Hokkaido’s Second Blue Pond Revealed: The Hidden Gem of “Tori-numa Park”

Text & Photos /Matcha

In summer, Furano boasts romantic purple lavender fields and rainbow-hued flower gardens, while in winter, it transforms into a silver-white world blanketed in snow. The scenery here is breathtakingly beautiful all year round. Today, the Matcha editorial team is uncovering a hidden gem in Furano—“Tori-numa Park.” This isn’t your ordinary park. Its marsh, Tori-numa, features water that constantly changes, making it a mysterious swamp. So, what secrets does Tori-numa hold?

Quick Facts About Tori-numa Park

Located in a low-lying area on the outskirts of Furano City, this quiet park is not widely known to tourists and sees few visitors. The name “Tori-numa Park” comes from the Ainu language (the language of Hokkaido’s indigenous people), meaning “swamp with birds.” Every plant in the park is native and not artificially planted, and it is home to over 40 species of wild birds and ducks, Ezo squirrels, Ezo deer, foxes, and raccoon dogs. Artifacts such as Jomon-period pottery and stone tools dating back 8,000 to 10,000 years have also been discovered here.

The marsh in the park, Tori-numa, is fed by natural spring water with extremely high transparency, making it a rare unfrozen swamp even in winter.

Tori-numa Park in Winter

Because it’s an unfrozen swamp, when the surrounding temperature drops below minus 10 degrees Celsius, the warm waters of Tori-numa begin to emit white steam. Combined with the effect of direct sunlight on clear days, the misty vapor creates a fairy-tale-like scene.

In winter, Tori-numa Park attracts many wild birds and ducks that come to spend the season here, making it an excellent spot for birdwatching and photography.

You won’t see this miraculous sight unless the weather is cold enough. On the day I visited, the temperature was only minus 21 degrees, and despite my frozen nose and numb, painful hands, I had to take photos to capture this dreamlike wonder.

Also, the misty phenomenon can only be seen before 10 a.m.—it disappears in the afternoon.

Look up at the sky, where the clear blue expanse meets snow-covered white tree branches, showcasing a romantic and adorable corner of the snowy country.

Lively Tori-numa Park

After mid-March, as the snow begins to melt, small flowers and grasses start sprouting, and Tori-numa Park becomes bathed in gentle sunlight.

When cherry blossom season arrives, the park’s cherry trees bloom along with other flowers.

In early summer, the park is lush and green, with a warm climate that’s perfect for a day trip.

Small boats are available by the water’s edge of Tori-numa, and you can row for free on the pond. At night, romantic fireflies appear in groups too.

Did “Tori-numa” Turn Into a “Blue Pond”? What’s Going On?

In late summer 2016, a typhoon severely hit Hokkaido. Heavy rain and flooding turned the famous Blue Pond in Biei into a muddy, earth-colored pool, and it was temporarily closed. Then something strange happened—just after the Blue Pond turned muddy, Tori-numa in Furano began to change as well.

Tori-numa’s water changed from its usual color to a blue-green hue, resembling the Blue Pond in Biei. This sparked local discussion, and some tourists who couldn’t visit the Blue Pond came to Furano specifically to see the “Blue-Pond-ized” Tori-numa.

As for the reason behind the color change, theories abound, but no one knows for sure. However, as the Blue Pond gradually returned to its original color, Tori-numa’s water also started reverting to its normal hue. Could there be some connection between the Blue Pond, which is a 40-minute drive away, and Tori-numa? No one has been able to confirm.

Conclusion
Tori-numa Park is a precious gift bestowed upon Furano by nature, with its rich flora and fauna and the ever-mysterious, ever-changing Tori-numa that remains beautiful throughout the seasons. If you’re looking to escape the crowds of popular tourist spots, Tori-numa Park is a great choice. As for whether Tori-numa might change color again or what secrets the pond holds, no one knows. Perhaps it might transform again under certain conditions. Isn’t its unpredictable nature part of its greatest charm?

Author: MATCHA
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