{
  "id": "shirogane-blue-pond",
  "name": "Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike)",
  "area": "Shirogane, Biei, Hokkaido",
  "status": "recommended",
  "priority": "high",
  "tags": [
    "Scenery",
    "Walking",
    "Lake"
  ],
  "summary": "A distinctive short scenery stop with blue water and standing dead larches. Currently listed as operating year-round; summer 2027 arrangements remain unconfirmed. [S2]",
  "why_go": "The pond formed during Tokachidake disaster-prevention works. Mineral-related particles scatter sunlight, producing changing blue tones around the dead trees. Best for photography and a short waterside visit rather than a substantial hike; color is not guaranteed. [S2]",
  "season": {
    "late_june": "An attractive early-summer choice: tourism guidance describes frequent light-blue water and contrasting fresh greenery, but not a guaranteed color peak. [S2]",
    "july": "Suitable for the same outdoor scenery visit. Prioritize weather and morning arrival over a particular date; sunny afternoons and weekends can be congested. [S2][S3]",
    "early_august": "Still within published summer parking hours. There is no verified month-specific color advantage over July; retain flexibility after heavy rain. [S1][S2]",
    "best_window": "Recommendation: a calm, clear weekday morning anywhere in the stay, preferably without recent heavy rainfall. This is not a weather or water-color forecast. [S2]"
  },
  "visit_duration": "Allow 30-45 minutes parked-to-departure, or about an hour for photography, as planning estimates excluding queues. JNTO describes roughly two minutes from parking to the pond, not a complete circuit. Exact current walking distance and accessible-route length were not verified. [S5]",
  "drive_from_furano": "Budget approximately 50-65 minutes each way from central Furano in normal summer traffic: a planning estimate, not live routing. Add at least 30 minutes of flexibility for peak-season traffic and parking queues; this is separate from walking time.",
  "best_time_of_day": "Aim for 07:00-09:00, after the published 07:00 summer parking opening. Tourism recommends calm, sunny mornings and identifies 13:00-15:00 on sunny days as particularly congested. [S1][S2][S3]",
  "visit_plan": [
    "Before leaving Furano, check weather, recent rainfall, access notices and the official congestion map. [S6]",
    "Follow the signed regular-car approach, collect a parking ticket and park without blocking traffic. [S1][S4]",
    "Walk to the pond and compare several permitted viewpoints; allow others space rather than occupying the first opening.",
    "Return within parking hours and use the advance payment machine before driving to the exit. [S1]"
  ],
  "practicalities": [
    {
      "label": "Hours and season",
      "text": "Current municipal parking hours are 07:00-19:00 from May through October 22; the schedule's year is not specified. These cover the requested summer window but are not confirmed 2027 hours. Do not assume unrestricted overnight access. [S1]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Costs",
      "text": "Effective July 1, 2026: ordinary, small and kei cars under 6 m cost JPY 1,000 per vehicle per visit; motorcycles JPY 300; vehicles 6 m or longer JPY 6,000. These are current published charges, not confirmed 2027 prices. No separate admission charge was identified. [S1]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Parking and access",
      "text": "Tourism lists 220 ordinary-car spaces and 20 large-vehicle spaces. Entrances differ by vehicle length. The 2024 access notice directs ordinary cars approaching from Biei along Route 966 to turn near Kaikuu Kiln, use the Bibogahara-Biruke town road and enter the lot by a left turn; direct right-turn entry is restricted. Follow newer signs and municipal diagrams. [S1][S2][S4]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Facilities and accessibility",
      "text": "Year-round toilets and an accessible toilet are listed. Tourism links a dedicated accessibility map, but its route details were not readable during research. A short approach does not establish that every viewpoint is step-free: current surfaces, gradients, widths and walking distances need confirmation. Food-service hours were not verified. [S2]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Reservations",
      "text": "No advance reservation requirement was identified for an independent visit in the official visitor and parking information. This does not guarantee a parking space. Payment-method details need rechecking. [S1][S2]"
    }
  ],
  "recommendations": [
    "Use the opening-hour visit to reduce queue exposure; do not arrive expecting entry before 07:00. [S1]",
    "Check the official congestion indicator before departing; it reports crowd categories, not a promised waiting time. [S6]",
    "Choose calm conditions for reflections, following tourism's sunny-morning recommendation. [S2]",
    "Keep a second possible visit day rather than demanding postcard-blue water after rain. [S2]",
    "Bring walking shoes, water and rain protection; confirm the accessible approach beforehand if steps or uneven surfaces would be limiting."
  ],
  "weather_plan": "Heavy rain can dilute the relevant components and leave the pond cloudy or not visibly blue. Overcast or windy conditions may still interest photographers, but are not equivalent to the recommended calm, sunny morning. During a long Furano stay, postpone after heavy rain rather than forcing the visit. No reliable recovery interval was found. [S2]",
  "safety_and_etiquette": [
    "Never cross the fence or enter the pond; official guidance explicitly warns this can be life-threatening. No swimming or wading. [S2]",
    "Do not fly a recreational drone without the required permissions and approvals; the attraction specifically warns that authorization is necessary. [S2]",
    "Stay within permitted viewing areas, take litter away and keep photography equipment clear of other visitors. Follow parking circulation instructions rather than making an unauthorized turn. [S2][S4]"
  ],
  "pair_with": [
    "Shirahige Falls"
  ],
  "skip_if": "Skip or defer if you require reliably brilliant-blue water, dislike potentially crowded photo stops, or need a fully verified barrier-free route. Do not plan this as a long hike.",
  "recheck_for_2027": [
    "Municipal parking fees, summer opening hours and entrance diagrams.",
    "Any temporary road, parking or footpath restrictions, plus recent rainfall and water appearance.",
    "Accessible-route surfaces, distances and toilet availability if relevant.",
    "Payment methods and congestion-map availability."
  ],
  "confidence_notes": [
    "Important correction: JPY 500 car parking is outdated. The municipality and current attraction listing publish JPY 1,000 from July 1, 2026. [S1][S2]",
    "The English theme page retains older fee information; it was used only for its congestion guidance. [S3]",
    "Drive and visit durations are planning estimates. Exact current path length and comprehensive accessibility were not established.",
    "No summer 2027-specific operating announcement was identified."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "S1",
      "title": "Using the Blue Pond parking lot",
      "publisher": "Biei Town",
      "url": "https://www.town.biei.hokkaido.jp/culture/event/news/bluepondpaidparking.html",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "July 2026 fees, parking hours, separate entrances and advance payment."
    },
    {
      "id": "S2",
      "title": "Shirogane Blue Pond attraction listing",
      "publisher": "Biei Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.biei-hokkaido.jp/ja/facility/shirogane-blue-pond",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Year-round operation, color variability, morning recommendation, parking capacity, toilets, accessibility-map link and prohibited behavior."
    },
    {
      "id": "S3",
      "title": "Biei Shirogane Blue Pond",
      "publisher": "Biei Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.biei-hokkaido.jp/en/shirogane-blue-pond",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Morning congestion advice and sunny-day 13:00-15:00 peak; contains superseded parking fees."
    },
    {
      "id": "S4",
      "title": "Important Blue Pond parking access notice, August 2, 2024",
      "publisher": "Biei Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.biei-hokkaido.jp/ja/18604",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Approach route and restricted right-turn entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "S5",
      "title": "Shirogane Blue Pond",
      "publisher": "Japan National Tourism Organization",
      "url": "https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1889/",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Approximate two-minute parking-to-pond approach; publication year unspecified."
    },
    {
      "id": "S6",
      "title": "Biei sightseeing congestion visualization system",
      "publisher": "Biei Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.biei-hokkaido.jp/ja/15386",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Blue Pond congestion monitoring and official link to https://biei-konzatsu.jp/."
    }
  ]
}