Visiting the Biei Blue Pond Winter Illumination
Last Updated on March 10, 2026 by Charlotte
If you’re planning a winter trip to Hokkaido, chances are that you’ve heard of the Shirogane Blue Pond (known as Aoiike by locals) with its impossibly blue water and ghostly birch trees. In summer, the Biei Blue Pond is one of the most photographed spots in all of Japan. But in winter, the landscape transforms into something else entirely, and each year the Biei Blue Pond winter illumination lights up the snowy forest after dark, washing the frozen landscape and surrounding trees in shifting shades of blue, purple, and white.
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Our Visit to Biei’s Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike)
Naturally, Travel Buddy was extremely excited to see the Blue Pond. But, I should pause here to explain something important about visiting the Biei Blue Pond in winter: the pond freezes over completely, and in February, the ice is usually covered with a fine dusting of snow.
Before we even left town, I mentioned to Travel Buddy that the Biei Blue Pond freezes in winter. On the bus ride from Biei, I mentioned it again. At the visitor center, I stopped to chat with the woman behind the counter about the illumination schedule while Travel Buddy, directly behind me, was giving a rack of magnets his full and undivided attention.
Which is how we ended up walking toward the pond at night with two very different sets of expectations, and only one of us was aware of the laws of thermodynamics.
Walking to the Biei Blue Pond in a Blizzard
The bus dropped us near the trailhead for a fifteen-minute walk through the forest and parking lot. “Snowing” is too gentle a word for what was happening — it was blizzarding, the wind whipping my hair, driving sheets of powder sideways through the trees, coating the my pom pom hat with a thin layer of ice.
We arrived twenty minutes before the illumination, which sounds fine until you remember that we had — in a moment of stunning optimism — changed out of our snowpants after snowshoeing the Biei Blue River earlier that day. This was, in retrospect, one of the worst decisions either of us made in Japan. Standing motionless in sub-zero temperatures with no shelter, no warming hut, and apparently no functioning survival instincts, our toes began to lose feeling, and my face hurt.
When we reached the edge of the pond, Travel Buddy stopped abruptly. He stared out across the landscape with the focused intensity of a man whose entire worldview was being quietly crushed.
“CHAR.”
A pause.
“THE POND IS FROZEN.”
And yes, it was more than frozen. Frozen solid, buried under a foot of snow, an expanse of unbroken white stretching from one treeline to the other. Less “Blue Pond,” more “large snowy field with excellent branding.” You could have held a regional hockey tournament out there, and no one would have blinked.
After finding a spot to save on the edge of the pond, we dropped into squats, push-ups, jumping jacks, and running in place, all in a desperate effort to stay warm.
What had started as a survival instinct somehow evolved into something resembling a Zumba class, performed before a frozen pond, while other visitors hurried past us, actively avoiding eye contact. Travel Buddy, completely unbothered, called after them: “Never skip a workout, even on vacation.”
Then the lights turned on.
Watching the Biei Blue Pond Winter Illumination
Even with the water completely hidden beneath snow and ice, the illumination is still unexpectedly beautiful. Colored lights sweep across the snow-covered surface and climb the bare trunks of the trees, painting them in blue and violet and white, and the surrounding forest glows softly as the snow keeps falling, like stepping into a snow globe.
It’s worth mentioning that if you visit in November, you might catch the pond at its most visually dramatic. In the earlier weeks of the winter season, before the water surface fully freezes, you can still see the water, with the trees dusted in fresh snow rather than buried under it.
On the walk back to the bus stop, we discovered we were not alone in our suffering from the cold. At the bus stop, a group of Japanese travelers was hopping up and down, doing jumping jacks in the snow to stay warm. Without a word, we joined them… well, one word. “SAMUIIIIII,” someone cried out.
A small international assembly of people who had all, independently, made the no snowpants decision, united by the cold and the universal human instinct to keep moving until the bus arrives. I think this is what they mean by cultural exchange.
How to See the Biei Blue Pond Winter Illumination
Ready to see it for yourself? Here’s the practical guide to visiting the Biei Blue Pond winter illumination, from getting there to what to wear.
Biei Blue Pond Illumination Times (By Month)
The illumination runs from late October through late April, with start times shifting throughout the season. All times run until 9:00 PM. Based on the official Biei Tourism Association schedule for the current season (October 24, 2025–April 22, 2026):
| Month | Lights On | Lights Off |
|---|---|---|
| October & November | 5:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| December | 4:30 PM | 9:00 PM |
| January | 5:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| February | 5:30 PM | 9:00 PM |
| March | 6:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| April | 6:30 PM | 9:00 PM |
**NOTE: ( Over New Year’s (December 31–January 3), the illumination is extended until 2:00 AM. Always check the Biei Tourism Association website before your visit, as the event can be cancelled in severe weather.
How to Get There: Bus, Tour, and Shuttle Options
Despite being known as the “Biei” Blue Pond, the pond is actually located about 30 minutes outside of Biei town itself, in a rural area near Shirogane Onsen. Getting there takes some planning, and there is no reliable taxi service at the Blue Pond.
Here are a few ways you can get there:
By Dohoku Bus
From JR Biei Station, take the Dohoku Bus toward Shirogane Onsen. The ride is about 20–25 minutes, followed by a 10–15 minute walk through the forest.
Also, pay close attention to the return bus schedule. There are only ten Dohoku buses per day, coming once hourly.
Depending on the time of year, the last bus back toward Biei may leave before the illumination even begins, which means it is genuinely possible to wait for the lights, watch the whole show, and then realize you have no way back to town! Please check the timetable carefully before you go.
Travel tip
The Dohoku Bus does NOT accept Suica or IC cards. You can pay with cash, or use tap-on tap-off with a credit card.
By Tour Bus from Biei
On Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays from mid-November through mid-February, a guided winter illumination bus tour departs from the Biei Tourist Information Center (one minute from JR Biei Station). The tour covers both the Blue Pond and Shirahige Waterfall and costs 3,600 yen for adults and 1,800 yen for children ages 6–12.
You can book in advance online or directly at the visitor center, and this is the most stress-free option if you’re not renting a car. We tried to get on this tour, but sadly, it was already booked out the day of our visit.
By Hotel Shuttle
If you’re staying overnight in Shirogane Onsen, several hotels offer a free shuttle to the illumination. Participating accommodations include 碧の美, ゆゆ, 森の雫, RIN, and Hotel Park Hills. Check with your accommodation directly for shuttle details and timing.
By Group Tour from Sapporo
The Blue Pond is a popular stop on many full-day group tours that depart from Sapporo. This can be a great option for you if you are limited on time and don’t want to spend a few days in Biei.
Facilities and Accessibility at the Blue Pond
To get up to the edge of the blue pond, you have to be able to walk up a short but steep and icy hill, or some very steep and icy stairs. Once at the edge of the pond, we saw no benches either. Thus, this activity could be difficult for those with limited mobility. I would also bring ice spikes if you feel less sure of your footing on ice and snow. The walk to the edge of the pond is also VERY DARK, and we needed to use the flashlights on our phones.
In the parking lot, there are toilets available, and the inside of the restrooms is heated in winter and can be used as a warming hut if you get really desperate.
While you might see that there is a cafe and a gift shop on site, this spot has limited hours of operation (and closes at 4 pm), so it is not open during the nighttime illumination.
What to Wear and Pack
If I were to visit again in the peak of winter, this is what I would do differently in terms of packing and clothing:
- Hand warmers: Tuck them into your gloves, your pockets, your boots — I don’t care, just bring them! The walk to the pond is short, but the wait is not, and stationary cold is a completely different animal than moving cold.
- Jacket with a hood: A windproof outer layer with a hood you can actually cinch down makes a huge difference on the walk through the forest. The trees block some of the wind but not all of it, and a hood buys you a lot more comfort than a hat alone when it’s really blowing.
- Snowpants: Wear them. Do not take them off after snowshoeing because you think you’re done being outside for the day. You are not done being outside for the day. This is the single piece of advice I will go to my grave standing behind.
- Scarf: One that covers your face, ideally. The walk through the forest can be cold and windy.
- Mittens: Not gloves, mittens! Your fingers need to be together, pooling their warmth.
- Two pairs of socks: One wool, one anything. Your feet will thank you at the bus stop when you are doing jumping jacks with strangers and need all the morale you can get.
- Portable charger: It was so cold that both of our cellphones lost all charge, and we almost got stranded at the blue pond with no access to the internet.
Is the Biei Blue Pond Worth Visiting?
In summer, the Blue Pond is famous for its extraordinary blue water. In autumn, the foliage reflects in its surface in golds and reds. In winter, it becomes something completely different: quieter, stranger, more surreal. The illumination transforms it into a scene that doesn’t look quite real, and if you time your visit for November, you might catch that brief window when the water is still liquid, and the trees are draped in fresh snow.
The Biei Blue Pond winter illumination typically runs from late October through late April. For the most current illumination schedule and weather cancellation notices, check the Biei Tourism Association website.
Ready to Plan Your Trip to Hokkaido?
We loved exploring Biei, especially the stunning (and close by) Shirahige Waterfall, and exploring Shirogane’s white birch forest and blue river on a snowshoeing tour. If you’re visiting Hokkaido in winter, be sure to check out my winter skiing guide comparing Niseko vs Furano to help you choose the best resort for your trip. Hokkaido is one of my most favorite places on earth, and I am so excited to share more adventures with you, so keep checking back 😀
