Blue Pond hosts winter light-up from 22 October 2026
Published on 11/14/2026 at 08:25 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSWinter illumination and visitor access
- Biei Town is running the light-up at Shirogane Blue Pond from 22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027.
- Snow changes the programme and hides the pond's blue water during winter.
- The erosion-control system was built in 1988 to protect Biei from mudflows from Mt. Tokachi.
- Japan National Tourism Organization places the pond on prefectural road 966 in Shirogane.
Blue Pond (Aoiike) in Biei, Japan, is hosting its 2026-2027 winter light-up from 22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027. The season is now under way, giving visitors a night-time view of the pond and its larch trees after the landscape changes with snow.
Blue Pond light-up runs through 21 April 2027
Biei Town is the organiser of the illumination. Its official programme sets the period from 22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027, with the display ending at 9pm each evening. The start time changes by month, including 5pm in November and 4.30pm in December. Bad weather can lead to cancellation, with notices issued by the town.
The display uses several lighting patterns to present one sequence in about 15 minutes. Once the surface freezes and snow has settled, the programme changes: stronger gradients add depth, while shadows from the larch trees become more distinct. The town also warns that snow prevents visitors from seeing the blue water during winter. The official light-up programme names the pond, the dates and the seasonal changes.
How the winter programme changes the pond experience
The winter event is tied to the way the site was formed. Japan National Tourism Organization says the pond was created in 1988 as part of an erosion-control system intended to protect Biei from mudflows from nearby Mt. Tokachi, an active volcano in Daisetsuzan National Park.
The water's colour is linked to natural minerals, including colloidal aluminium hydroxide, and its appearance can vary with the seasons and weather. In winter, the illumination shifts attention from the uncovered water to snow, ice and the standing trees. That makes the 2026-2027 programme a seasonal continuation of the place's industrial and volcanic history rather than a separate attraction. The Japan National Tourism Organization profile identifies the location, origin and access route.
Visiting Blue Pond: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Blue Pond light-up runs at the Shirogane pond from 22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027.
- Snow can hide the blue water, and the lighting programme changes after freezing and snowfall. Visitors must remain at the viewing area because the town warns that other areas are dangerous.
- The pond is in Shirogane, Biei, beside prefectural road 966. The Japan National Tourism Organization says buses serve the Shirogane Aoiike Iriguchi stop, while drivers can use the nearby car park and walk to the pond.
- The route connects central Biei with Tokachidake Onsen through Shirogane Onsen. The outdoor setting requires preparation for snow, ice and cold conditions.
- Japan's official language is Japanese 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 light-up take place?
The 2026-2027 light-up runs from 22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027 at the Shirogane pond in Biei.
What is Blue Pond?
It is a pond created in 1988 as part of an erosion-control system connected with protection from Mt. Tokachi mudflows.
Where is Blue Pond and how do you get there?
The pond is in Shirogane, Biei, on prefectural road 966. Buses serve the Shirogane Aoiike Iriguchi stop, and a nearby car park serves drivers.
