By Alex
A mysterious pool known as "Ikenotaira," said to appear only once every seven years, was discovered by hikers. Japanese traveler @kaidanmeguri geared up immediately upon hearing the news, fearing this long-awaited, mystical, and dreamlike pool might vanish without a trace in just a few days.
Last week, I received information that the legendary phantom "Ikenotaira," which appears only for a few days once every seven years in the mountains of Hamana, Shizuoka, had emerged. I went to see it and was able to witness the pool I’ve long dreamed of under the best conditions—so moving I could hardly contain my emotions. It’s said to have disappeared now, but I’d also like to share some information about it. pic.twitter.com/cw7ABN1p2v
— Stage Hiking Twitter (@kaidanmeguri) July 26, 2020
From photos shared by kaidanmeguri, we can see that "Ikenotaira," nestled within a man-made forest, is surrounded by densely packed cedar trees. The water is mirror-flat and crystal clear. Sunbeams filtering through the treetops create a "divine light," making it look exactly like the Forest Spirit’s woodland in *Princess Mononoke* !
▲ Legend says "Ikenotaira" appears only once every 7 years. (photo by kaidanmeguri @Twitter)
▲ The newer pool has more ferns, giving it a more natural forest feel. (photo by kaidanmeguri @Twitter)
kaidanmeguri also mentioned that "Ikenotaira" is divided into the "original pool" and the "new pool." The original pool has existed for a longer time, covers a larger area, and is deeper. The new pool is a more recent formation, shallower, with more ferns, and feels like a natural forest.
▲ (photo by kaidanmeguri @Twitter)
▲ (photo by kaidanmeguri @Twitter)
"Ikenotaira" is located on the northern side of Kamenokouzan Mountain in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, at an altitude of about 650 meters. Local legend says the pool emerges only once every seven years and disappears after roughly two weeks. Since the last appearance was in 2010, hikers have been especially vigilant in recent years, hoping for another chance to see it.
▲ As a core member of the Japan Mountain Swimming Association, kaidanmeguri brought swimwear and held a “pool entry ceremony” at “Ikenotaira.” (photo by kaidanmeguri @Twitter)
▲ kaidanmeguri described the leeches there—not only more numerous than in the Kanto region but also extremely aggressive, “jumping around swiftly.” (photo by kaidanmeguri @Twitter)
The exact reason for the pool’s appearance isn’t fully understood yet, but one widely accepted theory is that heavy rain saturates the soil to its maximum capacity, preventing further absorption and causing water to accumulate in low-lying areas. Additionally, groundwater flows continuously from nearby springs, replenishing the pool and helping it remain for a period of time, eventually forming this phenomenon, which is counted among the Seven Wonders of Enshu.
▲ The cause of the pool’s appearance isn’t entirely clear yet, but heavy rain is believed to play a major role. (photo by kaidanmeguri @Twitter)
▲ kaidanmeguri also mentioned suspecting his drone (a Mavic mini) lost GPS signal, crashed into a tree, and fell into the pool. (photo by kaidanmeguri @Twitter)
Source: Stairway Blog (Stage Hiking Blog)