Today, I will introduce two beautiful ponds.
Mishakaike
The first is Mishakaike, a picturesque reservoir located in the mountains of Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, at an elevation of 1,500 meters. The calm surface of the water reflects the surrounding mountains, creating a fantastical scene. Its appearance has inspired many, and it is also known for being the motif of the famous painting “Green Resonance” by renowned Japanese artist Kaii Higashiyama. It gained further fame from being featured in a Sharp AQUOS TV commercial in Japan. I visited after seeing the commercial, but it wasn’t as impressive as it appeared in the ad, which was a bit disappointing.
The surrounding larch forest changes dramatically with the seasons. In spring, it is adorned with fresh green leaves; in summer, it turns a deep green; in autumn, it is covered in golden foliage; and in winter, it is blanketed with pure white snow and ice. The pond quietly reflects the scenery of each season, offering a hidden charm with its ever-changing face. Even on the same day, it can look completely different depending on the time, though it’s not a place where you would stay for a long time.
Monet’s Water Lily Pond
The second pondis the clear “Unnamed Pond” (commonly known as Monet’s Water Lily Pond) at the Nemichi Shrine in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. It is famous for its stunning, painting-like beauty that seems almost unreal. It is named “Monet’s Water Lily Pond” because it resembles Claude Monet’s series of paintings, “Water Lilies.” The water lilies blooming in the highly transparent spring water are very beautiful, and the elegant koi swimming in the pond resemble Monet’s iconic work. Although it was indeed pretty, it was relatively small, and there wasn’t much else around, which was a bit disappointing. However, since both ponds are free to visit, it wasn’t too much of a letdown.
Blue Pond
Finally, let’s talk about “Aoi Ike” (Blue Pond) in Biei Town, Hokkaido. The Blue Pond is an artificial pond created by the accumulation of water in one of the embankments built along the Biei River to prevent volcanic mudflow disasters from the eruption of Tokachidake in 1988.
True to its name, the pond’s surface gleams with a clear cobalt blue, making it a popular tourist spot known as the “Blue Pond.” Its global fame grew after it was featured as the wallpaper for Apple’s Mac OS X in 2012. The stunning blue color, along with the larch and birch trees submerged and standing dead in the water, creates an even more mystical atmosphere.
Why does the Blue Pond appear blue?
The secret to the pond’s blue color lies in the sunlight and the water’s composition. The surrounding areas, such as “Biei Shirogane Onsen” and “Shirahige Falls,” have water containing aluminum, sulfur, and lime components. When this water mixes with the water of the Biei River (commonly known as the Blue River), it generates “colloids,” which are extremely fine particles invisible to the naked eye. The sunlight that shines on these particles scatters, creating the pond’s mysterious blue hue.
Additionally, the sulfur and lime components dye the bottom of the pond white, which enhances the blue color of the water surface. This mystical color is commonly referred to as “Biei Blue,” and it attracts tourists from both Japan and abroad. If you visit Hokkaido, be sure to check it out.