The other side of Biei - or how to hike up a volcano in 2 hours
The other side of Biei - or how to hike up a volcano in 2 hours.
 The very aptly named \"blue pond\"
Today I decided to make a bit of a detour on my way to Sapporo to go and visit a couple of places I had been recommended.
I first headed to the “Blue pond” (Aoi Ike), 15 minutes outside of Biei on the road to Shirogane Onsen. The place was absolutely breathtaking, I had never seen water of this colour before. It’s apparently due to minerals in the water. It was such a harmonious place - I staid there for half an hour, just looking at the still water and the reflection of the trees in it.
 This is the water's true colour - I swear
I then continued towards Tokachidake, a volcano not far away. A very active volcano in fact - 80 years ago it destroyed a neighbouring town when it erupted. Along the way I stopped at a viewing point where you can actually walk on the lava from the last eruption. It’s amazing to things that hundreds of years of tress were destroyed not so long ago, and even more amazing to be walking on the debris.
 View of Takachidake and the last eruption, 80 years ago. I'm actually standing on it as well.
 Amazing views of Hokkaido from the view point
 view of Takachidake from the start of the hike
 View near the top
After that I drove straight to Sapporo, only stopping once in the 3 hour journey to have a little walk at Sandantaki waterfall.
 Sandantaki waterfall
| 
