Test illumination was carried out on October 29 at the ‘Blue Pond,’ a tourist attraction in the town of Biei in the Kamikawa region of northern Hokkaido, where a light-up began on November 1. Tourists were treated to the sight of the blue water surface and withering trees mystically illuminated amid the darkness.

The light-up event began in 2014 with the aim of attracting visitors in winter. Approximately 80,000 people visited last season.

This winter, 60 lighting fixtures, including LEDs, have been installed, the largest number ever. The lights illuminate alternately in white, yellow, and purple for 10-min. periods. Tourists cheered appreciatively and enjoyed taking photos the moment the lights were turned on. A man from Osaka, visiting on a family trip, was delighted, saying “I just watched and forgot about the cold. It’s different from the scenery that can usually be seen at the Blue Pond.”

The light-up event will continue until April next year. Light-up times differ depending on the month, but will start from 5 p.m. throughout November, and 4:30 p.m. in December. The lights are turned off at 9 p.m.