Blue Pond (Aoiike)

The Blue Pond (‚¢’r, Aoiike) outside the hot spring town of Shirogane Onsen is named after its deep blue color which it owes to natural minerals dissolved in the water. Not promoted as a tourist spot until recent years, the pond is part of an erosion control system to prevent damage to Biei in case of an eruption by nearby Mount Tokachidake.
Besides a parking lot, the pond has not seen much touristic development. It takes visitors 5-10 minutes to walk through the forest to the pond. Around the pond there is not much to do other than to enjoy the scenery, which also includes some concrete structures of the erosion control system. The pond gets lit up on winter evenings from November to April until 9pm.

Getting there and around
The Blue Pond is located along prefectural road number 966, which connects central Biei with Tokachidake Onsen via Shirogane Onsen. A parking lot (500 yen per car) is located next to the road from where the pond can be reached in a 5-10 minute walk.
Buses between Biei Station and Shirogane Onsen stop at Shirogane Aoiike Iriguchi (”’‹à‚¢’r“üŒû) bus stop along the way. The one way ride from Biei Station to the pond takes 20 minutes and costs 550 yen one way. There are buses only every 2-3 hours. In summer, the blue pond gets visited also by some sightseeing buses.
How to get to and around Furano

Hours and Fees
Hours
Closed
Admission
Questions? Ask in our forum.
Hotels around Furano
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Hotel Hanafuji InnSituated in Furano, 7.9 km from Furano Station, Hotel Hanafuji Inn features accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant. The 2-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free WiFi. The property is non-smoking and is located 11 km from Kusawakebosai Center. At the hotel, the rooms come with a desk. Hotel Hanafuji Inn provides some rooms with mountain views, and the rooms include a kettle. All rooms in the accommodation are fitted with a flat-screen TV and free toiletries. Guests at Hotel Hanafuji Inn will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like skiing. Windy Garden is 12 km from the hotel, while Chomin Center is 27 km from the property. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 33 km from Hotel Hanafuji Inn.View on Booking.com
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Winery Hotel and Condominium HITOHANALocated in Furano, 2.8 km from Furano Station, Winery Hotel and Condominium HITOHANA provides accommodation with free bikes, free private parking, a shared lounge and a restaurant. 4.1 km from Windy Garden and 20 km from Kusawakebosai Center, the hotel features ski-to-door access. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service and free WiFi throughout the property. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. Each room includes a shared bathroom equipped with a shower and free toiletries, while selected rooms are fitted with a kitchen fitted with a microwave. At Winery Hotel and Condominium HITOHANA every room is equipped with bed linen and towels. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Guests at Winery Hotel and Condominium HITOHANA will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like skiing. Chomin Center is 35 km from the hotel, while Furano City Office is 2 km away. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 42 km from Winery Hotel and Condominium HITOHANA.View on Booking.com
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Cottage Morino NakamatachiSet in Furano in the Hokkaido region, Cottage Morino Nakamatachi offers accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking. Every unit features a private bathroom and shower, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a fridge. A microwave, a stovetop and toaster are also featured, as well as a kettle. Guests can relax in the garden at the property. Furano Station is 3.1 km from the lodge, while Windy Garden is 3.6 km away. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 43 km from Cottage Morino Nakamatachi.View on Booking.com
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La Vista Furano Hills Natural Hot SpringSituated in Furano, 600 metres from Furano Station, La Vista Furano Hills Natural Hot Spring features accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking and a restaurant. The 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free WiFi. The hotel offers a sauna and a 24-hour front desk. All rooms in the hotel are equipped with a kettle. The shared bathroom is fitted with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. At La Vista Furano Hills Natural Hot Spring, the rooms come with a flat-screen TV and a safety deposit box. At the accommodation guests are welcome to take advantage of a hot spring bath. Windy Garden is 5.6 km from La Vista Furano Hills Natural Hot Spring, while Kusawakebosai Center is 18 km from the property. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 40 km from the hotel.View on Booking.com
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Guest House EBISANFeaturing 1-star accommodation, Guest House EBISAN is set in Furano, 21 km from Furano Station and 22 km from Windy Garden. This guest house offers free private parking, a concierge service and free WiFi. The accommodation provides bicycle parking and a shared lounge for guests. At the guest house, the units are fitted with a tatami. The units feature a shared bathroom, slippers and bed linen. Guests at the guest house will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like skiing, cycling and hiking. Kusawakebosai Center is 39 km from Guest House EBISAN, while Furano City Office is 21 km away. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 61 km from the accommodation.View on Booking.com
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CHALET BURLAP FURANUILocated in Furano, 2.8 km from Furano Station, CHALET BURLAP FURANUI provides accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking, a restaurant and ski-to-door access. This 3-star hotel offers a ski pass sales point and free shuttle service. Providing free WiFi throughout the property, the non-smoking hotel features a sauna. At the hotel, all rooms have a wardrobe. Complete with a private bathroom equipped with a shower and free toiletries, all units at CHALET BURLAP FURANUI have a TV and air conditioning, and some rooms here will provide you with a terrace. At the accommodation every room comes with bed linen and towels. Guests at CHALET BURLAP FURANUI can enjoy an Asian or a vegetarian breakfast. The hotel offers a hot spring bath. Guests at CHALET BURLAP FURANUI will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like skiing. Windy Garden is 3.8 km from the accommodation, while Kusawakebosai Center is 20 km away. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 42 km from CHALET BURLAP FURANUI.View on Booking.com
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Pension LavenderA 10-minute taxi ride from JR Furano Train Station, the completely non-smoking Pension Lavender offers a homely lounge with a wood-burning stove and a large flat-screen TV. The heated rooms have free Wi-Fi. The simply furnished, Western-style rooms at Lavender Pension have a lamp and a nightstand. Matching floral patterns decorate the beds and curtains. Some rooms have a private bathroom. The pension is 4 km from Furano Ski Resort and a 25-minute drive from Farm Tomita. Asahigaoka Park is 1.7 km away. On-site parking is free. Free tea and instant coffee are provided at the lounge, and the terrace offers mountain views. You can enjoy a DVD or use the free Wi-Fi, and slippers are provided. Luggage storage and safe deposit are available at the front desk. A Western breakfast set is served at the dining room, which has tall windows and potted plants.View on Booking.com
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Jstyle STAY FuranoJstyle STAY Furano, a property with a garden, is located in Furano, 3.6 km from Windy Garden, 19 km from Kusawakebosai Center, as well as 35 km from Chomin Center. The 2-star holiday home features mountain views and is 2.4 km from Furano Station. The holiday home provides rooms with air conditioning, free private parking and free WiFi. Each unit is equipped with a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, and a private bathroom with bidet and slippers. A microwave, a toaster and fridge are also provided, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle. At the holiday home, all units come with bed linen and towels. Skiing is possible within the area and the holiday home offers ski storage space. Furano City Office is 1.5 km from Jstyle STAY Furano, while Furano Golf Course is 13 km away. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 42 km from the accommodation.View on Booking.com
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Hotel Munin FuranoSituated in Furano, 2.8 km from Furano Station, Hotel Munin Furano features accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace. Featuring a restaurant, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. The property is non-smoking and is located 3.8 km from Windy Garden. At the hotel, rooms are fitted with a desk. The rooms in Hotel Munin Furano are fitted with a flat-screen TV and a hairdryer. Guests at the accommodation will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like skiing. Kusawakebosai Center is 20 km from Hotel Munin Furano, while Chomin Center is 35 km from the property. The nearest airport is Asahikawa Airport, 42 km from the hotel.View on Booking.com
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Fenix FuranoLocated in Furano, Fenix Furano provides 4-star accommodation with private balconies. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and a lift, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The aparthotel features family rooms. The units at the aparthotel come with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a safety deposit box and a private bathroom with a bidet, slippers and a hair dryer. All units come with a coffee machine, while selected rooms are fitted with a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, an oven and a microwave. At the aparthotel, units are fitted with bed linen and towels. An Asian breakfast is available daily at the aparthotel. Guests at Fenix Furano will be able to enjoy activities in and around Furano, like hiking. Skiing and cycling can be enjoyed nearby, while a ski equipment rental service, ski-to-door access and a ski pass sales point are also available on-site. Furano Station is 3 km from the accommodation, while Windy Garden is 4 km away. The nearest airport is Asahikawa, 42 km from Fenix Furano, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.View on Booking.com
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