Clear water
Deep blue.
Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan — CC BY-SA 2.0
Lake Shikotsu is a caldera lake in the city of Chitose in south-west Hokkaidō, about 34 km in a straight line south of Sapporo, within Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. It has an average depth of 265 m and a maximum of 363 m, making it the second-deepest lake in Japan after Lake Tazawa, the eighth-largest by area and the second-largest caldera lake after Lake Kussharo. It is ringed by five volcanoes: Mount Eniwa and Mount Izari to the north, and Mount Fuppushi, Mount Tarumae and Kitayama to the south. Because it is so deep, its volume is about three-quarters that of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, though its area is only a ninth as large, and it hardly ever freezes in winter. The water is exceptionally clear and blue, mirroring the surrounding volcanic cones, and forests line the shore, turning red and gold in autumn. At Shikotsuko Onsen village there is a small red bridge and boat piers, the clear Chitose River flows out from the shore, and in winter an ice festival is held with blue ice sculptures made from lake water. Visiting is free. The water is very cold even in summer, and the lake is an easy drive from New Chitose Airport, making it a good stop between the airport and the hot spring areas.
Deep blue.
Five of them.
In winter.
Chitose, Hokkaidō, Japan
Rarely, because of its depth.
By car from New Chitose Airport.