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Hokkaido » Shiretoko, Abashiri, Kitami

Kaminokoike Pond

Kaminokoike Pond

Transparent fallen trees and blue pond bottom

Through the crystal clear water, the bottom of the pond, which is about 5 meters deep, appears blue, and fallen trees are submerged like fossils in the blue water without rotting.

The view of the vermilion-spotted oshorocoma swimming through the gaps between the fallen trees is a mystical sight.

The pond has a circumference of 220 meters, is crystal clear to the bottom, and with water temperatures as low as 8°C throughout the year, it does not freeze even in winter.

There is no river on the surface, but rather 12,000 tons of subterranean water per day that flows out into the river.

The bottom of the blue pond

The bottom of the pond, which is 5 meters deep, appears blue because of the synergistic effect of the high transparency of the water, the sunlight reaching the bottom of the pond due to the moderate depth of the water, and the white volcanic ash piled up on the bottom.

This emerald-blue pond has become known as a tourist attraction and power spot.

Origin of Kaminoko-no-Ike

Kaminoko-ike Pond is located on the northern side of the outer ring of mountains surrounding Lake Mashu, the clearest lake in Japan and the second clearest in the world after Lake Baikal.

In the Ainu language, Lake Mashu is called "Kintan Kamui To (Lake of the Mountain God)," meaning "Pond of the Son of God," because it was believed that the underground water of Lake Mashu was the source of the water.

A water quality survey revealed that the source of the water in Kami no Koike is not the main body of Lake Mashu, but the water source is the subsoil water from the rainfall on the outer rim of the lake.

Information

Name
Kaminokoike Pond
神の子池
Address
Aza Seisen, Kiyosato-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido
Access

20 minutes drive from Kiyosato-cho Midori Station (From downtown Kiyosato Town, take Hokkaido Road No. 1115 Mashu-ko Shari Line toward Nakashibetsu Town in the Nemuro District, about 25 km, and turn right at the sign for Kaminoko-ike. From there, take the forest road for about 2 km to reach Kaminoko-ike Pond. Kaminoko-ike Forest Road is closed to medium and large-sized vehicles, and until late May, the road is covered with snow and closed to vehicles, so it is necessary to walk the 4 km round trip from the main road. (Snow tours with snowshoes and other equipment are also available.)

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Transparent fallen trees and blue pond bottom

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