Shirogane Blue Pond began as an erosion-control work after volcanic mudflow concerns around Mount Tokachi, but it has become Biei's signature image. Minerals from the nearby waterfall and river give the water a blue that shifts with weather and season, from milky turquoise to a deeper cobalt.
It is a short stop rather than a wilderness hike, and it can be busy. Still, the pale trunks rising from the water are strange and beautiful enough to justify the detour, especially early or in winter when snow quiets the scene.