Sugatami Pond reflecting Mount Asahidake with steam vents in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan

    Sugatami Pond beneath Mount Asahidake, where still water reflects the volcanic slopes and active steam vents of Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido

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    Sugatami Pond

    Water Feature

    Sugatami Pond is an alpine water body on the slopes of Mount Asahidake, defined by a still surface reflecting the surrounding volcanic terrain. The pond sits within open ground shaped by geothermal activity and seasonal snow. The composition resolves through reflection of the mountain and separation between the water surface and surrounding land.

    43.66137, 142.83325

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    Gallery

    Sugatami Pond reflecting Mount Asahidake with steam vents in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan

    Sugatami Pond beneath Mount Asahidake, where still water reflects the volcanic s…

    Sugatami Pond reflecting Mount Asahidake with steam vents in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan

    View across Sugatami Pond toward Mount Asahidake, where volcanic slopes, alpine …

    Sugatami Pond reflecting Mount Asahidake with steam vents and boardwalk trail in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido

    View from Sugatami Station across the pond toward Mount Asahidake, where volcani…

    Sugatami Pond with clear foreground water and Mount Asahidake with steam vents in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido

    Low shoreline view across Sugatami Pond toward Mount Asahidake, where shallow cl…

    Quick Facts

    Access

    Short Walk

    15–45 min

    Elevation Gain

    40 m

    Best Light

    Overcast

    Diffuse light reduces glare on the water surface, allowing reflections of the surrounding terrain to remain clear.

    Why This Light

    Reflections

    Season

    Seasonally Distinct

    Summer reveals clear water and surrounding volcanic terrain with stable access from the ropeway station. Winter introduces snow cover that obscures the pond and limits access.

    Crowds

    Often Busy

    Restrictions

    Access is via the Asahidake ropeway followed by marked walking paths; conditions vary with weather and season.

    Photography Notes

    The pond reads through reflection, with position controlling how the mountain aligns within the water surface. Slight elevation changes alter the reflection angle and affect symmetry between the subject and its reflection. Movement around the pond changes foreground edge placement and determines how cleanly the reflected image separates from surrounding terrain.
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    Nearby Places

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    Mount Asahidake — 1.7 kmMount Kurodake — 8.1 kmGinga Falls (Sounkyo) — 13.0 kmRyusei Falls (Sounkyo) — 13.0 kmSounkyo Gorge — 15.0 kmBlue Pond — 25.7 kmShirahige Waterfall — 26.0 kmKen & Mary Tree — 31.1 km