It formed accidentally during mudslide-control work.

Where is Shirogane Blue Pond and how do you get there?

The pond is in Biei, Hokkaido, and route buses connect it with JR Biei Station and JR Asahikawa Station. The tourism association lists access by car or route bus at about 20 minutes.