Winter Wonder: "Gem Ice" on Hokkaido’s Otsu Coast Resembles Rings Piled Along the Shore

Reported by You T-Ru / Compiled by HowToTrip

In the frigid winter of Hokkaido, many spectacular sights are worth observing closely. Near the river mouth of the Kushiro River at Otsu Coast in Tokachi during winter, there is a special kind of “gem ice” that glows like rings under moonlight, and takes on a dazzling yet serene beauty at sunrise and sunset.


▲ The view of gem ice. (Photo / Provided by Hokkaido Tourism Organization)

The “gem ice” at Otsu Coast in Tokachi, Hokkaido, presents an incredible sight. According to locals, this coastal wonder only forms between late January and mid-February when temperatures drop to minus 10 degrees Celsius. During this period, river ice from the Tokachi River flows into the sea, gets shattered and rounded by waves, and is then washed ashore. The gem ice exhibits varying colors and light at different times, making it a truly unique and dreamlike phenomenon.

Viewing spot: The river mouth of the Kushiro River at Otsu Coast in Tokachi