Written by: Alex
Chichibu City, located in the suburbs of Tokyo, can be reached from Ikebukuro in just about an hour. Around January each year, the wondrous “ice pillars” make their appearance here. Saitama Prefecture’s Chichibu City is home to three major ice pillars, but this year, due to the implementation of a state of emergency, many people—including those in Saitama Prefecture—were unable to travel. Photographer taka (@Takkkk_photo) reposted photos taken in January 2019, including views of two of these ice pillars, allowing netizens to temporarily admire this winter-exclusive natural wonder through their computer screens.
A world of ice in Saitama pic.twitter.com/2D6AJCduze
— taka? (@Takkkk_photo) January 9, 2021
▲ “A world of ice in Saitama.”
The Mittoguchi Ice Pillar is located near Chichibu Lake. Clear stream water flowing down the rocky cliffs freezes naturally in the low temperatures, forming curtain-like ice pillars of impressive scale. The Mittoguchi Ice Pillar can be as wide as 50 meters and about 8 meters high. Since it is entirely naturally formed, the landscape varies each year. Starting in late January, colorful lights are projected onto the ice pillars at night, creating a dreamlike scene.
▲ Mittoguchi Ice Pillar (photo by Takkkk_photo @Twitter)
▲ Mittoguchi Ice Pillar (photo by Takkkk_photo @Twitter)
The Onoshita Ice Pillar, located in Kosuge Town, sits within a valley and is accessible via a small suspension bridge. Visitors can stand on the bridge to closely admire the beauty of the ice pillars. For photography enthusiasts, the combination of the bridge and the ice pillars creates a picturesque scene reminiscent of ink-wash landscape paintings—both poetic and serene. It’s worth noting that the ice pillars here are formed by locals who set up hoses in the valley to spray water, resulting in a different texture and line structure compared to the Mittoguchi Ice Pillar.
▲ Onoshita Ice Pillar (photo by Takkkk_photo @Twitter)
▲ Onoshita Ice Pillar (photo by Takkkk_photo @Twitter)
Both of the above ice pillars are located in mountainous areas and are not easily accessible by public transportation. The Ashigakubo Ice Pillar, located next to Ashigakubo Station on the Seibu Chichibu Line, is another great option. It is also created by locals using artificial watering methods, covering the hillside with ice pillars of varying heights. When viewed up close, you can appreciate its particularly rich layering. Additionally, since the ice pillars are situated right next to the railway, you can capture both the ice formations and passing trains in the same shot from the right angle.
Source: Grapee