Shibuki Ice

【Ice Art】A winter miracle of unprecedented scale appears in Japan. The ice monster 'Shibuki Ice' of Lake Inawashiro

When it comes to the winter scenery of Lake Inawashiro, the arrival of swans is famous, but you can experience an even more unique and overwhelming natural mystery with 'Shibuki Ice'. We will introduce you to this beautiful yet rugged ice sculpture that only appears under the limited conditions of mid-winter.

■ A rare large-scale phenomenon that occurs under miraculous conditions 
The highlight here is the mechanism behind this phenomenon and its rarity. Intense local winds blowing across the lake spray water onto the trees along the shore, which then freezes in place to form this ice. Such large-scale Shibuki Ice can only be seen in very few places in Japan, such as Lake Inawashiro and parts of Lake Biwa. This miraculous phenomenon occurs because it is a massive lake with high waves and trees at the shoreline, not the sea.

■ No two are alike: 'Ice Art' 
As the strength of the wind and temperature change daily, the ice sculptures created are never the same shape. The bizarre forms sculpted by nature through wind and water rival the snow-covered trees seen in Yonezawa and Mount Nishi-Azuma, truly making them the ice monsters of Lake Inawashiro. The moment when the transparent ice sparkles in the winter sunlight is a supreme view that only those who have traveled through the harsh snow country can witness.