Biei Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls: Winter illuminations and parking

Shirogane Blue Pond (白金青い池) and Shirahige Falls (白ひげの滝) in Biei can be included in one Shirogane (白金) sightseeing area, but the focus of each visit differs. For the pond, consider its water colour and the season, including an illumination schedule announced for a specific winter. Shirahige Falls has year-round illumination arrangements. Based on official notices from the Biei Tourism Association (checked 2026-10-28), this article gives parking fees and illumination details. It does not estimate transport services or actual driving times between attractions. For travel between areas, see the Hokkaido travel overview and Furano and Biei travel guide.

Key points

• The Blue Pond is not necessarily blue all year. Official information warns that after heavy rain or spring snowmelt, its water may not appear blue.
• From 1 July 2026, the parking charge for an ordinary small car at the Blue Pond is 1,000 yen per vehicle per visit.
• The announced Blue Pond illumination period is 22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027, applying to that particular season.
• During that season, the Blue Pond’s December illumination hours are 16:30 to 21:00. Do not apply them directly to other months.
• Official information describes Shirahige Falls as illuminated year-round, generally from sunset to 21:00.

Daytime scenery and changes in the Blue Pond’s colour

Official information checked 2026-10-28. The Blue Pond takes its name from the water’s distinctive colour, but that colour does not appear on every date. The Biei Tourism Association specifically warns that after heavy rain or spring snowmelt, changes in the water may prevent it from looking blue.

Condition to consider	What the official information confirms	How it affects planning
Daytime sightseeing	The colour of Shirogane Blue Pond	Treat it as a natural feature, not an exhibit with a fixed colour
After heavy rain	Water may not be blue	Do not regard the colour shown in photos as guaranteed
After spring snowmelt	Blue colour may also be absent	Allow for changes in the landscape during spring visits
Other weather and water conditions	These facts do not establish the colour on every date	Check the latest official conditions before departure

Looking at the water colour in daylight and visiting for winter illuminations are different ways of seeing the pond. Even if illuminations are confirmed, you are not guaranteed to see the familiar blue water in photographs on the day of your visit. These differences arise from natural conditions, not from a particular photo.

Comparing winter illuminations in 2026 and 2027

The Biei Tourism Association announced an illumination schedule spanning two calendar years. The following table includes only the confirmed times usable in this article. In particular, the Blue Pond’s December hours must not be treated as the whole winter schedule.

Attraction or item	Confirmed time	How to use it when planning
Blue Pond illumination period	22 October 2026 to 21 April 2027	Check whether your travel date falls within the event period
Blue Pond illuminations in December	16:30 to 21:00 (2026–27 season)	Applies to December in that season, not as fixed hours all year
Shirahige Falls illuminations	Officially described as year-round	Distinguish from the Blue Pond’s announced seasonal event
Daily illumination of Shirahige Falls	Sunset to 21:00	Start time varies with sunset and cannot be specified as a fixed clock time

The pond’s event follows a yearly announcement; the falls are described as illuminated year-round. To visit both on one day, first check whether that date falls within the pond’s event period and then verify actual roads and transport. Do not assume identical schedules just because both attractions are described as illuminated.

How is parking at the Blue Pond charged?

The change to the Blue Pond parking fee has an explicit effective date. It is a parking charge, not an entrance ticket, and does not establish the fees at other attractions.

Item	Official information	Scope
Effective date	1 July 2026	Parking charge change effective from this date
Vehicle category	Ordinary small cars	Cannot be applied to other vehicle categories
Charge	1,000 yen per vehicle per visit	Calculated per vehicle and visit
Other transport costs	Cannot be inferred from this parking charge	Excludes rental, fuel and other charges

When planning a driving route, make the Blue Pond car park a separate budget item and check the parking rules for the day. If using public transport, refer instead to the Furano and Biei transport guide and do not apply a car parking charge to bus passengers.

How to choose according to season and transport

What you want to see	Information to check first	What not to assume
Daytime Blue Pond colour	Recent rain, snowmelt and official conditions	The water will always be blue
Winter illuminations at the pond	Event dates and hours for the relevant month	December’s hours apply throughout the year
Shirahige Falls at night	Sunset time and the announced 21:00 end time	Illumination begins at the same clock time every day
Driving to Blue Pond	Parking fees for small cars after the effective date and road conditions	Parking is the whole cost of travel

For a longer route combining the Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls and other places around Furano, see the Asahikawa–Biei–Furano driving route. This is an editorial sequence of stops, not an officially guaranteed total travel time.

Notes

The illumination dates and December hours in this article apply to specific years. Fares, events and road arrangements may change. Check the Biei Tourism Association’s official announcements again before leaving, particularly to avoid using last season’s Blue Pond illumination dates for a new season.

Further reading

• Furano and Biei attractions overview
• Furano and Biei transport guide
• Asahikawa–Biei–Shirogane–Furano driving route
• Hokkaido winter scenery guide